Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09USUNNEWYORK971
2009-10-30 23:18:00
UNCLASSIFIED
USUN New York
Cable title:  

COTE D'IVOIRE: COUNCIL RENEWS SANCTIONS REGIME

Tags:  PREL PGOV ETTC UNSC CDI 
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DE RUCNDT #0971 3032318
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 302318Z OCT 09
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO RUEHAB/AMEMBASSY ABIDJAN IMMEDIATE 1688
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7486
INFO RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE
UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000971 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV ETTC UNSC CDI
SUBJECT: COTE D'IVOIRE: COUNCIL RENEWS SANCTIONS REGIME

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000971

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV ETTC UNSC CDI
SUBJECT: COTE D'IVOIRE: COUNCIL RENEWS SANCTIONS REGIME


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: On October 29, the Security Council
unanimously adopted Resolution 1893, which renewed the arms
embargo, asset freeze, travel ban, and diamond embargo in
Cote d'Ivoire, as well as the mandate of the Group of
Experts, for an additional twelve months. Cote d'Ivoire's
Perm Rep, Alcide Djedje, explained why he believed that
sanctions, particularly those targeting individuals, should
not be renewed. He expressed disappointment with the Council
for its decision to renew sanctions, and he hoped that the
regime would be reviewed after Cote d'Ivoire's upcoming
presidential elections. No Council delegations made
statements. END SUMMARY.


2. (SBU) On October 29, the Security Council unanimously
adopted Resolution 1893, which renewed the arms embargo,
asset freeze, travel ban, and diamond embargo in Cote
d'Ivoire, as well as the mandate of the Group of Experts
(GOE)- a team of UN-hired experts charged with monitoring
implementation of the sanctions - for an additional twelve
months. The resolution was adopted unanimously. The arms
embargo, asset freeze, and travel ban were first established
in UNSCR 1572 (2004),the GOE in UNSCR 1584 (2005),and the
diamond embargo in UNSCR 1643 (2005). This was the fourth
annual renewal of the diamond embargo; the fifth renewal of
the arms embargo, asset freeze, and travel ban; and the
seventh renewal of the GOE.


3. (SBU) After the resolution was adopted, Cote d'Ivoire's
Perm Rep, Alcide Djedje, explained why his government
believed the sanctions regime should not have been renewed.
He said that, in accordance with the Ouagadougou Agreement,
targeted sanctions against individuals should not be renewed.
He noted, in particular, that ECOWAS had recently called for
individual sanctions in Cote d'Ivoire to be lifted. He asked
the Council to examine the reasons why sanctions were being
imposed and whether they were aimed at punishing individual
actors or at restoring Ivorian peace and stability. He said
that if they were meant to punish, they should be removed, in
accordance with the UN Charter. He added that sanctions
should always have clearly defined objectives, and that they
should have deadlines and frequent periods of review.


4. (SBU) Perm Rep Djedje expressed disappointment with the
Council for its decision to renew the sanctions. He said he
hoped that the sanctions regime would not be renewed after
Cote d'Ivoire's upcoming presidential elections. He noted
that the situation in Cote d'Ivoire has significantly
improved since 2004 and he urged the Council to reconsider
the sanctions three months after the elections, currently
scheduled for late November. He warned that the continued
use of sanctions would not help Ivorians in the process of
national peace and reconciliation.

Rice