Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10USUNNEWYORK39
2010-01-22 23:23:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
USUN New York
Cable title:
COUNCIL DISCUSSES COTE D'IVOIRE ELECTIONS AND THE
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UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000039
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL UNSC XY IV LI UV
SUBJECT: COUNCIL DISCUSSES COTE D'IVOIRE ELECTIONS AND THE
"BURKINABE 500"
UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000039
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL UNSC XY IV LI UV
SUBJECT: COUNCIL DISCUSSES COTE D'IVOIRE ELECTIONS AND THE
"BURKINABE 500"
1. (SBU) UN Mission in Cote d'Ivoire (UNOCI) SRSG Choi told
the Security Council in an open briefing on January 21 that
challenges in implementing the "Ouagadougou IV" reunification
plan could hamper the electoral process. Choi also said that
the creation of a second electoral list by the Independent
Electoral Commission (IEC) was seen by some in Ivoirian
President Gbagbo's camp as an attempt to distort the
electoral appeals process. Cote d'Ivoire PermRep Djedje told
the Council that the "irregular" second list would "imply a
minor disturbance" in the electoral timeline adopted in
Ouagadougou on December 3 (which called for elections in late
February-early March). Djedje also pushed for the Council to
approve the joint plan, proposed by Gbagbo and Burkinabe
President Compaore, to authorize 500 Burkinabe troops to join
UNOCI for three months to enhance security for the elections.
2. (SBU) Continuing his briefing in closed consultations,
Choi said that the UN had yet to send a verification team to
Burkina Faso to assess the readiness of the Burkinabe troops.
He believed the troops would need roughly 100 vehicles and
communications equipment. Choi also cautioned that Ivoirians
needed to decide in February whether elections or
reunification would come first. He stressed that indecision
past February could indicate that the Ouagadougou agreements
made three years ago (which called for elections within seven
months) would need to be reconsidered if elections were
delayed again.
3. (SBU) French PermRep Araud said an election date must be
set by the Ivoirian authorities, and opined that additional
delays could be an attempt by President Gbagbo's camp to bide
time for a more favorable electoral climate. Araud said
Djedje confirmed to him that the Ivoirian government did not
object to a four-month UNOCI mandate (vice six months, as
recommended by the Secretary-General). USUN called for a
rapid UN verification mission to assess the readiness of the
Burkinabe troops and reiterated that, as confirmed by Choi
and the Secretary-General, UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL)
troops would no longer be able to reinforce UNOCI, due to
electoral delays and UNMIL's drawdown plan. UK Polcoun said
the lack of a voters list indicated a lack of political will
to hold elections. All members who spoke (China did not)
supported, at least in principle, the addition of 500
Burkinabe troops. Most members looked to drawing down UNOCI,
and welcomed the UN's plan to send a technical assessment
mission to Cote d'Ivoire following elections. France
received wide support for its draft resolution to extend
UNOCI for four months. (Note: UNOCI's mandate expired on
January 31. End Note.)
RICE
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL UNSC XY IV LI UV
SUBJECT: COUNCIL DISCUSSES COTE D'IVOIRE ELECTIONS AND THE
"BURKINABE 500"
1. (SBU) UN Mission in Cote d'Ivoire (UNOCI) SRSG Choi told
the Security Council in an open briefing on January 21 that
challenges in implementing the "Ouagadougou IV" reunification
plan could hamper the electoral process. Choi also said that
the creation of a second electoral list by the Independent
Electoral Commission (IEC) was seen by some in Ivoirian
President Gbagbo's camp as an attempt to distort the
electoral appeals process. Cote d'Ivoire PermRep Djedje told
the Council that the "irregular" second list would "imply a
minor disturbance" in the electoral timeline adopted in
Ouagadougou on December 3 (which called for elections in late
February-early March). Djedje also pushed for the Council to
approve the joint plan, proposed by Gbagbo and Burkinabe
President Compaore, to authorize 500 Burkinabe troops to join
UNOCI for three months to enhance security for the elections.
2. (SBU) Continuing his briefing in closed consultations,
Choi said that the UN had yet to send a verification team to
Burkina Faso to assess the readiness of the Burkinabe troops.
He believed the troops would need roughly 100 vehicles and
communications equipment. Choi also cautioned that Ivoirians
needed to decide in February whether elections or
reunification would come first. He stressed that indecision
past February could indicate that the Ouagadougou agreements
made three years ago (which called for elections within seven
months) would need to be reconsidered if elections were
delayed again.
3. (SBU) French PermRep Araud said an election date must be
set by the Ivoirian authorities, and opined that additional
delays could be an attempt by President Gbagbo's camp to bide
time for a more favorable electoral climate. Araud said
Djedje confirmed to him that the Ivoirian government did not
object to a four-month UNOCI mandate (vice six months, as
recommended by the Secretary-General). USUN called for a
rapid UN verification mission to assess the readiness of the
Burkinabe troops and reiterated that, as confirmed by Choi
and the Secretary-General, UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL)
troops would no longer be able to reinforce UNOCI, due to
electoral delays and UNMIL's drawdown plan. UK Polcoun said
the lack of a voters list indicated a lack of political will
to hold elections. All members who spoke (China did not)
supported, at least in principle, the addition of 500
Burkinabe troops. Most members looked to drawing down UNOCI,
and welcomed the UN's plan to send a technical assessment
mission to Cote d'Ivoire following elections. France
received wide support for its draft resolution to extend
UNOCI for four months. (Note: UNOCI's mandate expired on
January 31. End Note.)
RICE