URGENT REQUEST FOR DEMARCHE ON JUNE 23 UNSC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 066915 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PHUM KDEM UNSC ZI SUBJECT: URGENT REQUEST FOR DEMARCHE ON JUNE 23 UNSC MEETING ON ZIMBABWE ¶1. This is an action request. See Paragraph 2. Objective -------------- ¶2. The UN Security Council will be discussing Zimbabwe June ¶23. Action addressees are requested to demarche host governments at an appropriately senior level, as soon as possible, to attain strong support for a Presidential Statement (PRST) being submitted by the UK and requiring the consensus of all UNSC members for adoption. Action addressees should also seek national statements by host governments to echo the content of the Presidential Statement. In the event consensus cannot be reached on a Presidential Statement, we may need to consider putting forward a resolution for adoption at the earliest possible time. Support from all action addressees will be necessary to place Zimbabwe formally on the Council's agenda and to keep the June 23 meeting public. Action addressees should remind host governments of the need to instruct their UN delegations prior to the meeting, which takes place June 23 at 1500 EDT. Background -------------- ¶3. With South Africa dropping its long-standing objections to a formal UNSC meeting on Zimbabwe, and other UNSC members following its lead, USUN scheduled a formal meeting on Zimbabwe for Monday June 23. On June 22, Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) presidential candidate Morgan Tsvangirai issued a public statement saying he would not participate in the runoff election due to the violence that had taken place against the party and its supporters since the first round of voting on March 29. The MDC's statement cited a number of reasons why a free and fair election is impossible, including: - state-sponsored violence and threats against MDC supporters; - the regime's preventing Tsvangirai from conducting an election campaign through unlawful arrests and prohibiting MDC rallies; - the partisanship of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission; - lack of access to the media; - Mugabe's statements that an MDC victory would not be accepted; - planned election rigging, and - other factors that prevented a credible election. ¶4. Tsvangirai's decision now shifts the focus of UNSC discussion and a potential outcome PRST to the impossibility of a free and fair election on June 27 and the impact of the situation on the wider region. Talking Points -------------- ¶5. Posts may draw on the following points: -- The recent action by the Government of Zimbabwe (GOZ) in violently preventing lawful assembly and freedom of expression with stepped up violence targeting the opposition and its supporters have eliminated the political space necessary to conduct elections on June 27. -- There are disturbing press reports that election observers were assaulted during the ruling party's efforts to prevent a peaceful MDC party rally on June 22. -- The campaign of violence and the restrictions on the political opposition have made it impossible for a free and fair election to take place on June 27. -- As a result, the decision by the Movement for Democratic Change to withdraw from the election is understandable. -- The situation is having an impact on the wider region. STATE 00066915 002 OF 002 -- UNSC members should join in consensus on the Presidential statement being put forward by Britain for discussion June 23. -- Action Addressee host governments should make national statements echoing the points in the PRST. -- The Security Council should remain seized of the Zimbabwe issue and a separate vote, requiring the support of all action addressee host governments, may be necessary to make Zimbabwe a UNSC agenda item. - We need all action addressee host governments' support. RICE