Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09USUNNEWYORK959
2009-10-29 09:34:00
UNCLASSIFIED
USUN New York
Cable title:  

COTE D,IVOIRE: COUNCIL REVIEWS SANCTIONS REGIME

Tags:  PREL CDI ETTC PGOV UNSC 
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DE RUCNDT #0959/01 3020934
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 290934Z OCT 09
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7444
INFO RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEHAB/AMEMBASSY ABIDJAN IMMEDIATE 1668
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE
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

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