USUN INSTRUCTION: UNSC CONSULTATIONS ON MINURSO

UNCLAS STATE 037840 E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL KPKO UNSC SIPDIS SUBJECT: USUN INSTRUCTION: UNSC CONSULTATIONS ON MINURSO ¶1. As requested by the UN Security Council in Resolution 1813 (2008),the Secretary-General issued a report on April 14, 2009, on the situation concerning the Western Sahara. The report covers developments since the Secretary-General's last report, issued April 14, 2008. The Secretary-General's Personal Envoy for the Western Sahara, Ambassador Chris Ross, will brief the Council on the details of the report in closed consultations on April 22, 2009. USUN should draw from the points included in paragraph two, as appropriate, and provide a readout of the session. ¶2. BEGIN POINTS: -- The United States thanks Ambassador Ross for his briefing today and commends Ambassador Ross, DPKO, and MINURSO for their continued efforts in the Western Sahara. -- The United States supports the Secretary-General and Ambassador Ross in their efforts, as embodied in the observations and recommendations in this report, to find a peaceful, sustainable solution to the long-standing dispute in the Western Sahara, and urge other members of the Council to do the same. -- In particular, we welcome the fact that, during Ambassador Ross' trip to the region, the parties confirmed their commitment to cooperate with the United Nations to reach a solution to the Western Sahara as soon as possible. -- We strongly support the Secretary-General's recommendation for the Personal Envoy to hold small, informal preparatory meetings with the parties. We also concur with the need for the Council to reiterate its call upon the parties to negotiate in good faith, without any preconditions, and to show political will to enter into substantive discussions. -- Considering the current situation on the ground and Ambassador Ross' continuing efforts, we agree the presence of MINURSO remains indispensable and support renewing MINURSO's mandate for another 12 months. QUESTION: -- What is the status of DPKO's efforts to replace MINURSO Special Representative for the Secretary General (SRSG) Julian Harston? END POINTS CLINTON