UNSC DISCUSSES DEC SYG REPORT ON UNAMID

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 USUN NEW YORK 001205 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL KPKO SU AF SUBJECT: UNSC DISCUSSES DEC SYG REPORT ON UNAMID ¶1. (SBU) Summary: On December 19, U/SYGs Le Roy and Malcorra briefed the Security Council on the SYG's December 12 report on Sudan. The Sudanese Permanent Representative also spoke. In the consultations that followed, Council members discussed the security and humanitarian situation in Darfur, UNAMID deployment, UN-AU Chief Mediator Bassole's efforts to foster political dialogue, the need for a ceasefire to be observed by all parties and adequately monitored, and the ICC indictment of President Bashir. End Summary. U/SYG's Le Roy and Malcorra Brief the Council -------------- ¶2. (SBU) On December 19, UN Under-Secretary General for the Department of Peacekeeping Operations Alain Le Roy briefed the Security Council on recent developments affecting the security and humanitarian situation in Darfur. Le Roy highlighted that, despite the GOS unilateral declaration of a ceasefire on November 12, GOS aerial bombardments and clashes between GOS forces and rebels have continued. Le Roy noted that, from November 12-25, UNAMID patrols verified reported allegations of ceasefire violations, including five allegations of GOS aerial bombardment. Le Roy said that UNAMID located four bombing craters near the village of Abu Dongal and six craters near Korbiya. ¶3. (SBU) UN Under-Secretary General Susana Malcorra briefed the Council on key issues affecting UNAMID deployment. Malcorra said that engineering work for the Nyala supercamp will be completed by the end of 2008, with El Fasher and El Geneina supercamps scheduled for completion at the end of January 2009. She said that GOS cooperation had facilitated UNAMID deployment, noting that the Tri-partite meeting between the UN, AU and GOS held on November 16 demonstrated progress on all areas raised during the October 7 Tri-partite meeting. The parties will meet again in January in Addis. Malcorra cautioned that the goal for 80 percent deployment by the end of March is dependent on TCCs' readiness to deploy. She urged TCCs to begin pre-deployment preparations as soon as possible. The Sudanese Perm Rep Responds -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Sudanese Perm Rep Abdalmahmood Mohamad detailed GOS cooperation with UNAMID, and noted that while being fully committed to honoring its ceasefire declaration, a series of rebel and bandit attacks since November 12 had provoked GOS response. Mohamad noted that the Sudan People's Forum provides a basis for peace efforts in Darfur and asserted that if rebels heed the initiatives led by Qatar and joint UN-AU mediator Bassole, peace could be attained in 2009. He closed by urging that the Council not allow "adventures" like the efforts of the International Criminal Court(ICC),to derail the peace process. Council Deliberations on Ceasefire -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Ambassador DiCarlo expressed USG concern over continued violence in Darfur and the GOS failure to honor its own unilaterally declared ceasefire. France rebuked the GOS claim that bandits had provoked it into violating the ceasefire, and noted that an effective monitoring mechanism is needed. The UK said that UNAMID would be the natural focus of monitoring efforts and asked for details about how UNAMID proposes to monitor the ceasefire. Russia noted that despite what could be labeled a disproportionate GOS response to rebel provocations, the Council must still hold rebel groups accountable for ceasefire violations as well. Russia also reiterated its earlier request for investigation of the September 29 helicopter crash in which four Russians were killed. UNAMID Deployment -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Both Belgium and the UK requested specific information from the Secretariat as to how the GOS has complied with the tripartite mechanism, noting that while recent cooperation is welcome, members should not forget prior GOS intransigence. The UK also mentioned the joint UN-US-UK assessment trip to Ethiopia concerning the Ethiopian pledge of attack helicopters for UNAMID. The UK asked DPKO to report on why these helicopters cannot deploy until March, noting that the assessment of the UN-US-UK team was that the helicopters could be deployed with minimal upgrades. Panama USUN NEW Y 00001205 002 OF 002 noted that after hearing about the need for helicopters for months, the continued inability to deploy Ethiopian helicopters merits concern. Political Process/ICC -------------- ¶7. (SBU) Most delegations welcomed Bassole's initiative to jumpstart the peace process and Qatar's complementary efforts. Delegations noted the upcoming meeting in Doha on January 4 or 5 of the African Union - Arab League Ministerial Steering Committee on Darfur. Russia, Indonesia and China asserted that the Council must be prepared to take actions to ensure rebels participate in the political process. Regarding the impact of the ICC on the peace process, Ambassador DiCarlo said that meaningful peace cannot be obtained while impunity reigns. France, the U.K., Belgium, Croatia, Costa Rica, Panama and Italy further asserted that if the GOS wishes to cooperate with the Council then it must cooperate with the ICC as well. A/SYG Mulet Responds to Member Questions -------------- ¶8. (SBU) A/SYG Mulet responded to members questions. Concerning the September 29 helicopter crash, Mulet noted that the GOS has the lead in investigating but that the ICAO is involved to ensure the investigation comports with international standards. Mulet said that the Secretariat would provide a full briefing to the Council in early 2009 on compliance with the tripartite mechanism but that GOS cooperation has significantly improved. Mulet cited the GOS liaison office in El Fasher, movement of goods through customs, and issuance of visas as evidence of improvement. On Ethiopian helicopters, Mulet said a UN team will conduct a pre-deployment visit to ensure pilots and maintenance plans meet international standards. Mulet also addressed ceasefire monitoring by noting that in a Phase IV security environment, limited mobility diminshes the ability to enforce a ceasefire. He indicated that Bassole supports a ceasefire mechanism but does not want to create additional structures duplicative of measures already in place. Khalilzad