TALKING POINTS FOR 7/15 MINURCAT CONSULTATIONS

UNCLAS STATE 075414 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL KPKO UNSC CD SU SUBJECT: TALKING POINTS FOR 7/15 MINURCAT CONSULTATIONS In consultations on Tuesday, July 15, 2008, USUN may draw on the following points: I would like to thank the Secretary-General for his July 8 report on the status of the MINURCAT mission. With the recent cross-border incursions by Chadian rebels into eastern Chad, and the increased tensions in the region, MINURCAT personnel have displayed how crucial their mission is in providing protection to vulnerable civilian populations. Today, I would like to make three points. First, we deplore the violence that transpired in eastern Chad during the week of June 11, and condemn the June 14 attack by the National Alliance on the village of Goz Beda that resulted in human suffering and increased displacement in and around the area. We reiterate that there can be no military solution to this conflict. We urge both Chad and Sudan to respect the spirit and the letter of the Dakar Accord and we urge the Government of Chad to consider entering into a dialogue with Chadian rebel groups that can lead a peaceful resolution of the conflict. We remind all sides that the burden of creating peace rests on their shoulders and that the international community stands ready to assist them. To date, neither side has taken any notable steps toward implementation of the March 2008 Dakar Accord and renewed hostilities between the two countries has continued. We implore the parties to recognize that there is no viable military solution to the conflict that exists between them and ask both Chad and Sudan to make an earnest effort to utilize the Dakar Accord as a means for peaceably resolving their differences. Second, the United States would like to reiterate its support for the MINURCAT mission. We commend the actions of MINURCAT and EUFOR personnel during the June hostilities and applaud their work to help protect refugees, displaced persons, and civilians in danger. We appreciate the efforts of EUFOR personnel in the region and recognize that the deployment of over 3,000 EUFOR troops to the region has greatly enhanced and complemented MINURCAT's ability to fulfill its mission. We are pleased that the first group of 77 Chadian police have graduated from a six week UN training program and are beginning to provide urgently needed police protection to civilians in eastern Chad. We welcome the Secretary General,s recommendation that the deployment of MINURCAT,s civilian police be accelerated and we strongly encourage the continuation of UN training of Chadian police. We also urge donors to provide continued bilateral assistance to the Chadian police for their essential humanitarian mission. We note that the United States has provided $2 million to assist the Chadian police and we urge other donors to join in this endeavor. Third, we urge MINURCAT to continue to coordinate and share information with UNAMID and UNMIS, so that it can best fulfill its crucial mandate of protecting vulnerable civilians who are suffering repeated displacements. Conclusion -------------- MINURCAT plays a crucial part towards helping stabilize the region and the United States remains committed to its success. RICE