SECURITY COUNCIL RENEWS UNMIL; LIBERIA REQUESTS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 USUN NEW YORK 000849 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL UNSC XY LI IV SUBJECT: SECURITY COUNCIL RENEWS UNMIL; LIBERIA REQUESTS HELP FOR ITS POLICE ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY. The Security Council met on September 9 to discuss the renewal of the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL),and unanimously adopted UNMIL's resolution on September 15. UNMIL's Special Representative of the Secretary General (SRSG) Ellen Loj told the Council on September 9 that the Liberia National Police required additional support. Loj also noted that Liberians were looking for guidance on its Truth and Reconciliation Commission. All Council members supported renewing UNMIL's mandate for one year and including election support as part of its mandate. France continued to call for a more rapid drawdown of UNMIL, and the UK requested an exit strategy. Liberian Justice Minister Tah held a Partnership meeting at the UN on September 9 to garner support for the security sector, but only Denmark offered additional assistance. Bilaterally, Tah requested help from the U.S. for the Liberian Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization. END SUMMARY. UNMIL HEAD CALLS FOR HELP FOR THE POLICE ¶2. (SBU) SRSG Ellen Loj briefed the Security Council September 9 on the progress of UNMIL. She stressed that the 2011 elections will be "critical" to the Liberian peace process, and noted that the security sector had many needs. Loj underlined that while there have been advances in reforming the Liberia National Police (LNP),it was the area most in need of attention. STILL NO CLARITY ON THE TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION ¶3. (SBU) Loj noted that release of the final report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) in July has created a debate within Liberia between those who seek restorative justice and those who provide for some level of immunity for those involved in the conflict. She said that many Liberians are looking to the international community for guidance, but that it is up to the Liberians to find resolution models. Finally, she noted with regret the recent suicide of an UNMIL staff member after allegations arose of sexual misconduct, which highlighted the need for further efforts to eliminate sexual exploitation and abuse in the Mission. COUNCIL SUPPORTS UNMIL ASSISTING WITH 2011 ELECTIONS ¶4. (SBU) All members agreed that the October 2011 presidential and legislative elections are key milestones in furthering democratic rule in Liberia, and welcomed mandating UNMIL to support the elections. All members also expressed support for the recommended Phase III drawdown to 8,200 troops by May 2010 and maintaining the level of formed police units (FPUs). FRANCE CALLS FOR A FASTER DRAWDOWN ¶5. (SBU) French PermRep Araud, however, said his government maintains that a reduction of one battalion could be achieved after May 2010 and before the elections. He called for a review of the situation following the May 2010 drawdown and said that the Council should not hesitate to accelerate further cuts if the situation warrants. Ambassador Rice responded that while the Council should continue to review the situation closely, to date all assessments have shown clearly that the present recommended level is appropriate for UNMIL to achieve its mandate through the elections. UK WANTS "INTEGRATED STRATEGIC PLAN" AND EXIT STRATEGY ¶6. (SBU) UK PermRep Sawers reiterated his government's desire for an integrated strategic plan to be implemented following the 2011 elections, in order to transition the UN role in Liberia from peacekeeping to peacebuilding. He said that while security must be maintained, the plan should consider innovative approaches, such as creating a regional mission. The SRSG responded that planning for UNMIL's "exit strategy" has begun, and that UNMIL has established an integrated team to begin work on transition from UNMIL leadership to UN Country Team Leadership. JAPAN SUGGESTS USING PEACEBUILDING FUND ¶7. (SBU) Japanese PermRep Takasu, while supporting the draft resolution, noted that the UNMIL budget is double that of the GOL budget (quoting Sawers' Council comment from last June). He said that maintaining peace includes improving the security institutions to tackling unemployment and other social and economic factors. He suggested use of the Peacebuilding Fund to fill gaps in development. Loj USUN NEW Y 00000849 002 OF 002 recognized the need for a "tremendous" peacebuilding effort. CHARLES TAYLOR TRIAL A CONCERN ¶8. (SBU) In response to a question from the UK PermRep, Loj said that the Charles Taylor trial has been extended until the beginning of 2011. Each extension increases the chance the trial could impact the elections. Taylor supporters and his party, the National Patriotic Party, remain active, she reported. LIBERIA'S MINISTER OF JUSTICE HOLDS POLICE DONOR MEETING ¶9. (SBU) Also on September 9, Liberian Minister of Justice Tah chaired a partnership meeting to garner support for the security sector. Tah outlined needs across the entire Liberian security sector, and the director of the Liberia National Police (LNP) presented his strategic plan. More than 50 nations and donor groups attended the session, but only the Danish mission pledged to give additional resources. TCC / PCC MEETING HELD EARLY TO IMPROVE COOPERATION ¶10. (SBU) The U.S. convened the private Council briefing with troop and police contributing countries (TCC/PCC) on September 3, the week prior to UNMIL's deliberations, in order to be more responsive to donor countries' concerns. (NOTE: The TCC/PCC meetings historically occur on the same day as Council consultations, but were scheduled earlier in part due to feedback that TCC/PCC concerns could not be thoroughly incorporated into consultations with so little time between events. END NOTE.) Several participants, including India, Japan, Jordan, and Uganda, thanked the U.S. for accommodating their concerns through this scheduling shift. Senegal said it would look into the possibility of offering corrections officers to UNMIL. JUSTICE MINISTER ASKS U.S. TO AID THE BUREAU OF IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION ¶11. (SBU) Minister Tah met with Ambassador DiCarlo on September 10 to press further for U.S. assistance. Tah noted in particular that the Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization (BIN) needed more international attention, and asked the U.S. to consider additional financial support for BIN. UNMIL RESOLUTION ADOPTED UNANIMOUSLY ¶12. (U) UNMIL's mandate was extended until September 30, 2010, by a unanimous vote of the Council on September 15, under S/RES/1885. RICE