Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09STATE129239
2009-12-18 02:43:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Secretary of State
Cable title:  

SUDAN: BUILDING BLOCKS FOR DECEMBER 21 DEBATE ON

Tags:  UNSC PREL PHUM SU XA XW 
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VZCZCXYZ0004
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHC #9239 3520245
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 180243Z DEC 09
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 0000
INFO UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
UNCLAS STATE 129239 

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: UNSC PREL PHUM SU XA XW
SUBJECT: SUDAN: BUILDING BLOCKS FOR DECEMBER 21 DEBATE ON
MBEKI REPORT

REF: USUN 1095

--------------------------
Summary and Action Request
--------------------------

UNCLAS STATE 129239

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: UNSC PREL PHUM SU XA XW
SUBJECT: SUDAN: BUILDING BLOCKS FOR DECEMBER 21 DEBATE ON
MBEKI REPORT

REF: USUN 1095

--------------
Summary and Action Request
--------------


1. (SBU) USUN may draw from the points and questions in
paragraph three for the December 21 Security Council
briefing and debate on the Mbeki Report. The U.S. aims
to
support the objectives of the Mbeki report, but also
point
out that some of the Mbeki Report's recommendations may
not advance those objectives.

--------------
Background
--------------


2. (SBU) The African Union Peace and Security Council
(PSC) mandated an AU High-Level Panel on Darfur, which is
chaired by former President of South Africa Thabo Mbeki ,
to examine issues of accountability, combating impunity,
peace and reconciliation in Darfur. The Panel completed
its work in early October and presented its report to the
PSC in Abuja on October 29. Former President Mbeki is
scheduled to present the report to the UN on December 21.

--------------
Building Blocks
--------------


3. (SBU) Begin Points:

-- I would like to begin by thanking President Thabo
Mbeki
for taking the time to brief us on the African Union
High-Level Panel on Darfur's (AUPD) report on the
situation in Darfur. We are also honored to have the
Chair of the African Union, Jean Ping, and the AU
Commissioner for the Peace and Security Council, Ramtane
Lamamra, here with us today, as well as Secretary-General
Ban Ki-Moon.

-- The presence of these eminent statesmen signals to the
world not only the importance that the international
community places on resolving issues in Sudan, but more
importantly African partnership in reaching peaceful
solutions for crises in Africa. We therefore strongly
support the idea of African solutions to African
problems. We also welcome the acknowledgment in the
report that the problems in Sudan are of such magnitude
that no single party can solve them alone. We must all
work together, and with the stakes this high, we cannot
afford to fail.

- A Comprehensive Approach

-- The African Union High-Level Panel on Darfur (AUPD)
characterizes the conflict in Darfur as "Sudan's crisis
in
Darfur" rather than "the Darfur crisis." We agree with
this characterization, and we also agree that problems in
Sudan must be addressed comprehensively and cannot be

considered in isolation from one another. The United
States strategy in Sudan is clear on this point.

-- The United States is pursuing three core objectives in
Sudan: (1) ending the conflict, gross human rights
abuses,
war crimes and genocide in Darfur; (2) implementing the
Comprehensive Peace Agreement resulting in either a
united
and peaceful Sudan after 2011, or an orderly path toward
two separate and viable states at peace with each other;
and (3) ensuring that Sudan does not provide a safe haven
for terrorists.

- UNAMID

-- Civilians continue to be casualties of conflict in
Sudan, reminding us of how vital UNAMID's presence in
Darfur remains. UNAMID has made a difference on the
ground, and as I have said before, we know this comes at
a
high cost. I would like to express on behalf of the
United States our deepest condolences to the families of
the five Rwandan peacekeepers who were killed on December
4 and 5 in the line of duty while distributing water to
internally displaced persons. I would also like to
extend
condolences to Government of Rwanda. These direct
attacks
on peacekeepers are reprehensible, and the perpetrators
must be brought to justice.

-- We believe that UNAMID must be fully deployed and
fully
equipped, particularly given the volatility of the
situation in Darfur. We support the call for troop
contributing countries and other UN Member States to
expeditiously provide the balance of forces and assets,
including helicopters, which are required for UNAMID's
efforts to protect civilians.

-- We also welcome the proposal to strengthen the
civilian
component of UNAMID's role. Accelerating the training
for
community police services for IDPs in camps and those
returning to their villages of origin would be another
step to help promote peace and security in Darfur, and
one
that we would fully support.

-- UNAMID has played an essential role in ensuring
security for humanitarian assistance providers in Sudan.
We believe that UNAMID should continue to provide this
support, however, we are concerned that if UNAMID is
given
a greater role with respect to humanitarian assistance
operations themselves, this might detract from UNAMID's
capacity to carry out its primary responsibility to
protect civilians.

- Mediation

-- With respect to the Joint UN/AU Mediation efforts, we
continue to strongly support Joint Chief Mediator Djbril
Bassole. There can be no military solution to conflict
in
Darfur. I believe that we all can agree that only a
comprehensive political solution can end Darfur's
marginalization and provide Darfur with a voice in
national political processes. We encourage the African
Union to continue supporting this process, and we
reiterate our call to all parties to come to the
negotiating table.

- Accountability

-- The United States strongly supports accountability for
perpetrators of genocide, war crimes and gross human
rights abuses in Sudan. We welcome efforts to strengthen
Sudan's national legal system because we recognize that
Sudanese institutions will need to play a part in
ensuring
accountability for such perpetrators. However, these
efforts will take time, and they will not succeed unless
they are backed by the political will to bring
perpetrators to justice. The Security Council referred
the matter to the International Criminal Court and we are
monitoring the progress of the related cases. For this
reason, the United States does not support deferring ICC
action under Article 16 of the Rome Statute, and we
continue to insist that the Government of Sudan cooperate
fully with the ICC as required by UNSC resolution 1593
(2005).

- Comprehensive Peace Agreement

-- Let me say a few words about implementation of the
Comprehensive Peace Agreement, because this is the second
critical element in the United States strategy on Sudan.
The parties recently reached agreement on legislation
that
helps pave the way for holding the January 2011 referenda
and undertaking the Popular Consultation process in Blue
Nile and Southern Kordofan states. While progress on
these
issues is a positive sign, the parties must still reach
agreement on the appropriate use of census results in
upcoming elections, and amendments to national security
legislation. All of us must also continue to push for
other issues crucial to full CPA implementation such as
demarcation of the North-South border, implementation of
the July 2009 Permanent Court of Arbitration decision on
Abyei, and further implementation of resource
sharing-arrangements.

- Elections

-- Finally, we agree that it is important for Sudanese
citizens in Darfur to be able to participate in
elections. We believe that elections are an important
milestone in the implementation of the Comprehensive
Peace
Agreement (CPA). It is essential that there be
sufficient
security and safety to permit the voting population to
cast their ballots in an environment free of insecurity
or
retribution, and we urge all parties to the CPA to take
action now to ensure such security exists. It is also
essential that civil liberties, including freedom of
expression, be respected so that persons can peacefully
engage in an exchange of ideas.

- Conclusion

-- The task before us is enormous; the timeline for
accomplishing this task is compressed. With less than
four months until elections and one year away from the
referenda, there is much work to be done. Success will
require all of us to work together and to speak with one
voice to the parties in Sudan. Let me close by again
saying that we are honored to have our partners here with
us today. The more we can work together, the greater our
chances of success.

-- Thank you, Mr. President.
CLINTON