VZCZCXRO3249
PP RUEHDE RUEHROV RUEHTRO
DE RUEHC #8669/01 1331315
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P R 131302Z MAY 09
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 6083
INFO SOMALIA COLLECTIVE
UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA 7411
RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 1603

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 048669 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL UNSC KPKO ET KE
SUBJECT: MAY 13 UN SECURITY COUNCIL CONSULTATIONS ON 
SOMALIA 
 
¶1. USUN may draw upon the elements below during UN Security 
Council consultations on Somalia. 
 
-     The United States strongly supports the efforts of 
President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, Prime Minister Omar 
Abdirashid Sharmarke, and others in the Transitional Federal 
Government (TFG) to develop an inclusive, functioning 
government for all the people of Somalia. 
 
-     The May 9-10 attacks on the people of Somalia and the 
Transitional Federal Government remind us of the past that 
Somalia is so desperately trying to leave behind.  These 
attacks, in which at least 60 people, including some 20 
civilians, were killed, follow a pattern in which extremist 
militias, including al-Shabaab, seek to destabilize the 
Djibouti process and inflict misery on civilians.  These are 
the same groups that continue to carry out assassinations and 
attempted assassinations of influential Somali leaders who 
are courageously pushing for peace in Somalia. 
 
-     We remain concerned by independent reporting that 
Eritrea continues to provide financial, military, and 
political support to al-Shabaab and others threatening the 
peace process.  We will continue to call on Eritrea to use 
their influence in the region for good and to foster peace. 
 
-     We will also continue to work in the Somalia Sanctions 
Committee to implement preventative measures that will 
encourage the restoration of peace and security in Somalia. 
This will include designating individuals and entities that 
meet the criteria described in resolution 1844 (2008) for an 
asset freeze, travel ban, and targeted arms embargo. 
 
-     The United States strongly urges all Member States to 
comply with the comprehensive arms embargo that was imposed 
by resolution 733 in 1992, and the exemption process as 
described in resolution 1772 (2007) and the Committee's 
guidelines. 
 
-     The United States is also concerned about the scourge 
of piracy off the Somali coast.  We have called for an urgent 
meeting of the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of 
Somalia for May 29 here in New York. 
 
-     At this meeting we will discuss current military 
operations and their effectiveness, urge nations to adopt 
policies to support pirate detention and prosecution, press 
victim states to live up to their responsibilities to 
prosecute suspected pirates, urge states to adopt a 
non-concession policy in regards to ransom payments, and 
explore other ideas to discourage piracy. 
 
-     However, we continue to believe the best long-term 
solution to eradicate piracy off the Horn of Africa is to 
assist in the establishment of a stable and prosperous 
Somalia. 
 
-     The United States is pleased that the UN was able to 
increase its activities in Somalia, and that UN international 
staff have been able to conduct missions to Mogadishu.  We 
hope that security conditions will eventually allow for 
international staff to operate from the capital. 
 
-     We commend AMISOM, especially the dedication and 
sacrifice by the Ugandan and Burundian battalions, for their 
efforts to bring peace, security, and stability to Somalia 
under such difficult circumstances. 
 
-     We support continuation of the UN logistical support 
package to AMISOM as recommended by the Secretary General in 
order to continue to support the Mission.  At the same time, 
we continue to encourage other Member States to support 
AMISOM, either bilaterally or through the contributions to 
the AMISOM UN Trust Fund.  This international support will 
allow AMISOM to better and more easily operate and meet its 
mandate. 
 
-     To this end, we encourage the UN and the AU to quickly 
conclude a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will allow 
for the necessary framework for cooperation between the 
organizations, and we also encourage DFS to continue its 
efforts to establish service support contracts. 
 
-      The United States is encouraged by the establishment 
 
STATE 00048669  002 OF 002 
 
 
of the UN Support Office for AMISOM (UNSOA) and by the 
completion of the Department of Field Support's (DFS,s) 
assessment mission in Mogadishu. 
 
-     We underscore that support to the Somali security 
forces is critical, and are also optimistic that pledges made 
by donors at the April 23 Donors, Conference will help to 
meet their basic needs for water, food, fuel, and medical 
assistance. 
 
-     We are deeply concerned with the intensification of the 
humanitarian crisis in Somalia, and the severe effects of 
drought, conflict, inflation, and continued lack of 
humanitarian access on the Somali people.  However, we are 
encouraged by the return of approximately 70,000 displaced 
persons to Mogadishu.  We must do all we can to support the 
stabilization of Mogadishu so that even more displaced 
persons can return to their homes and to productive 
livelihoods. 
 
- The United States is deeply concerned that the World Food 
Program is the only remaining humanitarian entity in Somalia, 
and that the WFP has threatened to stop its mission as well, 
if local leaders cannot guarantee the safety of their 
personnel.  We once again condemn the targeting for 
assassination and kidnapping of humanitarian workers by 
al-Shabaab and other extremists.  We call upon all groups to 
guarantee the safety of humanitarian workers in Somalia. 
 
End Somalia humanitarian and human rights elements. 
CLINTON