USUN TALKING POINTS FOR JANUARY 15 UNSC

UNCLAS STATE 004127 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL XA BY UNSC SUBJECT: USUN TALKING POINTS FOR JANUARY 15 UNSC CONSULTATIONS ON BINUB ¶1. USUN is instructed to pursue the objectives in paragraph 2 and draw from the points in paragraph 3 during the January 15 Security Council consultations on Burundi listed under &other matters8 and in conversation with the Burundian Permrep. USUN should also support a Security Council Press Statement but should refer back to the Department regarding its language. USUN is also instructed to push the UN Department of Political Affairs (DPA) to appoint a new Executive Representative for the Secretary General (ERSG) for Burundi as soon as possible. ¶2. Objective: Use the briefing to emphasize the importance of the UN Integrated Office in Burundi (BINUB) to conducting free, fair, and credible elections in Burundi and to call on DPA to expedite its selection of a replacement for BINUB Executive Representative Mahmoud. Emphasize that decisions to replace ERSGs and SRSGs should not be taken lightly or merely at the request of the host country and that host governments and others must follow standard procedures for voicing any grievances. The manner in which ERSGs Mahmoud was recalled is not acceptable. ¶3. Begin points: -- The United States regrets the dismissal of Executive Representative Mahmoud. His dismissal raises the concern that BINUB will not have an executive representative during the approaching election cycle. -- President Nkurunziza has called for the elections to be free, fair, and credible to the Burundian people. We have supported this aim by programming nearly $4 million in elections-related projects. -- President Nkurunziza requested a large international observer presence before, during, and after the elections. We agree that a strong international presence is essential to support the 2010 electoral process. -- A strong and independent BINUB is of vital importance to ensure the quality of the Burundian elections. However, Burundi,s request for ERSG Mahmoud,s recall undermines BINUB,s ability to carry out its mandate as set forth in Security Council resolution 1902, which sets as a priority for BINUB assistance for the 2010 elections. Election planning and preparation is already underway in Burundi. -- At this crucial time, BINUB needs an executive representative who can support free and fair elections by lending his or her independent voice to the electoral process and ensuring that elections are conducted in accordance with international standards. BINUB is working intensively with international partners to coordinate election assistance work, including: providing voter education and assisting the Government to provide national identity cards. BINUB has a crucial role to play as an honest broker and a neutral party in Burundi. The executive representative must be able to speak out if the Government of Burundi gets off track. -- We urge the Department of Political Affairs to appoint a new executive representative for BINUB as soon as possible to guarantee continuity on the ground and BINUB,s ability to carry out its mandate. In the upcoming elections, Burundi faces a critical test of its peace process and its transition to a stable, secure democracy. The Government of Burundi has asked for UN support as it meets this important challenge. The rapid deployment of a new executive representative will assure that BINUB is able to provide this support and assistance in a meaningful way. -- We urge that all of Burundi,s partners remain engaged during this critical transition period in the peace process. The international partners should consider developing a mechanism as appropriate, and as a matter of urgency, to coordinate their efforts to facilitate the peace process. -- Finally, the United States would like to make a general point regarding the dismissal of ERSGs and SRSGs. Representatives of the Secretary General are the highest UN authorities in the countries in which they serve. As such, decisions to dismiss them should not be taken lightly. Abruptly removing ERSGs and SRSGs merely upon the request of the host country disrupts the mission on the ground and creates an unproductive atmosphere that threatens the independence and neutrality of the Secretary General,s representatives. The situation in Burundi must not become a precedent or acceptable behavior for other countries in their dealings with ERSGs and SRSGs. We as a Council should communicate clearly our displeasure with the Government of Burundi,s handling of this situation and send a strong message to the government that it is not acceptable to call for the recall of UN personnel every time there is a disagreement. CLINTON