QAZI URGES COUNCIL TO CURB AVAILABILITY OF WEAPONS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 USUN NEW YORK 000984 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL KPKO SU AF SUBJECT: QAZI URGES COUNCIL TO CURB AVAILABILITY OF WEAPONS IN SOUTHERN SUDAN ¶1. Summary: In his last briefing before the Security Council, SRSG Qazi labeled mistrust between the parties to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) as the biggest challenge to its implementation. Qazi discussed the increasing tribal violence in the south and urged the Security Council to adopt a mechanism to curb availability of weapons. Qazi also addressed protection of civilians and welcomed the new U.S. Sudan strategy. Ambassador Rice introduced the strategy and emphasized, along with Council members,that elections and the referenda are vital CPA benchmarks that must be met. She also expressed concern over increasing violence and the deteriorating humanitarian situation. Members discussed resolution of the Darfur conflict as essential to CPA implementation. End Summary. Qazi: Increasing Violence and Weapons Flow -------------- ¶2. On October 28, the Special Representative of the Secretary General to the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) Ashraf Qazi briefed the Council on the Secretary General's October 21 report. Qazi identified lack of trust between the parties as the greatest obstacle to CPA implementation. He recognized U.S. efforts to reinvigorate international engagement with Sudan and spoke favorably of the U.S. Sudan strategy presented by the Secretary, Ambassador Rice and Special Envoy Gration on October 19. ¶3. Qazi discussed the surge in violence in the South, noting that women and children had been the primary victims, something that has not been seen before in tribal conflicts. Qazi said that easy access to weapons had fueled this violence, and he urged the international community to consider mechanisms that would curb the availability of weapons in the South. ¶4. Qazi also described the UN's three-pronged approach to protection of civilians: encouraging the Government of Southern Sudan (GOSS) to take the lead in protecting civilians in order to instill public confidence in the government; strengthening UNMIS' state-level presence; and using military patrols to complement civil staff presence in hot spots. Qazi said that UNMIS had considered using as a model the joint protection teams established in the UN Mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC) but concluded that this model would not be appropriate for UNMIS. Council: A Comprehensive Approach to Sudan -------------- ¶5. Ambassador Rice briefed the Council on the three strategic objectives of U.S. Sudan policy: a definitive end to conflict in Darfur; effective implementation of the CPA leading to a peaceful post-2011 Sudan or an orderly path toward two separate and viable states; and ensuring that Sudan does not provide safe haven for terrorists. Rice expressed concern over the ability of Sudanese to participate meaningfully in elections, increasing violence in the South, and deterioration of the humanitarian situation. Ambassador Rice asked Qazi whether the Secretariat had information about the source for the influx of weapons in the South and requested clarification about why the MONUC joint protection team model was not applicable to UNMIS. ¶6. France and the UK urged the Secretariat to fill vacant leadership positions in UNMIS. Russia observed that the situation in Darfur could negatively impact the CPA. Turkey and Vietnam agreed that resolution of the conflict in Darfur and CPA implementation must be addressed together, and Turkey cautioned that rebels should see April 2010 as a deadline and participate in elections or risk losing legitimacy. Uganda and Costa Rica urged the Council to examine the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) threat from a regional perspective. China and Libya focused on positive developments in Sudan: the peaceful acceptance by both parties of the Abyei border decision, adoption of the national election law and establishment of the National Election Council. Qazi Responds -------------- ¶7. Responding to Ambassador Rice's question about the source of weapons flows to the South, Qazi said that the Secretariat had no concrete evidence but was aware of deep suspicions held by GOSS officials that Khartoum was providing arms. Qazi said that UNMIS did not have a mandate to investigate weapons trafficking and could merely monitor, observe, and verify the presence of weapons. Regarding the joint protection team model, Qazi said that the difference between UNMIS and MONUC was that MONUC is a Chapter 7 mission, USUN NEW Y 00000984 002 OF 002 whereas UNMIS is a Chapter 6 mission with a limited mandate for protection of civilians. He also noted that UNMIS has civilian presence throughout Sudan, unlike MONUC. Rice