VZCZCXYZ0000
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHC #9391 3550300
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O P 210241Z DEC 07
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 0000
INFO RUEHFN/AMEMBASSY FREETOWN PRIORITY 0000
RUEHTC/AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE PRIORITY 0000

UNCLAS STATE 169391 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: UNSC PREL PHUM XA XY SL
SUBJECT: SIERRA LEONE - VOTING INSTRUCTIONS ON UNIOSIL 
 
¶1.  This is an action message.  See paragraph 2. 
 
¶2.  USUN is instructed to vote in favor of the UNIOSIL 
extension resolution scheduled for adoption by the Council 
on December 21.  Full text of the resolution follows: 
 
The Security Council, 
 
Re-affirming its previous Resolutions and the statements 
of its President concerning the situation in Sierra Leone, 
in particular Resolutions 1734 (2006), 1688 (2006) and 
1620 (2005), 
 
Commending the valuable contribution that the United 
Nations Integrated Office in Sierra Leone (UNIOSIL) has 
made to the recovery of Sierra Leone from conflict and to 
the country's peace, security and development, 
 
Welcoming the report of the Secretary-General dated 4 
December and the recommendation that the mandate of 
UNIOSIL is extended for a further 9 months until 30 
September 2008 with a view to providing continued 
peacebuilding assistance to the Government of Sierra Leone 
and preparing for the local elections in June 2008, 
 
Noting the letter of 22 October 2007 from the President of 
Sierra Leone to the Secretary-General requesting the 
extension of the mandate of UNIOSIL, 
 
Welcoming the holding of peaceful and democratic 
parliamentary and presidential elections in August and 
September 2007, and stressing that the wide acceptance of 
the local elections in June 2008 will be another important 
milestone in consolidating a sustainable peace in Sierra 
Leone, 
 
Emphasizing the importance of the continued support of the 
United Nations system and the international community for 
the long-term peace, security and development of Sierra 
Leone, particularly through strengthening the capacity of 
the Government of Sierra Leone, 
 
Welcoming the adoption on 12 December 2007 of the 
Peacebuilding Co-operation Framework highlighting inter 
alia five priority areas in the peace consolidation 
process to be addressed by the Government of Sierra Leone 
with the support of the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC), 
the United Nations system and bilateral and multi-national 
partners. 
 
Welcoming the progress made in reforming the security 
sector in Sierra Leone and, in particular, the developing 
professionalism of the Sierra Leone Armed Forces and 
police, and urging further strengthening and rationalizing 
of the security architecture so that the police and Armed 
Forces are sustainable in the long term and able to carry 
out their tasks effectively, 
 
Reiterating its appreciation for the work of the Special 
Court for Sierra Leone and its vital contribution to 
reconciliation and the rule of law in Sierra Leone and the 
subregion, reiterating its expectation that the Court will 
finish its work expeditiously, and calling upon Member 
States to contribute generously to the Court, 
 
Welcoming the role played by ECOWAS and encouraging the 
Member States of the Mano River Union and other 
organisations to continue their efforts aimed at building 
regional and sub-regional peace and security, 
 
¶1.      Decides to extend the mandate of UNIOSIL, as 
outlined in resolution 1620 (2005), until 30 September 
2008; 
 
¶2.      Requests the Secretary-General to submit by 31 
January 2008, and for the Council's consideration, a 
completion strategy for UNIOSIL including: 
 
-       at least a 20% reduction in staff numbers by 31 
March 2008; 
-       a continued mission at 80% of the current 
strength until the 31 June 2008; and 
-       the termination of UNIOSIL's mandate by 30 
September 2008. 
 
¶3.      Emphasises the importance of UNIOSIL focusing, 
in particular, on providing assistance to the local 
elections scheduled for 21 June 2008, and to national 
commissions and institutions for the promotion of good 
governance and human rights, and actively supporting the 
work of the Peacebuilding Commission and the Peacebuilding 
Fund; and, in this regard, requests the Secretary-General 
to ensure there is adequate capacity, expertise and 
resources within UNIOSIL; 
 
¶4.      Expresses its intention that, on the expiration 
of its mandate, UNIOSIL should be replaced by a UN 
integrated political office to focus on carrying forward 
the peacebuilding process, mobilising international donor 
support, supporting the work of the Peacebuilding 
Commission and Fund, and completing any residual tasks 
left over from UNIOSIL's mandate, in particular promoting 
national reconciliation and supporting the constitutional 
reform process; and requests the Secretary General to 
submit specific proposals on the mandate, structure and 
strength of the successor office in his next report to the 
Council in April 2008; 
 
¶5.      Calls upon all parties in Sierra Leone to ensure 
that the 2008 local elections are peaceful, transparent, 
free and fair; further calls upon the Government of Sierra 
Leone to provide the necessary support for the electoral 
institutions; and urges Member States and relevant 
international and regional organisations to provide 
technical and material support; 
 
¶6.      Emphasises that the Government of Sierra Leone 
bears the primary responsibility for peacebuilding, 
security and long-term development in the country, and 
encourages the Government of Sierra Leone to continue its 
close engagement with the Peacebuilding Commission, 
including through the regular monitoring of progress in 
the implementation of the Sierra Leone Peacebuilding 
Co-operation Framework, and international donors to 
continue to provide support to the Government; 
 
¶7.      Calls upon the Government of Sierra Leone, 
UNIOSIL and all other stakeholders in the country to 
increase their efforts to promote good governance, 
including through continued measures to combat corruption, 
improve accountability, promote the development of the 
private sector to generate wealth and employment 
opportunities, strengthen the judiciary and promote human 
rights; 
 
¶8.      Acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the 
United Nations, decides to exempt from the measures 
imposed by paragraph 5 of resolution 1132 (1997) the 
travel of any witnesses whose presence at trial before the 
Special Court for Sierra Leone is required; 
 
¶9.      Emphasises the important role of women in the 
prevention and resolution of conflicts and in 
peacebuilding, as recognised in resolution 1325 (2000), 
underlines that a gender perspective should be taken into 
account in implementing all aspects of the mandate of 
UNIOSIL, encourages UNIOSIL to work with the Government of 
Sierra Leone in this area, and requests the 
Secretary-General to ensure there is adequate capacity, 
 
SIPDIS 
expertise and resources within UNIOSIL to carry out this 
work and, where appropriate, to include in his reporting 
to the Council progress on gender mainstreaming throughout 
UNIOSIL and all other aspects relating to the situation of 
women and girls, especially in relation to the need to 
protect them from gender-based violence; 
 
¶10.     Welcomes the efforts undertaken by UNIOSIL to 
implement the Secretary-General's zero-tolerance policy on 
sexual exploitation and abuse to ensure full compliance of 
its personnel with the United Nations code of conduct; 
 
¶11.     Requests that the Secretary-General to keep the 
Council regularly informed of progress made in the 
implementation of the mandate of UNIOSIL and this 
resolution; 
 
¶12.     Decides to remain actively seized of the 
matter. 
 
End text. 
RICE