Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09USUNNEWYORK281
2009-03-19 09:31:00
UNCLASSIFIED
USUN New York
Cable title:  

UN SAYS EUFOR-MINURCAT TRANSITION ON TRACK

Tags:  PGOV PHUM CD CT 
pdf how-to read a cable
O 190931Z MAR 09
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6117
INFO AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000281 


E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM CD CT
SUBJECT: UN SAYS EUFOR-MINURCAT TRANSITION ON TRACK

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000281


E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM CD CT
SUBJECT: UN SAYS EUFOR-MINURCAT TRANSITION ON TRACK


1. (SBU) SUMMARY. Assistant Secretary-General Mulet told the
Security Council on March 17 that the EUFOR-MINURCAT transfer
of authority (TOR) had proceeded smoothly, with many EUFOR
troops rehatting or otherwise remaining in place as MINURCAT
built its strength. He warned that some MINURCAT needs had
yet to be filled by troop pledges, including a signals unit
and several helicopters. He was also concerned that the
trust fund dedicated to training Chadian security forces
(DIS) would soon be exhausted. France said the TOR had been
literally exemplary and that MINURCAT was taking over from an
EUFOR that had been an operational success. China said
EUFOR's success had stemmed from its willingness to cooperate
with the governments of Chad and CAR. Ambassador DiCarlo
expressed support for MINURCAT, warned that refugee flows
from Darfur could increase in the aftermath of Sudan's
expulsion of NGOs, and reiterated that troops were still
badly needed in CAR to combat banditry. The Council issued a
press statement, drafted by France, commending the TOR and
the deployment of DIS forces, calling for improvement in
Chad-Sudan relations, particularly by recourse to the Dakar
Agreement process. END SUMMARY.


2. (SBU) United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for
Peacekeeping Operations Edmond Mulet told the Security
Council in closed consultations on March 17 that the March 15
transfer of authority in Chad and Central African Republic
(CAR) from EUFOR to MINURCAT had proceeded smoothly in large
part because 1,877 EUFOR troops had rehatted with MINURCAT,
many other EUFOR troops would remain until April 15, and
additional troops had deployed from Ghana and Togo. Mulet
said MINURCAT has 2,285 troops on the ground at present,
would build to 3,900 troops by the June start of the rainy
season, and would reach its 5,200 full strength, including
300 troops to be deployed to CAR, by the end of calendar year

2009.


3. (SBU) Mulet said the non-military side of MINURCAT, long
deployed in the region, had been successful in training 850
Detachement Integre de Securite (DIS) police for deployment
in and around IDP and refugee camps, but he warned that the
donor trust fund that paid for that training was very close
to exhaustion. He also sounded alarms about MINURCAT's
ongoing need for a signals unit for deployment near Abeche
and twelve of eighteen planned helicopters. He said MINURCAT
had developed good relations with the Government of Chad,
although transfer of infrastructure negotiations had been
difficult and a status of mission agreement (SOMA) had yet to
be finalized.


4. (SBU) French Permrep Ripert welcomed the TOR but called
for praise for EUFOR as well for its success in protecting
women and children in the camps and for fulfilling its
promise to remain on the ground for one year. He offered
EUFOR's performance as an example of what the EU can achieve
that contrasted dramatically with situations elsewhere. He
said EUFOR was a model of operational success as well as
transition, referring to EUFOR patrols as "deterrents" to
violence that allowed the training of MINURCAT and DIS
forces. Austrian PermRep Mayr-Harting noted that EUFOR had
been the largest EU effort in Africa to date and said Austria
had supported it for three reasons: the UN had mandated it;
it had a humanitarian focus; and its function as a bridge to
a UN presence had been understood from the outset.


5. (SBU) Burkina Faso PolCoord was concerned about a possible
security vacuum as MINURCAT got up to speed but agreed the
TOR was a fine example of UN cooperation with a regional
organization. China DPR said EUFOR's success was the direct
result of its willingness to engage the host governments.


6. (SBU) Ambassador DiCarlo praised the successful TOR and
ongoing MINURCAT deployment and reminded Council members that
MINURCAT deployment to northeastern CAR was still urgently
needed to combat banditry and lawlessness. She asked Mulet
whether Sudan's "reckless decision" to expel NGOs had created
an increased flow of refugees into Chad or CAR. Mulet
replied that the UN had not yet noted an increase in
movement, although he added that stockpiles of humanitarian
supplies in Darfur were rapidly dwindling and the situation
demanded close monitoring.


7. (SBU) France drafted a press statement that the Council
issued immediately after the session. The statement welcomed
the TOR, commended the European Union on the successful
completion of EUFOR deployment, took note of the DIS
deployment as a critical element of the multidimensional
presence, called for improved regional relations --
especially between Chad and Sudan -- in accord with the Dakar
Agreement process, called on armed groups to renounce
violence in accord with the Sirte and Libreville agreements,
and called for Chad and CAR stakeholders to pursue national
dialogue.


Rice