PRC/CHAD: MINURCAT ESSENTIAL TO SAFEGUARDING IMAGE

C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 000424 SIPDIS DEPT FOR IO/PSC, AF/C, EAP/CM E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/23/2030 TAGS: PREL KPKO PREF CD CT CN SUBJECT: PRC/CHAD: MINURCAT ESSENTIAL TO SAFEGUARDING IMAGE OF UN AND REPUTATION OF UNPKOS REF: STATE 14164 Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Aubrey Carlson for reasons 1.4 (B/D) ¶1. (C) The Government of Chad's (GOC) continued support of UN Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT) was "very important" to safeguarding the image of the UN and protecting the reputation of UN Peacekeeping Operations (UNPKOs),MFA International Organizations and Conferences Department UN Affairs Division Second Secretary Xu Zhongsheng told PolOff February 23 in response to reftel points urging the PRC to demarche the GOC to continue the MINURCAT mandate. Xu added that consensus among the P5 states was that UNPKOs were directly linked to the image of the UN, and that image should be safeguarded. ¶2. (C) Xu did not commit to PRC action to demarche the GOC to continue MINURCAT's mandate, but promised to convey our request to appropriate officials. We will follow up with the MFA in coming days. HUNTSMAN