VZCZCXRO5260
OO RUEHGI RUEHMA RUEHROV
DE RUEHC #9698/01 2612302
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O R 172255Z SEP 08
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 3099
INFO DARFUR COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 099698 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL CD CT KPKO UNSC
SUBJECT: MINURCAT RENEWAL TALKING POINTS 
 
¶1.  Mission may draw on the following points in Security 
Council consultations on Chad, the Central African Republic 
and MINURCAT on September 19.  Begin Text: 
 
The United States would like to thank the Secretary General 
and the Special Representative for their reports detailing 
the conditions in Chad and the Central African Republic.  We 
wish to express our appreciation for the work of Special 
Representative Angelo, which he has conducted under 
challenging circumstances.  We also wish to express our 
gratitude to the members of the EUFOR for their work and for 
the foundation for security they have built. 
 
The reports provide incontrovertible evidence of the 
region,s continuing instability and its effects on the 
civilian population and the humanitarian workers.  They also 
provide ample justification for the Council to be resolute in 
our efforts to achieve peace and security in the region. 
Today, I would like to make five points: 
 
First, the United States is gravely concerned about the 
continuing political, military and security volatility in the 
region, including threats to the security of the vulnerable 
civilian population, the large population displacement that 
has occurred, and the ongoing armed conflicts in the region. 
Many of these concerns have origins in Darfur and Chad.  We 
welcome the efforts of MINURCAT and EUFOR to alleviate the 
great human suffering.   The clear solution to this conflict 
is to end support by the Governments of Chad and Sudan to 
Sudanese and Chadian rebel groups.  We are particularly 
concerned about continued efforts of Sudanese rebel movements 
to recruit from Sudanese refugee camps in eastern Chad, and 
we call on the Government of Chad to halt recruitment 
activity. 
 
Second, a well-trained and equipped security force must be in 
place prior to EUFOR,s withdrawal next March and there must 
be a transition period of sufficient duration and interaction 
between the departing and arriving forces prior to EUFOR,s 
departure from the region. 
 
Third, the United States is deeply troubled by the status of 
internally displaced persons and refugees in Chad and the CAR 
who suffer due to the political instability and general 
lawlessness in the region.  The failure to provide continuing 
security and humanitarian assistance could produce a vacuum 
in the region that could worsen already dangerous conditions. 
We note that the Secretary General,s most recent report 
estimated that there are more than 290,000 refugees and more 
than 180,000 internally displaced persons in eastern Chad who 
are severely impacted by internal and cross-border 
hostilities, and that they require continuing humanitarian 
assistance.  Despite their needs, over 1.5 million dollars in 
assistance was destroyed or stolen in June as a result of 
fighting between Chadian armed opposition groups and the 
Chadian National Army.  Aid workers have been subjected to 
theft, intimidation, car hijacking, and death threats.  The 
security situation has deteriorated to the point where the 
delivery of critical services to the most vulnerable has been 
placed in jeopardy.  It is of the utmost importance that 
security be enhanced to provide adequate protection for the 
delivery of assistance.   We will be exploring options to 
ensure this enhanced security. 
 
Fourth, conditions of lawlessness and criminal activity 
directed at civilians in Chad and the CAR, particularly 
sexual and gender-based violence and violence against 
children, as well as crimes targeting humanitarian aid and 
aid workers, argue forcefully for strong, well-trained 
national police units to provide police services in and 
around all camps of internally displaced persons and 
refugees.  We are compelled to insist that the Government of 
Chad take all steps necessary to facilitate the immediate 
deployment of the newly trained Chadian police to the region. 
 In the CAR, the nearly 25,000 IDPs and refugees and 
humanitarian aid workers are also subject to criminal attacks 
and increasing banditry and would benefit from police 
services.  The United States continues to support the 
presence of MINURCAT in the CAR to prevent insecurity that 
can potentially harm these vulnerable populations. 
 
Finally, armed struggle within Chad continues.  We strongly 
encourage all parties to work diligently toward full 
implementation of the Dakar agreement and all existing peace 
agreements.  We commend the efforts by the Contact Group, and 
particularly the Government of Libya, for their work to 
support a comprehensive peace between Chad and Sudan.  We 
also encourage the Government of the CAR to move 
 
STATE 00099698  002 OF 002 
 
 
expeditiously to fully implement the disarmament, 
demobilization, and reintegration provisions of the June 2008 
comprehensive peace agreement; and we encourage all parties 
to cease hostilities against the civilian and humanitarian 
assistance populations. 
 
¶2.  Finally, we thank the Secretariat for its work to 
highlight ways to improve the implementation of the mandate 
adopted by the Security Council and look forward to receiving 
the Secretariat,s detailed recommendations on the renewal of 
the mandate of MINURCAT. 
RICE