UN SECURITY COUNCIL MEETING WITH PRESIDENT SIRLEAF

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 MONROVIA 000390

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS, PREL, PGOV, KPKO, UNSC, LI
SUBJECT: UN SECURITY COUNCIL MEETING WITH PRESIDENT SIRLEAF


1. (SBU) Summary: Meeting with the UN Security Council during their
May 19-20 visit to Liberia, President Sirleaf expressed strong
support for a continued UNMIL presence until Liberia can take over
its own security. On several occasions, she called the peace
"fragile" and easily able to be reversed. While economic recovery
is advancing, the global economic downturn has affected Liberia, and
Sirleaf and her ministers requested direct budget support while the
GOL continues to improve its public financial management. Sirleaf
believes that the reform of the police is not advancing at the same
pace as the army, and the police may need to be completely
restructured, and said the leadership of a bilateral partner is
necessary or its success. End summary.


2. (SBU) President Sirleaf opened the meeting by expressing her
appreciation for the UNSC visit as a demonstration of international
support for peace in Liberia. "It is a fragile peace nonetheless,"
she said, but thanks to the UN Liberia has been able to use the
peace to plan for a renewal through the four "pillars" of the
Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS).


3. (SBU) Of the four, Peace and Security is "paramount" and Sirleaf
noted the progress in establishing a new army thanks to the support
of the United States and the UN. Sirleaf outlined Liberia's efforts
on the second pillar, adding that partners must help Liberia reduce
its vulnerability to the global economic downturn, jeopardizing
efforts to revitalize the economy. Progress has been satisfactory
in awarding concessions for minerals, agriculture and forestry, but
the results so far have not at a level to create jobs. Liberia has
been successful in reducing its debt and Liberia will reach HIPC
Completion Point sometime next year, at which time Liberia will have
access to other sources of funding in order to be more
self-sufficient. As for the third pillar, governance is weak and
the judicial system suffers from weak capacity and low compensation.
Corruption is one of the greatest menaces and Liberia needs to
build value systems to limit corruption. Sirleaf outlined progress
in the fourth pillar, and the continued need for progress in roads
and electricity.


4. (SBU) Seen in the Liberian context, this is excellent progress,
she said, but the situation remains fragile. There are too many
still without jobs, and this is a threat to peace as many only know
violence as a response to adversity. There are far too many people
in Monrovia and they need to be enticed to return to the rural
areas. This includes providing basic services to those who return.


5. (SBU) Turning to regional issues, Sirleaf said that Liberia has
good relations with all its neighbors, although there are some
activities occurring along the borders that need to be addressed.
Liberia and Sierra Leone face common problems in defending their
democracies, and the situation in Guinea and Cote d'Ivoire remain
uncertain.


6. (SBU) In her response, Ambassador Rice said that the Security
Council was aware of the fragility and the importance of UNMIL in
the process, but the Council must begin discussion on "where this
all leads" by having a clearer understanding of what is needed for a
successful conclusion to UNMIL.


7. (U) Sirleaf then invited her ministers to expand on the four
pillars of the PRS.


8. (SBU) Peace and Security: Defense Minister Brownie Samukai noted
that security institutions still had some way to go before they can
take over from UNMIL. The Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) needs two
to three more years before being fully operational, and require a
series of exercises, some in conjunction with UNMIL. The Liberia
National Police (LNP) is too small at 3,500, but there has been a
shift of emphasis on making the Emergency Response Unit (ERU)
operational. Other security institutions, like customs or the
Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization have received little
assistance. Sustainability remains an issue. Sirleaf added that
the recruitment and training of the 2,000 soldier AFL has gone well,
but there is no leadership developed yet, and the Coast Guard is
just starting.


9. (SBU) Minister of Justice Philip Banks said there has been some
progress with the police but progress has been slowed because the
police, like the army, was factionalized during the war but unlike
the AFL, the police force was not demobilized. There were flaws in
the initial vetting, and re-vetting is needed. The present 3,500 is
insufficient to cover all the counties. The public has come to see
the ERU as the only effective force and ways need to be sought to
have them deployed around the country. Sirleaf said one factor for
the small police force is the cost.


10. (SBU) Economic Revitalization: Minister of Finance Augustine
Ngafuan said that lower revenues and the inability to borrow have

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forced the government to "streamline spending", which is opposite to
what the government should be doing. He called for more budget
support from donors, while saying that the government needed to do
its part by continuing the pace of reforms and ensuring that its
resources are used more effectively.


