UN MISSION IN SUDAN: TALKING POINTS FOR

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 007462 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL KPKO UNSC SU SUBJECT: UN MISSION IN SUDAN: TALKING POINTS FOR CONSULTATIONS ¶1. This is an action request. USUN may draw from the points in paragraph 2 during consultations before the Security Council on the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) scheduled for January 26, 2010. ¶2. I would like to thank Under Secretary-General Le Roy for his briefing today. Sudan is now entering a critical period ) one which will determine its future. We must continue to urge the parties to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) to keep the focus on the remaining implementation tasks, and to begin planning for the post-referendum period, regardless of outcome. Today, I would like to address key elements for the future of UNMIS: the April 2010 elections and 2011 referenda, and the increasingly fragile security situation in southern Sudan. --The United States views elections in Sudan as critical in the peace process. We remain concerned that voters throughout Sudan be free to exercise their political rights without intimidation and fear of reprisals. Voter registration was largely peaceful, and we hope this indicates that elections can also be conducted peacefully. Unfortunately, the December 7 arrest of key opposition figures gathered for a peaceful demonstration, and the ensuing violence, illustrates the tenuous nature of maintaining security during elections, and how quickly security can deteriorate. We encourage UNMIS to continue working with Sudanese election authorities and security officials to ensure voters can freely exercise their vote, and we urge Sudanese election authorities to implement a plan that would allow observers to witness all aspects of the electoral process. --We acknowledge the recent positive accomplishments in CPA implementation: legislation governing the referenda in the South and Abyei was passed, as well as the law concerning popular consultations in the Blue Nile and Southern Kordofan states. These are significant developments; however, hard tasks lie ahead, including the appointment of referendum commissioners, resolving the dispute over census results, agreement on eligible voters in Abyei, and suspension of laws that infringe on civil liberties in the run-up to elections. While we are pleased UNMIS has started recruiting a team to assist the parties with referendum planning, this planning is already behind and must begin immediately. UNMIS assistance to the parties is critical to ensure that adequate preparations are made for the 2011 referenda, and we would like to see greater detail and action plans describing the preparations in upcoming reports. The Council also needs to begin focusing on the nature of the UN presence in Sudan during the post-referendum period. We would like to know if the Secretariat has begun to consider this issue, and would welcome receiving the Under-Secretary General,s recommendations. --While we acknowledge the recent CPA successes, we remain concerned about other aspects of implementation. We are particularly troubled by the lack of progress in implementing the decision of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) on Abyei, especially the reports that armed tribal groups have prevented border demarcation. Tensions in the area are rising as communities have been unable to cross into and beyond Abyei this migration season, and the issue of voter eligibility in the Abyei referendum remains unresolved and left to the Abyei Referendum Commission. These factors signal that Abyei remains a potential flashpoint for violence, and we urge UNMIS to assist the parties where possible in implementing the PCA decision and to closely monitor the situation. --The United States continues to be deeply disturbed by the escalating and pervasive violence in southern Sudan. Armed tribal conflicts and criminal activity continues to produce violence in the south. We acknowledge that southern Sudan security forces are responsible for establishing security, but UNMIS must play a critical role in the protection of vulnerable civilians. We also believe that UNMIS, utilizing its authority under its Chapter VII mandate, should continue to develop and implement coordinated civilian protection strategies. Given the potential for increased violence in the next 12 months due to the elections and referenda, and the current violence caused by ethnic conflict, we would like to know when UNMIS will complete development of its mission-wide civilian protection strategy. We urge UNMIS to complete this strategy for the protection of civilians and share the key aspects of the strategy with the Council. STATE 00007462 002 OF 002 --While some progress toward implementation of the CPA has occurred, much remains to be done. The citizens of Sudan must have a secure environment that will enable them to freely exercise their right to vote. Planning must also begin now for the 2011 referenda, and parties must begin to address and resolve difficult post-referenda issues. Action must also be taken to address the growing violence and insecurity in the south. We must all work together to help Sudan secure a future of peace and prosperity for its citizens. --Thank you. CLINTON