GEORGIA - UNOMIG ROLLOVER RESOLUTION VOTING

UNCLAS STATE 061762

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: UNSC PREL GG
SUBJECT: GEORGIA - UNOMIG ROLLOVER RESOLUTION VOTING
INSTRUCTION AND EOV


1. (U) This is an action request. On June 15, 2009, the UN
Security Council will vote on a
resolution renewing the mandate of the UN Observer Mission in
Georgia (UNOMIG). We understand that Russia will likely veto
this resolution. USUN is requested to vote in support of the
resolution, included in paragraph two, and draw from the
points in paragraph three in delivering the U.S.
Explanation of Vote (EOV). USUN should refer any substantive
changes to the text of the resolution
to the Department.

Resolution Text
--------------


2. (U) Begin resolution text:

The Security Council,

Recalling all its relevant resolutions including resolution
1808 of 15 April 2008 - S RES 1808,
1839 of 9 October 2008 - S RES 1839 and 1866 of 13 February
2009 - S RES 1866,

Considering the report of the Secretary-General of 18 May
2009 S 2009 254,

Decides to extend the mandate of the United Nations mission
for a new period terminating on 30
June 2009;

Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.

Explanation of Vote
--------------


3. (U) USUN should draw on the following points when
delivering the U.S. explanation of vote:


Thank you Mr. President:

-- The United States deeply regrets the outcome
of today,s vote on the draft technical rollover
for the United Nations Mission in Georgia. The draft
resolution would have given the Council time to reach
agreement on a new mandate for the UN presence on the basis
of the Secretary-General,s
recommendations*recommendations that most Council members
have supported. Extending the mandate would have
allowed the UN to continue to carry out its role in
monitoring the ceasefire, addressing security and
humanitarian concerns on the ground, and helping create
the conditions for the return of refugees and displaced
persons.

Mr. President,

We believe that a UN presence in Georgia is
important. For this reason, the United States,
along with other members of the Friends of the
Secretary-General for Georgia have tried over the
past two weeks to engage in good faith negotiations.

Regrettably, the Russian Federation could not
agree to language in this technical rollover )
language that reflects a well-balanced compromise that the
Council had reached in its two previous
resolutions on this issue. This language served to bridge
the differing views on the situation in Georgia.

Despite our best good-faith efforts, UNOMIG,s
mandate expired today. We will now consider
measures to address a Georgia without a UN presence. We will
continue to work closely with the leadership of
the EU Monitoring Mission and with the co-chairs of the
Geneva talks. In the meantime, it is the civilian
population that suffers by facing a tenuous security
environment without an international presence in
Abkhazia, Georgia.

The United States would like today to reaffirm
once again in this chamber its commitment to the
territorial integrity and sovereignty of Georgia. The vote
today demonstrates that the majority of Council
members agree.

The UN Observer Mission in Georgia has
accomplished much since its deployment in 1993. We
thank the many members of the mission over the years for
their hard work. We also thank the
Secretary-General, the Secretariat and Special Representative
of the Secretary-General Johan Verbeke for all
their efforts to help resolve the conflict in Georgia.

Finally, we believe that the Council should
remain seized of the matter, and in this regard we
look forward to working with other members of the Council in
the future.

Thank you Mr. President.
CLINTON