Cablegate: Talking Points for 7/15 Minurcat Consultations

VZCZCXYZ0003
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHC #5414 1962118
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 142108Z JUL 08
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 2469

UNCLAS STATE 075414

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL KPKO UNSC CD SU
SUBJECT: TALKING POINTS FOR 7/15 MINURCAT CONSULTATIONS

In consultations on Tuesday, July 15, 2008, USUN may draw on
the following points:

I would like to thank the Secretary-General for his July 8
report on the status of the MINURCAT mission. With the
recent cross-border incursions by Chadian rebels into eastern
Chad, and the increased tensions in the region, MINURCAT
personnel have displayed how crucial their mission is in
providing protection to vulnerable civilian populations.
Today, I would like to make three points.

First, we deplore the violence that transpired in eastern
Chad during the week of June 11, and condemn the June 14
attack by the National Alliance on the village of Goz Beda
that resulted in human suffering and increased displacement
in and around the area. We reiterate that there can be no
military solution to this conflict. We urge both Chad and
Sudan to respect the spirit and the letter of the Dakar
Accord and we urge the Government of Chad to consider
entering into a dialogue with Chadian rebel groups that can
lead a peaceful resolution of the conflict. We remind all
sides that the burden of creating peace rests on their
shoulders and that the international community stands ready
to assist them.

To date, neither side has taken any notable steps toward
implementation of the March 2008 Dakar Accord and renewed
hostilities between the two countries has continued. We
implore the parties to recognize that there is no viable
military solution to the conflict that exists between them
and ask both Chad and Sudan to make an earnest effort to
utilize the Dakar Accord as a means for peaceably resolving
their differences.

Second, the United States would like to reiterate its support
for the MINURCAT mission. We commend the actions of MINURCAT
and EUFOR personnel during the June hostilities and applaud
their work to help protect refugees, displaced persons, and
civilians in danger. We appreciate the efforts of EUFOR
personnel in the region and recognize that the deployment of
over 3,000 EUFOR troops to the region has greatly enhanced
and complemented MINURCAT's ability to fulfill its mission.
We are pleased that the first group of 77 Chadian police have
graduated from a six week UN training program and are
beginning to provide urgently needed police protection to
civilians in eastern Chad.

We welcome the Secretary General,s recommendation that the
deployment of MINURCAT,s civilian police be accelerated and
we strongly encourage the continuation of UN training of
Chadian police. We also urge donors to provide continued
bilateral assistance to the Chadian police for their
essential humanitarian mission. We note that the United
States has provided $2 million to assist the Chadian police
and we urge other donors to join in this endeavor.

Third, we urge MINURCAT to continue to coordinate and share
information with UNAMID and UNMIS, so that it can best
fulfill its crucial mandate of protecting vulnerable
civilians who are suffering repeated displacements.

Conclusion
----------
MINURCAT plays a crucial part towards helping stabilize the
region and the United States remains committed to its success.
RICE

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