MAY 13 UN SECURITY COUNCIL CONSULTATIONS ON

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 048669 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL UNSC KPKO ET KE SUBJECT: MAY 13 UN SECURITY COUNCIL CONSULTATIONS ON SOMALIA ¶1. USUN may draw upon the elements below during UN Security Council consultations on Somalia. - The United States strongly supports the efforts of President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Sharmarke, and others in the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) to develop an inclusive, functioning government for all the people of Somalia. - The May 9-10 attacks on the people of Somalia and the Transitional Federal Government remind us of the past that Somalia is so desperately trying to leave behind. These attacks, in which at least 60 people, including some 20 civilians, were killed, follow a pattern in which extremist militias, including al-Shabaab, seek to destabilize the Djibouti process and inflict misery on civilians. These are the same groups that continue to carry out assassinations and attempted assassinations of influential Somali leaders who are courageously pushing for peace in Somalia. - We remain concerned by independent reporting that Eritrea continues to provide financial, military, and political support to al-Shabaab and others threatening the peace process. We will continue to call on Eritrea to use their influence in the region for good and to foster peace. - We will also continue to work in the Somalia Sanctions Committee to implement preventative measures that will encourage the restoration of peace and security in Somalia. This will include designating individuals and entities that meet the criteria described in resolution 1844 (2008) for an asset freeze, travel ban, and targeted arms embargo. - The United States strongly urges all Member States to comply with the comprehensive arms embargo that was imposed by resolution 733 in 1992, and the exemption process as described in resolution 1772 (2007) and the Committee's guidelines. - The United States is also concerned about the scourge of piracy off the Somali coast. We have called for an urgent meeting of the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia for May 29 here in New York. - At this meeting we will discuss current military operations and their effectiveness, urge nations to adopt policies to support pirate detention and prosecution, press victim states to live up to their responsibilities to prosecute suspected pirates, urge states to adopt a non-concession policy in regards to ransom payments, and explore other ideas to discourage piracy. - However, we continue to believe the best long-term solution to eradicate piracy off the Horn of Africa is to assist in the establishment of a stable and prosperous Somalia. - The United States is pleased that the UN was able to increase its activities in Somalia, and that UN international staff have been able to conduct missions to Mogadishu. We hope that security conditions will eventually allow for international staff to operate from the capital. - We commend AMISOM, especially the dedication and sacrifice by the Ugandan and Burundian battalions, for their efforts to bring peace, security, and stability to Somalia under such difficult circumstances. - We support continuation of the UN logistical support package to AMISOM as recommended by the Secretary General in order to continue to support the Mission. At the same time, we continue to encourage other Member States to support AMISOM, either bilaterally or through the contributions to the AMISOM UN Trust Fund. This international support will allow AMISOM to better and more easily operate and meet its mandate. - To this end, we encourage the UN and the AU to quickly conclude a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will allow for the necessary framework for cooperation between the organizations, and we also encourage DFS to continue its efforts to establish service support contracts. - The United States is encouraged by the establishment STATE 00048669 002 OF 002 of the UN Support Office for AMISOM (UNSOA) and by the completion of the Department of Field Support's (DFS,s) assessment mission in Mogadishu. - We underscore that support to the Somali security forces is critical, and are also optimistic that pledges made by donors at the April 23 Donors, Conference will help to meet their basic needs for water, food, fuel, and medical assistance. - We are deeply concerned with the intensification of the humanitarian crisis in Somalia, and the severe effects of drought, conflict, inflation, and continued lack of humanitarian access on the Somali people. However, we are encouraged by the return of approximately 70,000 displaced persons to Mogadishu. We must do all we can to support the stabilization of Mogadishu so that even more displaced persons can return to their homes and to productive livelihoods. - The United States is deeply concerned that the World Food Program is the only remaining humanitarian entity in Somalia, and that the WFP has threatened to stop its mission as well, if local leaders cannot guarantee the safety of their personnel. We once again condemn the targeting for assassination and kidnapping of humanitarian workers by al-Shabaab and other extremists. We call upon all groups to guarantee the safety of humanitarian workers in Somalia. End Somalia humanitarian and human rights elements. CLINTON