UNMIS CONSULTATIONS TALKING POINTS

UNCLAS STATE 039760 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PREF KPKO SU UNSC SUBJECT: UNMIS CONSULTATIONS TALKING POINTS ¶1. This is an action request. USUN may draw from the points in paragraph 2 during consultations in the Security Council on the UN Mission in the Sudan (UNMIS) scheduled for April 23, 2009. ¶2. Begin Points We would like to thank SRSG Ashraf Qazi for his work and the efforts of his team during a difficult period. We also express our appreciation for the work of UNMIS and those troop and police contributing countries participating in an admittedly difficult environment. The United States fully supports a continuation of the UNMIS mandate and looks forward to having UNMIS continue its mission in Sudan by assisting and supporting the full implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA),providing elections assistance, and working with regional and international partners to bring a permanent peace to Sudan and the region. The United States continues to be troubled by the delays and impediments preventing implementation of the CPA, thereby leaving critical issues unresolved. The structure and operations to conduct national elections must be built; census results are still pending; Abyei continues to be a flash point with the border still in dispute and the Abyei Interim Administration unable to carry out its duties due to lack of funding; oil revenue wealth sharing remains problematic; crucial legislation called for by the CPA such as the Security Law, Referendum Law, and Media Act has not been passed; the North-South boundary dispute is yet to be resolved; and increasing violence accompanied by the prevalence of arms in southern Sudan argues forcefully for an effective disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration program throughout southern Sudan. We believe the CPA is the foundation upon which a durable peace can be reached between the North and South and is the means to avoid the devastating violence that existed prior to the agreement. Renewed efforts are required to resolve the issues noted above and to avoid a return to violent conflict. While the United States is pleased the National Electoral Commission (NEC) has recommended a date for elections, we also recognize much remains to be done in order to have peaceful and credible elections. The Needs Assessment Mission requested of UNMIS by the NEC, and being organized by DPKO and the UN's Electoral Assistance Division, must quickly identify the planning, organization, and support needed to conduct national elections. We hope the work of the assessment mission will be completed as soon as possible. Until the assessment is complete, UNMIS should continue to work with the NEC within existing capabilities to ensure that the elections will be credible and transparent. We also believe DPKO should assess the degree of security UNMIS can provide during elections. UNMIS should provide the Council a detailed report of all election assistance provided and contemplated in the next Secretary-General's report on UNMIS. The disappointing expulsion and closure of humanitarian agencies in Sudan on March 4 created conditions ripe for a humanitarian crisis. We strongly encourage the UN to continue working with the Government of Sudan (GOS) to establish conditions to meet 100% of humanitarian needs. We urge UNMIS and other UN entities to develop contingency plans and work with non-governmental organizations to assist vulnerable civilians throughout Sudan. The United States believes UNMIS should engage with its UN partners, the GOS, the Government of Southern Sudan, and the international community on how to best meet these assistance needs. In sum, UNMIS must be prepared for a worst-case scenario and have in place all mechanisms to employ a rapid and effective response to any developing humanitarian crisis. Finally, we are deeply concerned about the significant inter-ethnic and LRA-related violence occurring in southern Sudan, and urge UNMIS to work cooperatively and in coordination with the CPA partners in improving the security environment and implementing conflict prevention mechanisms to reduce and avoid violent conflicts between and against local residents, particularly in the violence-prone border areas. Thank You CLINTON