UNIPSIL BRIEFING: CORRUPTION, DRUGS, AND YOUTH

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000116 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL UNSC SL XY SUBJECT: UNIPSIL BRIEFING: CORRUPTION, DRUGS, AND YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT CHALLENGE SIERRA LEONE ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: United Nations Integrated Office for Sierra Leone's (UNIPSIL) ERSG Schulenburg told the Security Council that drug trafficking, corruption, and youth unemployment are the greatest threats to Sierra Leone's post-conflict recovery. He said the "Joint Vision" plan, agreed by all UN offices, paved the way for UNIPSIL's pilot integration of UN work in Sierra Leone. Schulenburg asked for patience as UNIPSIL tried to define its development and political roles and establish meaningful benchmarks. He asked for full support- 2.1 billion USD-for President Komora's policy plan "Agenda for Change." Dutch PermRep Majoor, the Peace Building Chair for Sierra Leone, called for donations to help UNIPSIL meet its challenges. Ambassador Rice expressed concern at the understaffing of UNIPSIL and welcomed collaboration against drug trafficking and piracy. All Council members joined her in expressing support for UNIPSIL as the first integrated mission with joint planning for both its political and development mandates. END SUMMARY THREATS: CORRUPTION, DRUG TRAFFICKING, YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT ¶2. (SBU) UNIPSIL's Executive Representative of the Secretary-General (ERSG) Michael von der Schulenburg briefed the Security Council on February 9. Schulenburg cited corruption, drug trafficking, and chronic youth unemployment as the three major threats to Sierra Leone's peace and security. He said UNIPSIL would work with the Government of Sierra Leone (GOSL) to review mining contracts, one major source of potential corruption. Schulenburg thanked the U.S., UK, and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime for their support, and said drug trafficking needed to be addressed while it was still in a preventable stage. One million youths were either unemployed or under-employed, and only modest gains had been made recently, he reported. INTEGRATING THE UN MISSION... ¶3. (SBU) Schulenburg said UNIPSIL's "Joint Vision" plan brought all UN offices under one roof, offering an integrated approach to address post-conflict issues. He stressed UNIPSIL was a pilot program, which he envisioned being smaller but stronger than its predecessor. He expressed the need to expand Sierra Leone's donor base to fund fully the estimated 2.1 billion USD needed over the medium-term for implementation of President Koroma's Agenda for Change, the GOSL policy document for the future. ...WILL BE HARD TO BENCHMARK... ¶4. (SBU) In response to a question from the UK, Schulenburg said there were no clear benchmarks for success yet, and called for patience while UNIPSIL created its political and development goals. He reported UNIPSIL planned on sharing advisory notes to the GOSL on youth unemployment by March and drug-trafficking soon thereafter. ...AND WILL REQUIRE FUNDING FOR PEACE ¶5. (SBU) Dutch PermRep Majoor, as the chair of the Peace Building Commission for Sierra Leone, said the "Joint Vision" was a critical achievement towards integrating UN offices, but UNIPSIL needed full staffing to be effective. He called on all stakeholders to increase donations to ensure the lasting consolidation of peace. U.S. SUPPORTS "VALUE-ADDED" INTEGRATING ¶6. (SBU) Ambassador Rice applauded GOSL President Koroma's effective leadership promoting change and the GOSL's efforts to address corruption. She said the U.S. saw potential "value-added" from the integrated mission approach and welcomed this innovative response to a post-conflict region. She expressed concern regarding UNIPSIL's staffing shortages and underscored the need for smooth transitions during the transfer of UN missions to not lose momentum. Ambassador Rice welcomed UNIPSIL's collaboration with Sierra Leone's Drug Interdiction Task Force, while noting the rising threat posed by the increase in drug-trafficking through West Africa. She supported the transfer of UN Radio to the Sierra Leone Broadcast Service, and said unallocated peacebuilding funds should be used to further develop its national public broadcasting capabilities. Ambassador Rice was joined by all other members in fully supporting UNIPSIL. COUNCIL CALLS FOR REGIONAL RESPONSE TO DRUGS AND PIRATES ¶7. (SBU) Ugandan PermRep Rugunda said Sierra Leone needed a holistic approach to address its challenges, and believed the GOSL and donors needed to share responsibility to spur economic growth. Burkinabe PermRep Kafando welcomed the achievements of Sierra Leone, especially towards national reconciliation, but noted the GOSL must remain committed towards democracy and good governance. Libya also commended UNIPSIL for its work on national unity. Turkey called Sierra Leone a shining example of a country taking charge of its future. France, China, the UK, Russia, Austria, Costa Rica, Mexico, and Japan all joined Ambassador Rice in calling for a regional response to the threats from drug-traffickers and piracy. Rice