Cablegate: Somalia: Security Council Renews Amisom, Previews

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OO RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHBZ RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW
RUEHLA RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUCNDT #0696 2341839
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 221839Z AUG 07
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2503
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000696

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SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: GG PGOV PREL PHUM SO
SUBJECT: SOMALIA: SECURITY COUNCIL RENEWS AMISOM, PREVIEWS
UN-AU SUPPORT ISSUES

1. (SBU) SUMMARY. On August 20, the Security Council
unanimously adopted a resolution authorizing the African
Union to maintain its AMISOM mission in Somalia for an
additional six months and setting the stage for a possible
follow-on UN Peacekeeping Operation. Discussion in
consultations prior to the adoption focused in large measure
on laying down markers in anticipation of imminent SYG-AU
consultations on the scope of AMISOM needs and UN capacity to
meet them. Most delegations taking the floor argued for an
expansive interpretation of the nature and extent of support
the UN could offer the AU and AMISOM, with the U.S. making
clear that UN financial assistance can flow only to milops
featuring clear UN command and control. END SUMMARY.

2. (SBU) Following 90 minutes of closed consultations, the
Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 1772
(un.org/docs/sc) on August 20. Preambular paragraph 7 (PP 7)
of the resolution cites the August 4 letter from AU Chairman
Konare to UNSYG Ban but does not expressly reiterate the
language of that letter calling on the UN to put in place,
"in consultation with the (AU) a financial, logistical and
technical support package for AMISOM." Operative paragraph
15 (OP 15) of the resolution asks the SYG to consult with the
AU about "what further support might be provided to AMISOM,"
but does not presume to characterize that possible support.

3. (SBU) Several delegations were unhappy with the failure of
PP 7 and OP 15 together to clearly signal Security Council
readiness to assist AMISOM financially. Italian Deputy
PermRep Montovani said "Italy, as a major AMISOM donor,
doesn't want to create the impression that the door to
financial support for the AU is closed." He asked members to
"consider compromise language." South African PermRep Kumalo
said he would have preferred a more direct acknowledgment of
Konare's request, adding that "we cannot be bold on Sudan
regarding the AU and muted on Somalia." Ghanaian PermRep
Christian said the Council "needs to urgently consider the AU
request for support" which he hoped the AU would make
explicit to the SYG for the report due to the Council in 30
days per OP 15. Indonesian PermRep Kleib said countries
considering AMISOM troop contributions need to know what
support AMISOM has and hoped the Council could quickly come
to agreement on a support package after the 30-day report.
Congo PermRep Gayama said he "would have hoped that Konare's
letter would have been specified (in the resolution) in the
terms he gave -- financial, logistical, and technical"
support.

4. (SBU) Despite these misgivings, all delegations supported
the text. UKUN effectively obviated any Italian thoughts
about compromise language by moving to have the text tabled
as a presidential (i.e. unanimously sponsored) text,
effectively daring Italy's Montovani to openly oppose the
text in probable contradiction of his orders from Rome.

5. (SBU) Ambassador Wolff recalled the U.S. view that UN
funds can be used for peacekeeping operations only under
clear UN command and control. He said the resolution gave a
clear message that everyone should be involved in aiding
Somalia and that non-UN donors were of course free to follow
their own guidelines. He then drew the Council's attention
to OP 16's language's reiterating a call for contingency
planning for deployment of a UN peacekeeping operation and
urged members to view this resolution in the context of a
likely AMISOM-UN transition.

6. (SBU) COMMENT. Although members responsibly decided to
let Resolution 1772 enter the world as a positive expression
of Security Council solidarity in the cause of aiding
Somalia, issues involving the nature and scope of UN
assistance to AMISOM have been clearly presented and will
play out in the context of the SYG's upcoming report on his
consultations with Konare. Several members have served
notice that they will be closely scrutinizing UN operations
in Sudan and Chad for precedents helping them push the AMISOM
assistance envelope.
KHALILZAD

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