SOMALIA: UNSC BACKS UK DRAFT, DEFERS UNPKO

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 USUN NEW YORK 000506 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF, IO, PM E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER PHUM MARR MOPS KPKO UNSC SO SUBJECT: SOMALIA: UNSC BACKS UK DRAFT, DEFERS UNPKO REF: A. USUN 303 ¶B. USUN 502 ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Security Council members welcomed the UK's draft resolution on UN support to the African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM) with only a few members advocating a rapid transfer to a UN peacekeeping operation (UNPKO) in Security Council consultations on May 13. In a briefing preceding consultations, the Foreign Minister of Somalia's Transitional Federal Government (TFG) gave an upbeat assessment of his government's performance in recent clashes in Mogadishu. Secretariat officials also briefed on political developments, contingency planning for a UNPKO and deployment of the UN's support package to AMISOM - including urgent measures by the Department of Field Support (DFS) in recent days to resupply AMISOM with rations, trauma kits, and airfield equipment. End summary. ¶2. (SBU) In a briefing to the Council on May 13, U/SYG for Political Affairs Lynn Pascoe said that the political process under the Djibouti Agreement meant Somalis had the "best chance in decades" to move beyond conflict and stabilize their country. He said the SYG, through Special Representative Ould-Abdallah, was implementing a political strategy that involved returning the process to Mogadishu, assisting TFG outreach to outlying groups, and consolidating Transitional Federal Institutions. Pascoe welcomed the April 23 donors' conference for the TFG and AMISOM, and praised TFG forces for repelling what he said was an "attempted coup" by Hassan Dahir Aweys and al-Shabaab. On piracy, he said that SRSG Ould-Abdallah was working to coordinate the activities of the UN system, and welcomed the establishment of the Contact Group on Piracy off the coast of Somalia (CGPCS). DPKO U/SYG Le Roy notified the Council that Indonesia had volunteered to take a leading role in a UNPKO in Somalia once conditions were established, while Pakistan had volunteered maritime assets and Bangladesh and Uruguay had also pledged troops. He reiterated the SYG's recommendation that any move towards a UNPKO should be "conditions-based" and not tied to a rigid timetable. Subsequent consultations between USUN military staff and DPKO confirmed that Indonesia's offer to lead a potential UNPKO was delivered verbally and was accompanied by a pledge of an infantry battalion, a special forces company and an engineering company. Bangladesh offered an infantry battalion (with the caveat that it could not supply armored personnel carriers) and shore patrol craft, while Pakistan offered naval assets and Uruguay offered military observers and staff officers. ¶3. (SBU) U/SYG for Field Support Susana Malcorra said that the UN trust fund, bilateral support, and the UN logistical support package were each critical for AMISOM's success, and she announced that Sierra Leone had agreed to deploy an infantry battalion to help AMISOM fully deploy. She highlighted the challenge of coordinating donations from bilateral, trust fund, and UN sources, and said that the AU was working to map all trust fund and donor contributions to AMISOM in order to help avoid gaps and eliminate the possibility of duplication. Malcorra said that a final draft of the UN's MOU with the AU over support to AMISOM would be sent within the week to Addis Ababa for final approval by the AU. Ideally, she said that the UN would need a presence in Mogadishu in order to oversee support to AMISOM, but as that was impossible due to security concerns, DFS would pursue interim oversight arrangements, including through contractors. Malcorra also said that since the outbreak of hostilities between the TFG and al-Shabaab on May 9, DFS had made an emergency deployment of trauma kits, rations and airfield equipment intended to facilitate 24-hour operation of the airport. ¶4. (SBU) TFG Foreign Minister Mohammed Omaar thanked the SYG for hosting the April 23 donors' conference and for the recommendations in his 16 April report, which he said the TFG welcomed and was ready to implement. He told the Council that the TFG had succeeded in holding off al-Shabaab and Hizbul Islam advances, and that even after their attacks President Sharif remained open to dialogue in the interest of preventing further bloodshed. Omaar was followed by the Czech Republic, which on behalf of the European Union praised the Secretary-General's phased approach to security in Somalia as presenting the "best available option." SC consultations ¶5. (SBU) The SC then retired to closed consultations on the situation in Somalia. The UK spoke first and formally introduced their draft resolution on Somalia, which had been previously circulated to Council members on Monday. The UK USUN NEW Y 00000506 002 OF 002 said that conditions were not in place for a UNPKO, and that the last few days were especially worrying as Sheikh Aweys, "with the apparent support of the Eritrean government," attempted to overthrow the Djibouti process. Amb Rice followed, condemning recent attacks against the TFG and Somali people, recalling Eritrea's destructive role, and stating U.S. support for the use of targeted sanctions to support the peace process. She praised the work of AMISOM and said that the U.S. backs continued support to the AU operation as under resolution 1863. Amb. Rice cited the Somali FM's estimate (septel) that 290 foreign fighters were present in Mogadishu, and urged Council members to give thought to how they could support the TFG during its time of crisis. She also reminded Council members of the upcoming May 29 plenary meeting of the CGPCS in New York. ¶6. (SBU) Burkina Faso said it fully supported the SYG's phased approach and was committed to supporting the AU's forces. France said that it "fully backed" the UK draft extending UN support to an AMISOM force "of 4000-6000" but said that a PKO could not be seriously envisioned in the current circumstances. France also announced its intention to train 500 TFG troops in Djibouti. Japan said that it could support the UK's draft "based on the assumption we will go for a UNPKO" (NOTE: Japan is particularly sensitive to the issue of UN assessments benefiting a non-UN mission, and favors a UNPKO link for budgetary reasons. End note). Turkey said that the SYG's "prudent, phased approach is the only approach we can follow" and stated its readiness to train TFG forces. China said that it supported continuing the UN's logistical support package, to be followed by a UN takeover of the mission "as soon as possible." Costa Rica said it supported strengthening AMISOM through the SYG's phased approach, including "room for a possible UNPKO" based on conditions on the ground and stakeholders' views. Austria said it supported the UK draft "in its main lines" and favored strengthening AMISOM while continuing contingency planning for a UNPKO. Austria said that on piracy, an international legal basis needed to be sought to ensure suspected pirates are prosecuted. ¶7. (SBU) Mexico said it supported the SYG's phased approach and trusted the SC would approve this option, including a UNPKO if conditions were met. Mexico, the chair of the Somalia Sanctions Committee, said it was convinced sanctions should contribute to the political process, and that regional countries needed to do more to monitor illegal arms shipments. Vietnam said it was critical to maintain UN support to AMISOM pending a SC decision on a UNPKO. Libya said that President Sharif's leadership represented the best chance of stabilizing Somalia, and said that the Council should support AMISOM now "before deploying a UNPKO, especially from Pakistan and Bangladesh." Uganda said it supported the UK draft in principal, and urged more speed in the UN's response to mobilize support and coordinate assistance during Somalia's "moment of truth." Croatia said it fully supported the UK resolution. Russia welcomed the UK draft and associated itself with the SYG's recommendation for continued support to AMISOM. Russia said that the prospect of a UNPKO depended on Somali dedication to the peace process and significant progress in the security situation. On piracy, Russia echoed Austria, saying that it would be useful to develop an international mechanism for ensuring prosecution of suspects. ¶8. (SBU) In response to a question from Austria on the humanitarian consequences of recent fighting in Mogadishu, U/SYG Pascoe cited UNHCR estimates that approximately 50,000 IDPs had returned to Mogadishu since January 2009, and that approximately 17,000 had been displaced from Mogadishu during fighting since May 9. Rice