Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09USUNNEWYORK377
2009-04-09 18:00:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
USUN New York
Cable title:  

UN POLITICAL HEAD BRIEFS SECURITY COUNCIL ON

Tags:  PREL PGOV UNSC MA ZU 
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DE RUCNDT #0377 0991800
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 091800Z APR 09
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6305
INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHAN/AMEMBASSY ANTANANARIVO PRIORITY 0068
UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000377 

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV UNSC MA ZU
SUBJECT: UN POLITICAL HEAD BRIEFS SECURITY COUNCIL ON
MADAGASCAR

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000377

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV UNSC MA ZU
SUBJECT: UN POLITICAL HEAD BRIEFS SECURITY COUNCIL ON
MADAGASCAR


1. (SBU) SUMMARY. UN Political Affairs U/SYG Pascoe told the
Security Council on April 7 that the international community
must help push for a consensual outcome to the crisis in
Madagascar. Ambassador DiCarlo said the power transfer was a
coup, called for free, fair, and transparent elections within
six months, and said the U.S. was suspending all assistance
to the Government of Madagascar. Uganda said it would
propose a Presidential Statement to condemn coups in Africa.
Most Council members called for an earlier election timeline
than the 19 months proposed by the interim presidency. END
SUMMARY.


2. (SBU) UN Department of Political Affairs (DPA) U/SYG Lynn
Pascoe told the Security Council in closed consultations on
April 7 that the international community needs to push for a
consensual outcome to the current political crisis in
Madagascar. He said the African Union (AU) had just
announced it will create an international contact group to
address the situation in Madagascar. Pascoe said the April
2-3 "national dialogue," led by interim President Ravoelina's
supporters, was boycotted by ousted President Ravalomanana's
supporters, many diplomatic missions, and other political and
civic groups. Pascoe delineated the new electoral timeline
agreed during the "dialogue" as: September 2009 for the
constitutional referendum; March 2010 for the legislative
elections; October 2010 for the presidential elections; and
2011 for senate elections. Pascoe said that this plan, which
delays presidential elections for 19 months, was much too
long, and he called instead for presidential elections in

2009. DPA A/SYG Menkerios also participated and welcomed the
leadership of the AU in addressing this crisis and urged
Council members to look to address the root economic causes
of the instability in Madagascar, which he said included a
well-spread public perception of abuse of political and
economic power by Ravalomanana.


3. (SBU) Ambassador DiCarlo condemned the way power was
transferred from Ravalomanana to Rajoelina, labeling it a
coup, and said the U.S. was suspending all assistance to the
Government of Madagascar. She said Madagascar needs to
restore constitutional governance and hold free, fair, and
peaceful elections within six months. She also supported the
UN's efforts, and welcomed the AU's formation of a contact
group. All Council members agreed the power transfer
violated the Malagasy constitution and all joined DiCarlo in
calling for a consensual solution.


4. (SBU) Uganda supported the AU and Southern African
Development Community's (SADC) condemnations of the unlawful
change of power. Uganda also said it would propose a draft
Presidential Statement (PRST) condemning coups in Africa
(septel).


5. (SBU) Austria, Burkina Faso, France, Japan, Libya,
Mexico, Turkey and the UK all reiterated DiCarlo's call for a
more rapid election timeline. The UK said the power transfer
was "tantamount to a coup."
Rice