Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09STATE94919
2009-09-11 22:31:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Secretary of State
Cable title:  

UNSC: UN MISSION IN LIBERIA: MANDATE RENEWAL

Tags:  PREL KPKO UNSC LI 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0001
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHC #4919 2542250
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 112231Z SEP 09
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 0000
INFO UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEHMV/AMEMBASSY MONROVIA IMMEDIATE 0000
RUEHFN/AMEMBASSY FREETOWN IMMEDIATE 0000
RUEHAB/AMEMBASSY ABIDJAN IMMEDIATE 0000
RUEHRY/AMEMBASSY CONAKRY IMMEDIATE 0000
UNCLAS STATE 094919 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL KPKO UNSC LI
SUBJECT: UNSC: UN MISSION IN LIBERIA: MANDATE RENEWAL

UNCLAS STATE 094919

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL KPKO UNSC LI
SUBJECT: UNSC: UN MISSION IN LIBERIA: MANDATE RENEWAL


1. (U) USUN is authorized to vote in favor of a Security
Council resolution extending the mandate of the UN Mission in
Liberia (UNMIL) until September 30, 2010, and authorizing
UNMIL to support the 2011 Liberian presidential elections.
The vote is scheduled for September 15. USUN should consult
with Washington if there are any substantive changes to the
text of the resolution (paragraph 2).


2. (U) Begin resolution text:

The Security Council,

Recalling its resolutions and statements by its President
concerning the situation in Liberia and the subregion, in
particular its resolutions 1836 (2008),1626 (2005),and 1509
(2003),

Welcoming the Secretary-General,s report of 10 August 2009
S/2009/411, as well as his special report of 10 June 2009,
and taking note of the recommendations in both reports,

Welcoming the efforts of the Government of Liberia to further
national reconciliation and economic recovery, and to combat
corruption and promote efficiency and good governance, in
particular steps taken with regard to strengthening
Government control over natural resources and to address the
important issue of land reform,

Taking note of the conclusion of the work of the Truth and
Reconciliation Commission, which provides an important
opportunity for the people of Liberia to move the national
reconciliation agenda forward and engage in a constructive
national dialogue on the root causes of the Liberian
conflict,

Recognizing that lasting stability in Liberia and the
subregion will require well-functioning and sustainable
security and rule of law sectors, and noting the continuing
progress being made in developing and professionalizing the
Armed Forces of Liberia and the Liberia National Police,

Recalling the benchmarks for the drawdown phase of the United
Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL),including core benchmarks
on the Liberia National Police and the national security
strategy, and noting with concern those areas where progress
is still slow,

Recognizing the significant challenges that remain across all
sectors, including continuing problems with violent crime,

Welcoming the efforts of the Secretary-General to keep all
peacekeeping operations, including UNMIL, under close review
and stressing the need for the Council to pursue a rigorous,
strategic approach to peacekeeping deployments, consistent

with the declaration of its President dated 5 August 2009 on
United Nations peacekeeping operations S/PRST/2009/24,

Expressing its appreciation for the continuing support of the
international community, the Economic Community of West
African States (ECOWAS),and the African Union (AU),

Noting with concern the threats to sub-regional stability,
including to Liberia, in particular posed by drug
trafficking, organized crime, and illicit arms trafficking,

Commending the work of UNMIL, under the leadership of the
Special Representative of the Secretary-General, for its
continuing and significant contribution to maintaining peace
and stability in Liberia, and welcoming the close cooperation
between UNMIL and the United Nations Operation in Cote
d,Ivoire (UNOCI),as well as with neighboring Governments,
in coordinating security activities in the border areas in
the subregion,

Taking note of the conclusions of the needs assessment
mission that evaluated the requirements of the Liberian
National Elections Commission to prepare for and conduct the
October 2011 general presidential and legislative elections,
and stressing that the responsibility for the preparation and
conduct of the elections rests with the Liberian authorities,
with the support of the international community,

Welcoming progress achieved on the benchmarks laid out in the
Secretary-General,s reports of 12 September 2006, 9 August
2007 and 19 March 2008,

