UN/COTE D'IVOIRE SANCTIONS: COMMITTEE RESPONDS TO

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000856 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL IV PGOV UNSC SUBJECT: UN/COTE D'IVOIRE SANCTIONS: COMMITTEE RESPONDS TO UNOCI REPORTS ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: On September 19, the 1572 (Cote d'Ivoire) Sanctions Committee reviewed recent reports submitted to the committee by the United Nations Operation in Cote d'Ivoire (UNOCI). The Committee agreed to write to UNOCI to follow-up on specific concerns related to compliance with the arms embargo and human rights violations. The Committee next meets on October 8 to discuss the Panel of Experts (POE) report on implementation of Cote d'Ivoire sanctions measures. END SUMMARY. 2 (SBU) On September 19, the 1572 (Cote d'Ivoire) Sanctions Committee reviewed recent reports from the United Nations Operation in Cote d'Ivoire (UNOCI) about the human rights situation and monitoring of the arms embargo. A representative from the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) presented UNOCI Media and Arms Embargo Monitoring reports from June and July and the UNOCI Human Rights report covering April through June. UNOCI reported no violations of the embargo during the reporting period. The DPKO representative noted a decline in human rights violations related to political violence, but cited an overall increase in impunity for crimes, especially in regions controlled by the Force Nouvelle. ¶3. (SBU) The French delegate urged DPKO to follow up on whether the Armed Forces of Cote d'Ivoire had continued to obstruct UNOCI site inspections of areas considered part of the "Presidential perimeter". The Belgian delegate expressed concerns about reports of sexual violence. To address these issues, the Committee agreed that the Chair of the committee should write a letter to UNOCI requesting a report on cooperation with UN arms inspections and coordination with the Ivorian Department of Justice on human rights violations, particularly those involving sexual violence. ¶4. (SBU) The chair of the Committee noted that the Cote d'Ivoire Panel of Experts has finished its final report (emailed to Washington),which the Committee will discuss on Wednesday October 8. He also noted that the Cote d'Ivoire sanctions measures and the mandate of the Panel of Experts are both set to expire on October 31. Khalilzad