COTE D,IVOIRE: COUNCIL REVIEWS SANCTIONS REGIME

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000959 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL CDI ETTC PGOV UNSC SUBJECT: COTE D,IVOIRE: COUNCIL REVIEWS SANCTIONS REGIME ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: The chair of the Security Council's Cote d'Ivoire (1572) Sanctions Committee briefed the Council on findings contained in a September 15 report of the Group of Experts on Cote d'Ivoire, as well as the Committee's activities since his last briefing on April 28, 2009. The United States welcomed the Group of Experts' report and recommendations and noted its support for renewal of the Cote d'Ivoire sanctions regime, as well as the mandate of the Group of Experts. Japan, France, the UK, and China thanked the Group of Experts for its hard work and discussed the importance of sanctions for preserving peace and stability in Cote d'Ivoire, particularly in light of upcoming elections. China added that it hoped this would be the last time the sanctions regime would need to be renewed. France reminded the Council that two of the individuals being targeted by the regime still posed significant threats to the stability of Cote d'Ivoire. Burkina Faso objected to the Group of Experts' recommendations which cast Burkina Faso in a negative light, with respect to the arms embargo, and questioned the criteria used by the Group to compile its report. Russia applauded the work of the Group, but said that a few of the recommendations were "divorced from reality". END SUMMARY. ¶2. (SBU) Mexican Perm Rep Claude Heller, chair of the Cote d'Ivoire Sanctions Committee ("1572 Committee") briefed the Security Council on October 27 on findings contained in a September 15 report of the Group of Experts on Cote d'Ivoire, as well as the Committee's activities since his last briefing on April 28, 2009. He noted that the Group of Experts (GOE) reported seven breaches of the embargo on arms and related materiel, inadequate monitoring of goods by the Ivorian customs authorities, serious risks that revenues generated by the export of cocoa could be used for purchasing arms, and several violations of the asset freeze and diamond sanctions. Notably, he added that the Group of Experts suggested that UNOCI establish a "specific monitoring unit" to assist in monitoring the embargo on arms and related materiel, and that UN Member States take the necessary measures to implement sanctions. ¶3. (SBU) Ambassador DiCarlo emphasized that targeted sanctions do and should continue to play an important role in supporting peace and stability in the region by encouraging reconciliation of those earnestly committed to peace, while isolating and deterring those who would oppose it. She noted that the United States is deeply troubled by reports of ongoing violations of the measures adopted by the Security Council, and that the United States supports full implementation of the sanctions on Cote d'Ivoire. Finally, she stressed that the GOE can only be effective if Member States respect the Group's mandate as set forth by the Security Council and allow the Group freedom of movement and access to people, documents, weapons, ammunition and related materiel. ¶4. (SBU) Japanese Perm Rep Takasu and UK Charge Parham welcomed the GOE's report and recommendations and called upon Member States to implement the UNSC-imposed measures on Cote d'Ivoire, in the hopes that peace and stability could be restored in the region. ¶5. (SBU) French Deputy Perm Rep de Reviere said that sanctions are not an end in themselves, and that the 1572 Committee will need to re-evaluate the regime three months after presidential and legislative elections in Cote d'Ivoire have been held. He cautioned, however, against removing individuals from the targeted sanctions list prematurely, especially prior to the elections, because at least two of the individuals are capable of mobilizing large numbers of individuals in short periods of time. ¶6. (SBU) Russian Deputy Perm Rep Dolgov said that a number of the GOE's recommendations were "divorced from reality", particularly the Group's request that GOCI provide an accounting of its budget. Although he agreed that certain requests for information were necessary, he said it was important not to impinge upon the sovereignty of other Governments. ¶7. (SBU) Chinese Deputy Perm Rep Liu expressed hope that after this year, the sanctions regime would not need to be renewed, in light of progress that has already been made in Cote d'Ivoire over the last few years. ¶8. (SBU) Burkina Faso's Perm Rep Kafando found it "deplorable" that certain aspects of the GOE's report cast Burkina Faso in a negative light. He said that his Government, led by President Compaore in his role as mediator, has worked diligently with the GOE and has made great efforts to bring peace and stability to the region. He referred to the GOE's allegation that weapons were flowing easily between Burkina Faso's southern border and the north of Cote d'Ivoire. He said that the GOE should understand that the border is porous, and that it is difficult for Burkina Faso to monitor all six of its borders. He finally asked what criteria had been used by the GOE in drafting its report and recommendations. Rice