COUNCIL DISCUSSES COTE D'IVOIRE ELECTIONS AND THE

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