Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08STATE69048
2008-06-26 22:04:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Secretary of State
Cable title:  

INSTRUCTIONS ON JUNE 27 CONSULTATIONS ON BONUCA

Tags:  PREL PREF PHUM PBTS CT 
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VZCZCXRO4306
OO RUEHGI RUEHTRO
DE RUEHC #9048 1782202
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 262204Z JUN 08
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 2298
INFO UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEHGI/AMEMBASSY BANGUI IMMEDIATE 1063
UNCLAS STATE 069048 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PREF PHUM PBTS CT
SUBJECT: INSTRUCTIONS ON JUNE 27 CONSULTATIONS ON BONUCA

UNCLAS STATE 069048

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PREF PHUM PBTS CT
SUBJECT: INSTRUCTIONS ON JUNE 27 CONSULTATIONS ON BONUCA


1. ACTION REQUEST: USUN is instructed to draw from talking
points in para 2 below during June 27 consultations on the
semi-annual report of the UN Peacebuilding Office in the
Central African Republic (BONUCA). End action request.


2. Begin points:

The United States strongly supports Special Envoy Francois
Lonseny Fall's efforts to build peace and security in the
Central African Republic, and thanks the Secretary General
for his report to the Council on BONUCA's activities during
the last six months. Today, I would like to make three
points:

-- First, the United States strongly supports the European
Union operation and the UN Mission in the Central African
Republic and Chad (MINURCAT) that is deploying to eastern
Chad and northeastern CAR to protect refugees and IDPs in the
area. We appreciate the cooperation of those governments.
We believe that in addition to providing protection to
refugees, displaced populations, and humanitarian workers,
this deployment can reduce tensions caused by the presence of
Sudanese and Chadian rebels on both sides of the border.

-- Second, we commend President Bozize for appointing the
fifteen-member committee to bring together the political
groups in the Central African Republic in the next few weeks
to discuss political, security and socio-economic issues. We
look forward to the proposed National Dialogue it will
initiate.

-- At the same time, however, we note that the overall
political, security, and socio-economic situation in the
country is fragile. Reports continue to surface on the use
of excessive force, including summary executions and
arbitrary arrests by members of the Presidential Guard on
mere suspicion of bandit activity. Poverty, insecurity, and
impunity for human rights violations continue to threaten the
people of the Central African Republic, and the Government's
efforts to institutionalize respect for human rights need to
be stepped up.

-- Third, thanks to the mediation of the Special
Representative on Children and Armed Conflict, the Popular
Army for the Restoration of Democracy (APRD) and Union of
Democratic Forces for Unity (UFDR) rebel movements agreed to
release all children serving in their ranks. Likewise, the
establishment of a government hotline to report human rights
violations, the establishment of the National Human Rights
Commission, and the visit of the Special Rapporteur on
Extrajudicial, Summary and Arbitrary Executions are welcome
steps.

-- While the efforts of UN and international agencies to
support peace and security in the CAR are important, primary
responsibility has to be borne by the government and people
of the CAR themselves. Only government reforms to insure
transparency, accountability and an end to impunity for human
rights abuses can create conditions under which the CAR can
flourish. We encourage the Government, aided by BONUCA and
other international supporters, to move ahead firmly on this
path.

End points.
RICE