UNSC: COUNCIL CONSULTATIONS ON UNDOF

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 USUN NEW YORK 001123 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL KPKO UNSC IS SY SUBJECT: UNSC: COUNCIL CONSULTATIONS ON UNDOF REF: STATE 126217 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: The Council met on December 14 in consultations to discuss the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) since its mandate expires at the end of the month. Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Mulet briefed the Council on the Secretary-General's six-month report, UNDOF's patrols, and the new Philippine contingent that is now operating in the southern sector. While noting that the area has been generally quiet, Mulet stated that UNDOF's freedom of movement is occasionally restricted by the parties. Nevertheless, he said the Secretary-General recommends another six-month renewal and hopes the parties will return to negotiations. Council members expressed appreciation and support for UNDOF and troop contributors. Several, including Ambassador DiCarlo, asked DPKO to consider recommending a longer mandate during the next review period and the P-3 pressed the Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) for a more robust report. The Council is scheduled on December 21 to adopt the draft resolution extending UNDOF's mandate for another six months. End summary. DPKO briefing -------------- ¶2. (SBU) The Council met on December 14 in consultations to discuss the Secretary-General's six-month report, dated November 18, on the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF). (Note: Report was e-mailed to IO/PSC and IO/UNP. End note.) Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Edmond Mulet briefed the Council first. (Comment: Mulet's comments were largely the same as Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) Asia and Middle East Division Officer-in-Charge Nina Lahoud's briefing during the Council's December 7 private meeting with troop-contributing countries (TCCs). End comment.) Mulet stated that UNDOF is currently operating from 40 fixed positions in and around the area of operations and has more mobile monitoring positions. It currently performs approximately 70-80 patrols of the area per day and ten patrols at night, as well as fortnightly patrols and inspections in the areas of limitation to ensure that upper force strength limits are respected. In addition, two new watchtowers have been constructed in the southern area, which have increased the mission's observational abilities. ¶3. (SBU) Mulet referred to DPKO and UNDOF's May 2009 technical assessment which concluded that the Philippine brigade replacing the Polish brigade should have an increased operational presence in the southern areas because of the increased Syrian civilian activity there. Mulet confirmed that the hand-over between the Polish and Philippine forces had successfully taken plans and another 30 addition UNDOF personnel had been redirected from logistics to operational activities in the southern area. (Note: DPKO's assessment last spring, which they only briefed orally to the Council but never in writing, indicated a need for more operational forces in the southern zone given the increased Syrian civilian presence in the area. The increased civilian presence does not contravene the disengagement protocol. End note.) ¶4. (SBU) Mulet referred to the report, which notes that the parties sometimes deny inspection teams access to some of their positions and impose restrictions on the Force's freedom of movement. (Note: In the TCC meeting, Lahoud highlighted the need for the parties to give the teams full access to all sites in question, especially through the A and B gates. She urged that restrictions on UNDOF's freedom of movement be halted but noted that, overall, both Israel and Syria are making improvements in this regard. End note.) Mulet also noted from the report that mines continue to pose a threat to UNDOF, especially when their condition deteriorates. He called for the resumption of negotiations between the parties and said that the Secretary-General recommends that the mandate be extended for another six months to June 30, 2010. Mulet announced that Austrian UNDOF Force Commander Jilke is scheduled to rotate out on February 4, 2010 and that the Secretariat is proceeding with the selection of his replacement. No rotational delay is expected. Council appreciates UNDOF's efforts and voices its support -------------- ¶5. (SBU) All Council members expressed appreciation for UNDOF's efforts and the contributions of troop contributors. A number of countries voiced hope that the two parties would restart negotiations, whether indirectly or directly. The Turkish Perm Rep said that Turkey is ready to continue its USUN NEW Y 00001123 002 OF 002 role in indirect negotiations between the parties. The Libyan Deputy Perm Rep referred to Israeli Knesset action to require a referendum before any Israeli withdrawal from occupied territory and expressed doubt about the sincerity of Israeli authorities' efforts towards a comprehensive settlement. A number of Council members called for both parties to give UNDOF full access and freedom of movement. China added a call for all counties to pay their peacekeeping assessments on time. Several members, including Austria, Costa Rica, and Vietnam, expressed concern about mines in the areas of operation, to which Mulet replied that UNDOF de-mines for operational reasons but does not have a humanitarian de-mining mandate. Number of members ask DPKO to consider recommending longer mandate -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Drawing from reftel, Ambassador DiCarlo expressed strong U.S. preference for a 12-month mandate for the sake of Council efficiency, given UNDOF's non-controversial nature, and asked DPKO to consider recommending a longer mandate for the next renewal period. A number of countries called for the same, including the UK and Costa Rica. Austria and Croatia, both TCCs, said they would be open to a 12-month mandate if both parties agreed. P-3 calls for a more robust report -------------- ¶7. (SBU) The UK Deputy Perm Rep called on DPKO to follow up on its May technical assessment now that the Philippine contingent is in place. Both the UK and France reminded the Council that all peacekeeping operations should be under constant review and UNDOF is no exception. They both joined Ambassador DiCarlo in calling DPKO to revamp the format of its UNDOF report since it currently "offers little value." Mulet later replied that he had taken note of requests for a more detailed report and that there would be a move away from "recycled texts." Japan voiced appreciation to the Security Council President for holding the Council's meeting with TCCs one week before the Council's own consultations, thereby giving the TCCs time to feed their thoughts into the Council's own deliberations. Council scheduled to adopt mandate extension -------------- ¶8. (SBU) The Council is scheduled on December 21 to adopt a draft resolution, identical to UNSCR 1875, to extend UNDOF's mandate for another six months to June 30. As in previous renewals, the Council has also been asked to approve an accompanying one-paragraph Presidential Statement. Both drafts have been e-mailed to IO/PSC. RICE