POINTS FOR TUESDAY AUGUST 26 SOMALIA BRIEFING

UNCLAS STATE 091440 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KPKO UNSC SO SUBJECT: POINTS FOR TUESDAY AUGUST 26 SOMALIA BRIEFING ¶1. Mission may draw on the following in Security Council consultations on Somalia on August 26, 2008. ¶2. Mr. President, this council meets today to consult on the way forward toward a more peaceful Somalia. I would like to make four points. First, this Council asked, in its Resolution 1814 in May of this year, for the Secretariat to prepare an array of options for a possible UN peacekeeping operation in Somalia for the Council,s consideration. The Secretariat has yet to provide this Council with what we would consider the full array of options available. While we can consider the idea of a Multinational Force as an interim step to a UN peacekeeping operation, we do not want such a force to become a sine qua non to expeditious consideration of a UN force. We are also aware that DPKO puts together peacekeeping operations and not multinational forces. DPKO should focus its efforts on planning for possible options for a UN peacekeeping operation as the Council has requested on several occasions. The signing of the Djibouti Agreement signals the opening of a window of opportunity for peace in Somalia, and the international community must move quickly to take advantage of this window by creating, properly mandating and deploying a United Nations peacekeeping force to Somalia to create a climate of calm in which the Djibouti Agreement can fulfill its promise. In order to act quickly to take advantage of this window of opportunity, we must ask that DPKO produce, without delay, the array of options this council has requested. Second, the United States welcomes the August 18 signing of the Djibouti Agreement by representatives of the Transitional Federal Government and the Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia. The agreement starts the implementation phase of a process begun by the two signatories on June 9 to promote peace and stability in Somalia. We thank the government of Djibouti for hosting these important talks, and the Special Representative of the Secretary General, Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, for his leadership in facilitating them. Third, we continue to be appalled by the deplorable actions of Al-Shabaab and other extremist groups, particularly in their ongoing campaign to target humanitarian workers, UN personnel, and AMISOM for assassination and kidnappings. Those who commit these horrific acts must be held accountable for their actions. Fourth, the United States urges all parties in Somalia to seize this historic opportunity to establish peace and stability in Somalia. We encourage all parties, whether signatories to the agreement or not, to adhere to its terms and engage in peaceful dialogue towards a lasting solution. The people of Somalia are tired of the long conflict that has ravaged their country, and desperately need stability and a more peaceful future. RICE