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 �A;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 MONROVIA 00000390 002 OF 003 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