UNCLAS STATE 057091

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: UNSC PREL PHUM SL XA XY
SUBJECT: SIERRA LEONE: TALKING POINTS FOR JUNE 8 UNSC
DEBATE


1. This is an action request. USUN may draw from the talking
points in para. 2 for the June 8 UN Security Council debate
on Sierra Leone. End action request.


2. Begin points:

-- The United States thanks the Secretary General for his
report and commends UNIPSIL for its continued work to support
the people and government of Sierra Leone as they consolidate
the peace they have built over the past seven years. The
United Nations has been a key element in Sierra Leone,s
transition into a stable, democratic country, governed by the
rule of law. As Sierra Leone continues down the path toward
prosperity, stability, and democracy, UNIPSIL will continue
to play a vital role in prioritizing political dialogue.
-- Although political violence threatened Sierra Leone,s
progress in March, we are encouraged by the response of
Sierra Leone,s political leaders and by UNIPSIL,s efforts
to support the local police and political parties in
restoring calm. We welcome President Koroma and opposition
leader John Benjamin,s goodwill gestures of visiting each
other,s party offices and inviting each other to be guests
at important party events. Such visible displays of
tolerance and respect are important to achieving long-term
reconciliation.
-- We also commend UNIPSIL for its role in encouraging
dialogue between the two major parties and in mediating the
interactive consultations that resulted in the signing of the
April 2 &Joint Communiqu.8 The United States, along with
others in the international community, supported these
bipartisan negotiations, and we encourage the government and
the opposition to continue to work toward full implementation
of the &Joint Communiqu.8
--We welcome the progress Sierra Leone has made in
strengthening its institutions and its rule of law capacity.
The &Joint Communiqu8 calls on all parties to support and
respect important state institutions, and the Secretary
General,s report describes a continued trend toward respect
for human rights. Though the Sierra Leone Police were
unable to stop political violence against opposition party
headquarters, they have since begun investigating individuals
involved in the incident.
-- The United States continues to support the Special Court
for Sierra Leone as it fulfills its mandate. We are pleased
to note that the Court has made additional progress, issuing
sentences for Issa Hassan Sesay, Morris Kallon, and Augustine
Gbao; and, with the exception of Charles Taylor, has
concluded all but one appeal.
-- Although we remain concerned about the trafficking of
illegal narcotics through Sierra Leone, we welcome the
important steps the Government of Sierra Leone has made to
combat drug trafficking. UNIPSIL,s work to strengthen the
Joint Drug Interdiction Task Force and the April 20-21
convictions of 18 people for smuggling cocaine into the
country send a strong message to drug traffickers that Sierra
Leoneans will not permit their country to be a haven for drug
criminals.
-- The Peacebuilding Commission,s (PBC) work in Sierra Leone
continues to provide assistance for the country,s
development. We are pleased to note that the PBC has funded
fourteen projects and plans to have implemented all twenty of
its projects by the end of 2009. Furthermore, the United
States welcomes the Special Session of the PBC,s country
specific configuration on Sierra Leone on June 10. We note
that this is an opportunity to not only increase
international support for the country,s peacebuilding
process, but also to gain support for the President,s Agenda
for Change.
--We are concerned that should youth unemployment persist,
frustrated youth may become a destabilizing factor in the
country. We welcome UNIPSIL,s initiative to support the
Government,s Youth Empowerment and Employment scheme, which
aims to provide youth with apprenticeship and employment
opportunities.
-- UNIPSIL has the full support of the United States as it
continues with the people and government of Sierra Leone to
carry out its mandate. We are pleased that UNIPSIL has made
progress in staffing the mission and encourage the UN to fill
remaining positions expeditiously.
CLINTON