UNSC 4/29/08 CONSULTATIONS ON COTE D'IVOIRE:

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 STATE 044904 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL KPKO ETTC IC SUBJECT: UNSC 4/29/08 CONSULTATIONS ON COTE D'IVOIRE: GUIDANCE REF: IO/PSC & AF/W-USUN E-MAILS OF 4/23/08 ¶1. (U) USUN is authorized to join consensus on draft Presidential Statement (paragraph 4) welcoming the just-announced November 30 date for the Ivorian elections and exhorting all parties to keep elections preparations on track. USUN may draw on the points in paragraph 3 during the April 29 Security Council consultations on Cote d'Ivoire. ¶2. (U) We call USUN's attention to paragraph 54 of the Secretary-General's report of April 14, 2008, which notes SIPDIS that he may ask the Security Council to authorize the temporary transfer of air assets and vehicles from UNMIL to UNOCI, a mechanism established by UNSCR 1609 (2005). Despite impressive progress, the security situation in Liberia is still fragile, and the USG would want to review any such request carefully. USUN does not need to raise this issue, but should be prepared to respond if another delegation does. ¶3. (U) (Introduction): The United States welcomes the setting of a firm date for the nationwide elections in Cote d'Ivoire. Although the road to restoring stability and prosperity to Cote d'Ivoire has often been a bumpy one, it is crucial to keep moving forward. Cote d'Ivoire was once the economic powerhouse for the region, with a long history of stable government. Nearly a decade of conflict undermined peace and prosperity for the Ivorian people and was potentially destabilizing for West Africa. In that context: -- We thank SRSG Choi for his presentation and commend the vital contribution UNOCI and its personnel are making to the peace process. The United States welcomes the Secretary-General's recommendations. SIPDIS -- We also welcome the continuing role played by Licorne in supporting the peace process. -- We urge all parties to do their utmost to ensure that all necessary steps are taken to keep elections preparations on schedule. This includes providing the lists of personnel and weapons they have promised. In addition, it is critical that the identification process be completed, so that all Ivorians have the opportunity of participating in the elections. November 30 is not that far away, and there is no time to be wasted. -- The United States also notes with appreciation the report of the Group of Experts on the implementation of Security Council sanctions related to Cote d'Ivoire. We are concerned about continuing inconsistency in the application of those sanctions. Given the long sad history of the use of diamonds to fund conflict in the region, and the continuing problem of the availability of weapons in West Africa, it is incumbent upon all of us to be thorough in our implementation of these vital measures. -- IF RAISED: We support and appreciate the efforts by the Government of Cote d'Ivoire to move towards bringing peace and security to the people of Cote d'Ivoire. However, the United States cannot support the lifting of sanctions at this time. Prior to the lifting of the sanctions, more work needs to be done by the Government, including: holding free and fair elections, enhancing transparency, restoring the State's authority over the entire territory, and making progress on the program for disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of ex-combatants. -- We would also like to express our disappointment that the Ivorian authorities continue to refuse UNOCI access to facilities of the Republican Guard. It is clear to the United States that such inspections are within UNOCI's mandate to monitor implementation of the arms embargo, and we urge the Government of Cote d'Ivoire to cooperate with UNOCI in this regard. -- The United States looks forward to the Secretary-General's recommendations on a drawdown plan for SIPDIS UNOCI, following the elections. STATE 00044904 002 OF 003 -- In conclusion, the United States would also like to thank President Compaore of Burkina Faso for his energetic and fruitful efforts as Facilitator of the Ivorian peace process. ¶4. (U) Begin text of Presidential Statement: The Security Council recalls that it endorsed the Ouagadougou Political Agreement as well as its Supplementary Agreements. The Security Council warmly welcomes the approval by the Ivorian authorities of the proposal from the Independent Electoral Commission to organize presidential elections on 30 November 2008. It underlines that this announcement, supported by all Ivorian parties, and the signing by President Laurent GBAGBO of related decrees, constitute an important step forward. The Security Council encourages the Ivorian parties to redouble their efforts to meet this commitment, and the international community to bring continued support to this effect. The Security Council commends the Facilitator, President Blaise COMPAORE of Burkina Faso, for his continued efforts to support the peace process in Cte d'Ivoire, in particular through the Ouagadougou Political Agreement follow up mechanism. This support to the actions of President Laurent GBAGBO and Prime Minister Guillaume SORO, with the active engagement of SRSG CHOI Young-Jin, has been instrumental towards achieving the establishment of a consensus among all political parties to hold presidential elections in 2008. The Security Council reaffirms its full support to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Cte d' Ivoire, and recalls that he shall certify that all stages of the electoral process provide all the necessary guarantees for the holding of open, free, fair and transparent presidential and legislative elections in accordance with international standards, consistent with paragraph 9 of Resolution 1795 (2008). It fully supports in particular the five criteria framework elaborated by Mr CHOI in this regard and welcomed by the Ivorian parties. The Security Council welcomes the visit of the Secretary-General to Burkina Faso and Cte d'Ivoire (23-24 SIPDIS April) and is encouraged by the signing, under the auspices of the Secretary-General, of a Code of Good Conduct for elections by all political parties. The Security Council welcomes the Secretary-General's report dated 15 April 2008 (S/2008/250). It encourages the Ivorian parties to build on the on-going mobile courts process for the identification of the Ivorian population and registration of voters. The Security Council looks forward to the publication of the electoral list as a crucial step of the electoral process. The Security Council calls upon the parties to make concrete progress to promote political and security stability, in particular in the context of the forthcoming of the presidential elections, in such key areas as the disarmament and dismantling of militias, the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programme, the storage of weapons, the unification and restructuring of defence and security forces and the full restoration of State authority throughout the country. The Security Council takes note with appreciation of the support of bilateral and multilateral donors, in particular ECOWAS, AU and the EU. It calls upon donors and the Government of Cote d'Ivoire to make further efforts to finance the electoral process, including through the trust fund established by UNDP to that effect, and calls upon the authorities of Cte d'Ivoire to engage fully with the donors. It also encourages the international community to enhance its financial support for the facilitation. The Security Council expresses its appreciation for the role played by the United Nations Operations in Cte d' Ivoire (UNOCI),supported by the French forces, in contributing to bring the security needed by the peace process and the logistical support required for the preparation of the elections. It welcomes the assessment made by the Secretary-General on the troop level of UNOCI STATE 00044904 003 OF 003 in his report (S/2008/250). The Security Council will review by 30 July 2008 the mandates of UNOCI and French forces which support it, as well as the level of troops of UNOCI, in accordance with paragraph 8 of Resolution 1795 (2008). The Security Council requests the Secretary-General to keep it regularly informed of the situation including on the logistical support that UNOCI will provide for the elections. End text. RICE