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

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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