GUINEA-BISSAU: UNSC CONSULTATIONS JUNE 23

UNCLAS STATE 062908 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: UNSC PREL PHUM SNAR PU XA XY SUBJECT: GUINEA-BISSAU: UNSC CONSULTATIONS JUNE 23 ¶1. (U)This is an action request. USUN may draw from the talking points in para 2 during the UN Security Council consultations on Guinea-Bissau June 23. ¶2. Begin points: -- Thank SRSG Mutaboba for his briefing. -- The United States emphasizes the importance of transparent, free and fair elections in moving Guinea-Bissau away from the tragic and violent acts of recent months. We call upon the Government, the political stakeholders, the Armed forces and the people of Guinea-Bissau to exercise restraint, maintain stability and constitutional order and respect the rule of law and the ongoing democratic process, in particular for the scheduled June 28 national elections. -- The United States is troubled by the resurgence of political violence, especially so close to the elections. We urge all actors in Guinea-Bissau to ensure the safety of their fellow Bissau-Guineans and to press for greater adherence to the rule of law. -- The political violence draws attention to the urgent need to reform the justice, defense and security sectors of Guinea-Bissau. -- In making the transition to the UN Integrated Peacebuilding Office, we urge the current mission to stay focused on support for a peaceful political process, for a swift investigation into the recent assassinations and in the fight against drug trafficking. -- The United States supports using Guinea-Bissau as a pilot country for the ECOWAS Regional Action Plan to address the growing problem of illicit drug trafficking, organized crimes and drug abuse in West Africa. -- While the United States supports the transition to an Integrated United Nations Peacebuilding Office for Guinea-Bissau, we urge the current mission not to lose sight of the enormous tasks currently at hand including elections and general climate of political instability. We welcome that the new mandate for this integrated mission as proposed directs attention to the critical areas needing attention in Guinea-Bissau in the post-election period. -- We recommend the current mandate be extended through January 31 vice December 31 in order to allow sufficient time for the Council to discuss this renewal, in light of the numerous mandates that currently expire in December. Questions: -- What is the status on the Commission of Inquiry? Will it conduct a viable and thorough investigation of the events in March and June 2009, which lead to the deaths of the President and Chief of General Staff of the military? -- What specifically is the ECOWAS request regarding a military and political preventive security deployment? -- What is the status of AU deployment of a contingency force to focus on preventive security? Has the AU acknowledged receipt of this request? -- How many international observers will be present during the June 28 national elections? How is UNOGBIS coordinating the activities of these observers? -- What will be the benchmarks for progress with the ECOWAS pilot program to combat drug trafficking in Guinea-Bissau? CLINTON