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