CONSULTATIONS ON SUDAN ELECTIONS - BUDGETARY

UNCLAS STATE 086626 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL KPKO UNSC SU SUBJECT: CONSULTATIONS ON SUDAN ELECTIONS - BUDGETARY IMPLICATIONS REF: STATE 84997 ¶1. This is an addendum to State 84997, and USUN may draw upon the points below during consultations on elections preparations in Sudan scheduled before the Security Council on August 20, 2009. ¶2. Begin points: --The United States continues to be a staunch supporter of holding fair and credible elections in Sudan at the earliest feasible time. We recognize the enormity of the task and the extraordinary expense of planning and conducting an election under less than ideal circumstances, and thank the Secretary-General for providing the cost implications for the planned elections. Holding multiparty, national elections in Sudan will require the assistance of not only the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) but the UN/AU Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), and it is crucial that they provide this support. While we support elections in Sudan and would like to support the request for additional funds, the sum of $46.6 million is substantial. It requires an analysis of the projected uses of the funds, particularly in light of the funds already dedicated to the election effort by USAID and the international community. --Preliminary cost estimates provided in Addendum 1 of S/2009/391 indicate more than $28 million is estimated for air transportation alone - more than half the total projected amount. Included in the projection is the cost of operating 21 helicopters for varying periods. The United States believes a comprehensive and carefully detailed line item explanation for this item is necessary, as well as a full description of the services and tasks to be accomplished utilizing air transportation. --Similarly, over $15 million is projected to be expended for police and civilian personnel. In order to assess the utility of such expenditures, it would be helpful to have a detailed description of the types of personnel to be employed and their specific functions relating to elections processes in Sudan. There may be opportunities to reduce these and other costs and we would be remiss not to explore them. If no cost reduction opportunities exist, then we will have completed our due diligence and can justify lending our support to this increase. --The United States firmly believes elections in Sudan are a critical part of implementing the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and establishing durable peace and reconciliation in Sudan; however, it is essential to optimize all expenditures for election preparations. In principle, we strongly support adequately funding the elections effort, but before the United States can commit to an increase in force levels or mission funding, we may need to notify the U.S. Congress with the details of the increase. We therefore urge the Secretary-General to provide a more detailed and exact projection of all costs, by line item and subcategories, of all projected expenditures included in the financial implications of Addendum 1. With additional information we believe we will be able to justify our support for the additional resources. Thank you. CLINTON