INVITATION TO JUNE 19 ROUNDTABLE ON ZIMBABWE

UNCLAS STATE 064671 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM PREL UNSC XA ZI SUBJECT: INVITATION TO JUNE 19 ROUNDTABLE ON ZIMBABWE ¶1. This is an immediate action request. USUN is requested to immediately pass the invitation in para 2 below to SYG Ban; the invitation in para 3 below to UNSC members; and the invitation in para 4 below to the UN missions of the following African states: Senegal, Uganda, Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria, Morocco, Angola, the DRC, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Botswana, Swaziland, Lesotho, Uganda, Lesotho, Swaziland, Botswana, Madagascar, Malawi, Tanzania, and Zambia. The invitations should go out under Ambassador Khalilzad,s signature. The agenda for the roundtable is contained in para 5 below. End Action Request. ¶2. Begin text of invitation to Secretary General Ban: I would like to invite you to participate in a roundtable discussion on Zimbabwe that Secretary Rice will co-host with Burkina Faso Foreign Minister Djibril Bassole on June 19 from 11:30 a.m. until 12:10 p.m. We would welcome your speaking on the humanitarian and electoral assistance efforts of the United Nations in Zimbabwe. The proposed agenda is attached. The United States is committed to working with the United Nations and African leaders and institutions to address the crisis in Zimbabwe. We believe that high-level international attention is needed to support UN and regional mediation efforts and to put pressure on the Government of Zimbabwe to end its campaign of violence and intimidation and permit a free and fair Presidential run-off election on June 27. We hope this roundtable discussion can contribute a better understanding of the political and humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe and help direct our future efforts to promote the welfare of the Zimbabwean people and the stability of Zimbabwe and the region. ¶3. Begin text of invitation to UNSC members: I would like to invite you to attend a roundtable discussion on Zimbabwe that Secretary Rice will co-host with Burkina Faso Foreign Minister Djibril Bassole on June 19 from 11:30 a.m. until 12:10 p.m. The proposed agenda is attached. The United States is committed to working with the United Nations and African leaders and institutions to address the crisis in Zimbabwe. We believe that high-level international attention is needed to support UN and regional mediation efforts and to put pressure on the Government of Zimbabwe to end its campaign of violence and intimidation and to permit a free and fair Presidential run-off election on June 27. We believe the Security Council must be involved in supporting a peaceful resolution of the crisis in Zimbabwe for the benefit of the people of Zimbabwe and peace and security in the region. We hope this roundtable discussion can contribute to a better understanding of the political and humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe and help direct our future efforts to advance the welfare of the Zimbabwean people and the stability of Zimbabwe and the region. ¶4. Begin text of invitation to the Permanent Representative of Senegal, Uganda, Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria, Morocco, Angola, the DRC, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Botswana, Swaziland, Lesotho, Uganda, Lesotho, Swaziland, Botswana, Madagascar, Malawi, Tanzania, and Zambia. I would like to invite you to attend a roundtable discussion on Zimbabwe that Secretary Rice will co-host with Burkina Faso Foreign Minister Djibril Bassole on June 19 from 11:30 a.m. until 12:10 p.m. The proposed agenda is attached. The United States is committed to working with the United Nations and African leaders and institutions to address the crisis in Zimbabwe. We believe that high-level international attention is needed to support UN and regional mediation efforts and to put pressure on the Government of Zimbabwe to end its campaign of violence and intimidation and to permit a free and fair Presidential run-off election on June 27. We hope this roundtable discussion can contribute a better understanding of the political and humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe and its impact on the region and help direct our future efforts to promote the welfare of the Zimbabwean people and stability in Zimbabwe and the region. ¶5. Proposed Agenda for Roundtable 11:30 a.m. Roundtable begins; Secretary Rice makes introductory remarks 11:35 a.m. Foreign Minister Bassole makes introductory remarks 11:40 a.m. Secretary General Ban briefs on UN humanitarian and electoral assistance 11:45 a.m. Remarks by representatives from regional organizations 11:55 a.m. International NGO representative briefs on the humanitarian situation 12:00 p.m. Invited guests may make remarks 12:10 p.m. Event closes ¶6. Tripoli minimize considered RICE