USUN INTRODUCES ZIMBABWE SANCTIONS RESOLUTION IN

C O N F I D E N T I A L USUN NEW YORK 000593 SIPDIS IO AND AF FOR FRONT OFFICE; NSC FOR PITTMAN E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/03/2018 TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL ZI UNSC SUBJECT: USUN INTRODUCES ZIMBABWE SANCTIONS RESOLUTION IN THE SECURITY COUNCIL Classified By: Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad for Reasons 1.4 B/D. ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: USUN presented the draft resolution on Zimbabwe sanctions during Security Council consultations on July 3. The UK, France, Belgium, Italy, and Croatia voiced strong support for the draft resolution. Burkina Faso voiced support for the idea of a sanctions resolution but said they did not yet have instructions to support. Costa Rica criticized recent statements by Zimbabwean officials which demonstrated "profound contempt" for the Security Council and noted it was the right moment for the Council to send a strong signal but stopped short of endorsing the text. Vietnam reserved their position on a sanctions resolution and promised to seek instructions. South Africa, Libya, Indonesia, Russia and China voiced concern that a sanctions resolution may prove counterproductive to promoting a negotiation political settlement. PANAMA did not comment, noting afterwards that they did not have instructions. END SUMMARY. -------------- Group of Six Voice Strong Support -------------- ¶2. (U) AMB Khalilzad presented the U.S. sponsored draft resolution on Zimbabwe to the Security Council on July 3, explaining that the timing and the content of the text is intended to put maximum pressure on the authorities in Zimbabwe to end the campaign of violence intended stifle the democratic process. The UK, France, Belgium, Croatia and Italy said that their delegations support the U.S. draft and believe it should be adopted expeditiously. -------------- Burkina Faso, PANAMA and Costa Rica Not Yet In Agreement -------------- ¶3. (U) Burkinabe POL Counselor Koudougou said his delegation is very concerned that the situation in Zimbabwe is continuing to worsen because the Zimbabwean authorities "refuse to listen." Koudougou said his delegation did not yet have instructions to support the text, but would send it to Ouagadougou. Costa Rican PermRep Urbina said they believed Security Council action on Zimbabwe would be "timely and appropriate" but they would need further time to review the proposed list of sanctions. Panamanian POL Counselor Jacome chose not to intervene. Vietnamese PermRep Minh said merely that his delegation would seek instructions. -------------- Other Delegations Signal Concerns -------------- ¶4. (U) China, Russia, Indonesia, Libya, and South Africa emphasized that African-led efforts at a resolution to the crisis should be given more time before the Security Council takes actions that could potentially prove counterproductive to ongoing efforts at political reconciliation. South African PemRep Kumalo emphasized that the resolution should not be aimed at "affecting a particular political result," i.e. the resolution should not be aimed at helping the Movement for Democratic Change. China agreed that the situation in Zimbabwe was "very difficult," but urged more time for regional efforts through SADC to mediate between the two sides, and cautioned against "taking sides." Libyan Ambassador Dabbashi called the U.S.-led initiative on sanctions "premature" given that negotiations on reconciliation efforts were ongoing. -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶5. (C) In order to secure the nine votes essential for adoption of the Zimbabwe resolution, we must attain firm commitments from Burkina Faso, Costa Rica and Panama. European co-sponsorship of the text will likely come early next week but securing the co-sponsorship of Burkina Faso will help neutralize the argument that this resolution seeks to impose a "Western solution" on an African problem. Khalilzad