VZCZCXRO3327
OO RUEHGI RUEHTRO
DE RUEHC #6443/01 3361953
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O P 011947Z DEC 08
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 4014
INFO UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHGI/AMEMBASSY BANGUI PRIORITY 1205

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 126443 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PREF PHUM PBTS CT
SUBJECT: INSTRUCTIONS ON DECEMBER 3 CONSULTATIONS ON 
BONUCA 
 
 ¶1. ACTION REQUEST: USUN is instructed to draw from talking 
points in para 2 below during December 2 consultations on the 
UN Peacebuilding Office in the Central African Republic 
(BONUCA). End action request. 
 
¶2. Begin points: 
 
The United States strongly supports Special Envoy Francois 
Lonseny Fall,s efforts to build peace and security in the 
Central African Republic (CAR), and thanks the Secretary 
General for his report to the Council on UN activities during 
the last six months.  Today, I would like to make three 
points. 
 
First, the Secretary General,s report notes a recent UN 
inter-agency assessment indicating the need to develop UN 
joint planning and integrated operations in CAR, under the 
leadership of SRSG Fall.  We also note the observations of 
the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) mission to CAR last month. 
 
 
We believe that peacebuilding should be an element of all UN 
activities in CAR and that an integrated approach with BONUCA 
in the lead is essential for UN success.  Under the 
leadership of SRSG Fall, BONUCA and the country team should 
strengthen joint planning and move toward integrated 
operations. 
 
We commend Ambassador Grauls for leading the PBC mission to 
Central African Republic and for his commitment to 
strenghthening political stability in CAR.  In our view, as 
the political process in CAR advances and the Inclusive 
Political Dialogue gets underway, the PBC will play two 
important roles.  It will shine a spotlight on CAR, bringing 
it to the attention of additional donors, and will reinforce 
the international community,s message that momentum must 
continue on restoring the rule of law, including the 
protection of human rights and the transparent management of 
natural resources. 
 
Second, we see the next few months as a critical period for 
the Central African Republic.  The Inclusive Political 
Dialogue begins this week (December 5 -22) in Bangui, with 
financial support from the Peacebuilding Fund and thanks to 
the efforts of BONUCA, the African Union, the Center for 
Humanitarian Dialogue, and the Gabonese government.  We hope 
for full participation by all stakeholders, including all 
rebel groups, opposition parties, and civil society.  We 
expect that the Inclusive Political Dialogue will realize the 
June 2008 Comprehensive Peace Agreement, and that all 
parties, including the government, will take the needed steps 
in order to effect peace. 
 
As the Inclusive Political Dialgoue progresses, we note that 
it is also important to have dialogue in the field with rebel 
units who often are not in contact with their leaders and 
with those groups that have splintered off.  Of course 
political dialogue is by itself not enough.  Talks must be 
accompanied by assistance for communities who desperately 
need basic social services and programs to restore economic 
opportunity. 
 
We share the Secretary-General,s concerns about impunity and 
repeated violations of human rights in the Central African 
Republic.  All parties must understand that continued 
progress in ending impunity and protecting human rights is a 
necessary precondition to expanded international assistance 
and to the ultimate success of the government in restoring 
basic social services across all regions of the Central 
African Republic.  In particular, the Central African 
government must take action to increase security in 
northwestern and north-central CAR, particularly in those 
areas in which bandits, also known as zaraguinas or coupers 
de route, and the self-defense militias freely operate. 
 
We were pleased by the outcome of the November 18-19 
preparatory meetings in Libreville.  We hope that UNDP will 
facilitate an understanding between the government and the 
rebels on a DDR process with agreement on key details such as 
areas for cantonment, arrangements for integration into the 
community, and options for integration into the security 
forces.  Any SSR/DDR efforts must include economic and social 
development initiatives.  We are concerned that absent a 
long-term development approach, ex-combatants and military 
officials will lapse back into activities that these programs 
are meant to address.  We also believe impunity and 
 
STATE 00126443  002 OF 002 
 
 
compensation for victims must be addressed. 
 
Third, we continue to believe that MINURCAT and a follow-on 
force to replace EUFOR should be present in northeastern CAR 
to prevent further regional conflict.  We encourage BONUCA to 
continue to support MINURCAT as it implements its mandate in 
northeastern CAR and look forward to learning how BONUCA and 
MINURCAT will collaborate.  BONUCA should continue to 
regularly liaise with MINURCAT on building law enforcement 
capacity in northeastern CAR.  We urge DPKO and DPA to work 
cooperatively to ensure there is an adequately trained and 
equipped police presence, supported by the requisite judicial 
infrastructure, to provide police protection to the citizens 
of CAR.  We recognize MINURCAT, BONUCA, and UNHCR efforts to 
train security forces thus far and encourage continued 
cooperation with MICOPAX, the Central African Economic 
Community,s peacekeeping force. 
 
The U.S. is pleased the UN has increased its support to the 
Government of CAR, particularly in the areas of rule of law, 
security sector reform, and the revitalization of 
conflict-affected communities.  Despite these efforts, vast 
regions of ungoverned or undergoverned territory exist in 
CAR, presenting a potential security vacuum; and the lack of 
an adequately functioning government places civilians in 
jeopardy.  We believe it critical that other steps be taken 
in CAR to ensure adequate governance and to avoid a 
humanitarian crisis.  We urge DPA to further incorporate in 
its assistance efforts programs to establish good governance 
principles and to build capacity to deliver essential 
services to the citizens throughout CAR. 
RICE