Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BRUSSELS1710
2009-12-22 06:03:00
CONFIDENTIAL
USEU Brussels
Cable title:
WHITHER EU GUINEA-BISSAU SECURITY SECTOR REFORM?
how-toVZCZCXRO2895 PP RUEHAG RUEHROV RUEHSL RUEHSR DE RUEHBS #1710 3560603 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 220603Z DEC 09 ZDK FM USEU BRUSSELS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHDK/AMEMBASSY DAKAR PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY RUEHDK/USDAO DAKAR SG PRIORITY RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE PRIORITY RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC PRIORITY RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 001710
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/21/2019
TAGS: PREL SNAR PINS XY PU EUN
SUBJECT: WHITHER EU GUINEA-BISSAU SECURITY SECTOR REFORM?
REF: 08 USEU BRUSSELS 1117
Classified By: POL Minister-Counselor Christopher Davis for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 001710
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/21/2019
TAGS: PREL SNAR PINS XY PU EUN
SUBJECT: WHITHER EU GUINEA-BISSAU SECURITY SECTOR REFORM?
REF: 08 USEU BRUSSELS 1117
Classified By: POL Minister-Counselor Christopher Davis for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d).
1. (C) On December 17, Leonardo Sanchez, a Spanish diplomat
who will chair the EU's civilian crisis management working
group under the incoming Spanish Presidency, told PolOff that
a mandated strategic review of the EU's security sector
reform (SSR) mission in Guinea-Bissau could set the stage for
the termination of that mission in May 2010, when its mandate
expires. Sanchez said the EU Council Secretariat will
prepare a strategic review paper for discussion by Political
and Security Committee Ambassadors in January 2010, as
requested by EU Foreign and Defense Ministers during their
meeting in November. Sanchez said he could not pre-judge the
results of the discussion among Ambassadors, but said mission
closure is possible. During a meeting in November, Council
Secretariat officials commented offhand that the strategic
review could be the first step towards the EU turning over
responsibilities for SSR to the UN and other actors. The
official Conclusions issued at the November ministers'
meeting highlighted "recent positive developments in
Guinea-Bissau," suggesting the EU is looking to declare
success before closing down its SSR mission.
2. (C) Comment: The SSR mission has been a focus of EU
engagement in Guinea-Bissau since its inception in June 2008.
The United States has been working for over a year to
provide a prosecutorial advisor to the EU SSR mission, but we
have not overcome administrative details to finalize our
contribution (reftel). A signal of our political support for
continued EU SSR engagement in Guinea-Bissau, coupled with a
final agreement on the secondment of a U.S. prosecutorial
advisor to the mission, could encourage the EU to remain
engaged beyond the end of its mandate in May 2010. The 28
January 2010 U.S.-EU troika on African issues presents an
opportunity to send a strong message. End Comment.
KENNARD
.
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/21/2019
TAGS: PREL SNAR PINS XY PU EUN
SUBJECT: WHITHER EU GUINEA-BISSAU SECURITY SECTOR REFORM?
REF: 08 USEU BRUSSELS 1117
Classified By: POL Minister-Counselor Christopher Davis for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d).
1. (C) On December 17, Leonardo Sanchez, a Spanish diplomat
who will chair the EU's civilian crisis management working
group under the incoming Spanish Presidency, told PolOff that
a mandated strategic review of the EU's security sector
reform (SSR) mission in Guinea-Bissau could set the stage for
the termination of that mission in May 2010, when its mandate
expires. Sanchez said the EU Council Secretariat will
prepare a strategic review paper for discussion by Political
and Security Committee Ambassadors in January 2010, as
requested by EU Foreign and Defense Ministers during their
meeting in November. Sanchez said he could not pre-judge the
results of the discussion among Ambassadors, but said mission
closure is possible. During a meeting in November, Council
Secretariat officials commented offhand that the strategic
review could be the first step towards the EU turning over
responsibilities for SSR to the UN and other actors. The
official Conclusions issued at the November ministers'
meeting highlighted "recent positive developments in
Guinea-Bissau," suggesting the EU is looking to declare
success before closing down its SSR mission.
2. (C) Comment: The SSR mission has been a focus of EU
engagement in Guinea-Bissau since its inception in June 2008.
The United States has been working for over a year to
provide a prosecutorial advisor to the EU SSR mission, but we
have not overcome administrative details to finalize our
contribution (reftel). A signal of our political support for
continued EU SSR engagement in Guinea-Bissau, coupled with a
final agreement on the secondment of a U.S. prosecutorial
advisor to the mission, could encourage the EU to remain
engaged beyond the end of its mandate in May 2010. The 28
January 2010 U.S.-EU troika on African issues presents an
opportunity to send a strong message. End Comment.
KENNARD
.