Recalling its resolutions 1325 (2000) and 1820 (2008) on
women, peace, and security and condemning any sexual
violence, further welcoming the continuing efforts of UNMIL,
in close cooperation with the Government of Liberia, to
promote and protect the rights of civilians, in particular
women and children, noting with appreciation that the
Government,s strategy for implementation of resolution 1325
(2000) is in place, recognizing the challenges that remain in
addressing the serious issues of gender-based violence and
sexual exploitation and abuse, and calling on Member States
to increase support to the Government in its efforts,

Encouraging the Liberian authorities to expedite their
efforts to constitute the Independent National Commission on
Human Rights,

Reiterating the continuing need for UNMIL,s support for the
security of the Special Court for Sierra Leone, subject to
periodic review as the Court's work progresses,

Determining that the situation in Liberia continues to
constitute a threat to international peace and security in
the region,

Acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations,


1. Decides that the mandate of the United Nations Mission in
Liberia (UNMIL) shall be extended until 30 September 2010;


2. Authorizes UNMIL to assist with the 2011 general
presidential and legislative elections, by providing
logistical support, particularly to facilitate access to
remote areas, coordinating international electoral
assistance, and supporting Liberian institutions and
political parties in creating an atmosphere conducive to the
conduct of peaceful elections;


3. Calls upon the Liberian authorities to ensure that the
outstanding issues regarding the electoral legal framework,
including delineation of constituencies and proposed
constitutional amendments, are finalized to facilitate
adequate preparations for the elections;


4. Further endorses the Secretary-General,s recommendation
that the conduct of free and fair, conflict-free elections be
a core benchmark for UNMIL,s drawdown;


5. Reaffirms its intention to authorize the Secretary-General
to redeploy troops, as may be needed, between UNMIL and UNOCI
on a temporary basis in accordance with the provisions of
resolution 1609 (2005) and calls on troop contributing
countries to support the efforts of the Secretary-General in
this regard;


6. Endorses the Secretary-General,s recommendation in his
Special Report of 10 June 2009 (S/2009/299) to implement the
third stage of UNMIL,s drawdown, from October 2009 to May
2010, repatriating 2,029 military personnel, three attack
helicopters and 72 armored personnel carriers, leaving
UNMIL,s military strength at 8,202 personnel, including
7,952 troops in Liberia and 250 at the Special Court for
Sierra Leone, and keeping the UNMIL police component at its
current authorized strength;


7. Requests the Secretary-General, in cooperation with the UN
country team and Government of Liberia, to develop a
strategic integrated plan to coordinate activity towards the
achievement of benchmarks, and recalling the statements of
its President on 22 July 2009 (S/PRST/2009/23) and 5 August
2009 (S/PRST/2009/24) which emphasized the need for coherence
between, and integration of, peacemaking, peacekeeping,
peacebuilding and development to achieve an effective
response to post-conflict situations, and requests the
Secretary-General to provide in his reports an indication of
progress toward achieving a coordinated UN approach in
Liberia and in particular on critical gaps to achieving
peacebuilding objectives;


8. Underscores the importance that the military concept of
operations and rules of engagement be regularly updated and
be fully in line with the provisions of this resolution, and
requests the Secretary-General to report on them to the
Security Council and Troop Contributing Countries;



9. Further requests the Secretary-General to continue to
monitor progress on core benchmarks, in particular on
progress on preparations for the 2011 elections, and on the
progress made towards building the capacity of the Liberia
National Police, and to report regularly on that progress to
the Security Council;


10. Calls upon the Government of Liberia, in coordination
with UNMIL, the UN country tream and international partners
to redouble efforts to develop national security and rule of
law institutions that are fully independently operational,
and to this end encourages coordinated progress on the
implementation of all Security and Justice Development Plans,
including the Liberia National Police strategic plan referred
to in paragraph 29 of the Secretary-General's report of 10
August 2009 (S/2009/411);



11. Further requests the Secretary-General to keep it
regularly informed of the situation on the ground and to
provide by 15 August 2010 a report on the issues addressed in
paragraphs 2 and 8;


12. Decides to remain seized of the matter.

End text.
CLINTON