11. (SBU) Governance and Rule of Law: Minister of Planning and
Economic Affairs Amara Kone acknowledged that Governance and Rule of
Law has been the weakest pillar as it relies the most on human
capital, can the conflict created a massive brain drain. The entire
public sector became factionalized and corruption became accepted
culturally -- people began to believe it was normal to cheat. Civil
service reform is needed as well as decentralization of government
authority. However, property rights was cited during the PRS
process as the primary source of conflict, and the proposed Land
Commission needs to be established to address land tenure. He said
that the Judiciary is weak and more support is needed for the
recently-established judicial training institute.


12. (SBU) Infrastructure and Basic Services: Minister of State
without Portfolio Natty B. Davis reiterated Kone's remarks that
Liberians left in significant numbers. Roads are of primary
necessity, but Liberia must build an environment for investment. He
also called for direct budget support even as the government
rebuilds sound public financial management.


13. (U) Following the presentation, Ambassador Rice invited the
representatives to ask questions.


14. (SBU) The Burkina Faso representative said that ECOWAS
commitment to Liberia is certain and argued against a precipitous
drawdown. He asked what the ECOWAS role has been in developing the
security sector.


15. (SBU) The UK representative noted that peacekeepers are no
longer required in Sierra Leone and, while no one is seeking a
precipitous drawdown, he asked why the situation in Liberia is so
much more difficult. The police force remains too small and police
are unarmed, which will not allow them to respond to traditional
forms of violence. He noted UNMIL's annual $600 budget, 80% of which
is paid for in assessed contributions by the U.S. EU and Japan, and
asked if those funds could be better spent in other ways to support
Liberia.


16. (SBU) President Sirleaf replied that the army is well advanced
in its formation, although there have been some slippages, and
thanked ECOWAS nations for contributing officers and resources to
the effort. She did not see the army as too small for Liberia to
take over its own security as long as the borders remain stable.
The greatest impediment for Liberia to take over its own security is
the police. The strategy in the beginning was flawed. The police
did not go through proper vetting and unlike in Sierra Leone where
the UK took leadership over the police, in Liberia a "mixture" of
countries. As well, the training was too "human rights oriented"
and not relevant to this society. She said she did not want to arm
the police until they are effectively trained. With the police,
things have to be done all over: recruiting, vetting and training;
resources need to be given to the police, and one country is
designated to support the police (she mentioned India as an
example). She calculated three to four years to train and expand
the police.


17. (SBU) Sirleaf warned that if the international community fails
to support the police before UNMIL leaves, "it will cost you even
more" to return to restore order. She added she heard that there
was discussion that the original number of 500 might be reduced and
said that would be a mistake -- the number should in fact be
expanded.


18. (SBU) The Turkish representative said that while it is good to
attract large investment through infrastructure investment, perhaps
more emphasis should be made in supporting small and medium
enterprises. President Sirleaf agreed that it is important to build
up indigenous enterprises along with concessions, there are some
initiatives such as micro-credit loans, taking advantage of AGOA and
allocations in the budget to support businesses.
The important result is job creation. The ex-combatants still
cannot find work. They do respond to getting job skills, but
training is not enough; jobs are needed. Otherwise, "they're coming
back," she said.


19. (SBU) The French representative said France was "disappointed"
with Sirleaf's decision to pass a law making armed robbery a capital
crime (Note: The law in fact made committing murder while
committing armed robbery a capital crime, a nuance that was lost
during the public debate. Capital punishment already existed in
Liberian law. End note.) Sirleaf said she was politically

MONROVIA 00000390 003 OF 003


compelled to sign the law because of public outcry. She said she
agreed to sign after she was assured she had the authority to
commute any death sentence. Liberia is not at a point in its
security situation that the question of capital punishment can be
debated, but promised that "while the law is on the books it will
never be used."


20. (SBU) In response to a question from the Russian representative
on food security, Sirleaf said that a key element of her policy is
to get people back to the farms to produce more rice to reduce
dependency on foreign rice imports. However, mechanized farming
needs to be introduced to make the venture profitable.


21. (SBU) Responding to an inquiry from the Costa Rican
representative on drug activity in Liberia, President Sirleaf said
that while some marijuana is grown in Liberia "it is not
widespread." Marijuana is illegal in Liberia and it is confiscated
when found. And while the GOL is aware of some isolated cases of
drugs transiting Liberia is not a major transit point. The GOL is
working regionally with the United States and other partners to
develop a quick response should a threat arise. Drugs played a role
during the civil war and Liberia could easily fall prey again if
steps are not taken.


22. (SBU) In response to the Austrian representative's question on
gender, President Sirleaf said that rape continues to be problem
though women are more likely to report rape than in the past. Also,
the security services have not reached the GOL objective of 20%, and
she hoped that the presence of an all-female Ghana Battalion may
serve as a model. She ended by making a plea to troop contributing
countries to bring more women.


23. (U) Ambassador Rice cleared this cable.

THOMAS-GREENFIELD