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UNCLAS STATE 094919 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL KPKO UNSC LI
SUBJECT: UNSC: UN MISSION IN LIBERIA:  MANDATE RENEWAL 
 
¶1. (U) USUN is authorized to vote in favor of a Security 
Council resolution extending the mandate of the UN Mission in 
Liberia (UNMIL) until September 30, 2010, and authorizing 
UNMIL to support the 2011 Liberian presidential elections. 
The vote is scheduled for September 15.  USUN should consult 
with Washington if there are any substantive changes to the 
text of the resolution (paragraph 2). 
 
 ¶2. (U)  Begin resolution text: 
 
The Security Council, 
 
Recalling its resolutions and statements by its President 
concerning the situation in Liberia and the subregion, in 
particular its resolutions 1836 (2008), 1626 (2005), and 1509 
(2003), 
 
Welcoming the Secretary-General,s report of 10 August 2009 
S/2009/411, as well as his special report of 10 June 2009, 
and taking note of the recommendations in both reports, 
 
Welcoming the efforts of the Government of Liberia to further 
national reconciliation and economic recovery, and to combat 
corruption and promote efficiency and good governance, in 
particular steps taken with regard to strengthening 
Government control over natural resources and to address the 
important issue of land reform, 
 
Taking note of the conclusion of the work of the Truth and 
Reconciliation Commission, which provides an important 
opportunity for the people of Liberia to move the national 
reconciliation agenda forward and engage in a constructive 
national dialogue on the root causes of the Liberian 
conflict, 
 
Recognizing that lasting stability in Liberia and the 
subregion will require well-functioning and sustainable 
security and rule of law sectors, and noting the continuing 
progress being made in developing and professionalizing the 
Armed Forces of Liberia and the Liberia National Police, 
 
Recalling the benchmarks for the drawdown phase of the United 
Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), including core benchmarks 
on the Liberia National Police and the national security 
strategy, and noting with concern those areas where progress 
is still slow, 
 
Recognizing the significant challenges that remain across all 
sectors, including continuing problems with violent crime, 
 
Welcoming the efforts of the Secretary-General to keep all 
peacekeeping operations, including UNMIL, under close review 
and stressing the need for the Council to pursue a rigorous, 
strategic approach to peacekeeping deployments, consistent 
with the declaration of its President dated 5 August 2009 on 
United Nations peacekeeping operations S/PRST/2009/24, 
 
Expressing its appreciation for the continuing support of the 
international community, the Economic Community of West 
African States (ECOWAS), and the African Union (AU), 
 
Noting with concern the threats to sub-regional stability, 
including to Liberia, in particular posed by drug 
trafficking, organized crime, and illicit arms trafficking, 
 
Commending the work of UNMIL, under the leadership of the 
Special Representative of the Secretary-General, for its 
continuing and significant contribution to maintaining peace 
and stability in Liberia, and welcoming the close cooperation 
between UNMIL and the United Nations Operation in Cote 
d,Ivoire (UNOCI), as well as with neighboring Governments, 
in coordinating security activities in the border areas in 
the subregion, 
 
Taking note of the conclusions of the needs assessment 
mission that evaluated the requirements of the Liberian 
National Elections Commission to prepare for and conduct the 
October 2011 general presidential and legislative elections, 
and stressing that the responsibility for the preparation and 
conduct of the elections rests with the Liberian authorities, 
with the support of the international community, 
 
Welcoming progress achieved on the benchmarks laid out in the 
Secretary-General,s reports of 12 September 2006, 9 August 
2007 and 19 March 2008, 
 
Recalling its resolutions 1325 (2000) and 1820 (2008) on 
women, peace, and security and condemning any sexual 
violence, further welcoming the continuing efforts of UNMIL, 
in close cooperation with the Government of Liberia, to 
promote and protect the rights of civilians, in particular 
women and children, noting with appreciation that the 
Government,s strategy for implementation of resolution 1325 
(2000) is in place, recognizing the challenges that remain in 
addressing the serious issues of gender-based violence and 
sexual exploitation and abuse, and calling on Member States 
to increase support to the Government in its efforts, 
 
Encouraging the Liberian authorities to expedite their 
efforts to constitute the Independent National Commission on 
Human Rights, 
 
Reiterating the continuing need for UNMIL,s support for the 
security of the Special Court for Sierra Leone, subject to 
periodic review as the Court's work progresses, 
 
Determining that the situation in Liberia continues to 
constitute a threat to international peace and security in 
the region, 
 
Acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations, 
 
¶1. Decides that the mandate of the United Nations Mission in 
Liberia (UNMIL) shall be extended until 30 September 2010; 
 
¶2.  Authorizes UNMIL to assist with the 2011 general 
presidential and legislative elections, by providing 
logistical support, particularly to facilitate access to 
remote areas, coordinating international electoral 
assistance, and supporting Liberian institutions and 
political parties in creating an atmosphere conducive to the 
conduct of peaceful elections; 
 
¶3.  Calls upon the Liberian authorities to ensure that the 
outstanding issues regarding the electoral legal framework, 
including delineation of constituencies and proposed 
constitutional amendments, are finalized to facilitate 
adequate preparations for the elections; 
 
¶4.  Further endorses the Secretary-General,s recommendation 
that the conduct of free and fair, conflict-free elections be 
a core benchmark for UNMIL,s drawdown; 
 
¶5. Reaffirms its intention to authorize the Secretary-General 
to redeploy troops, as may be needed, between UNMIL and UNOCI 
on a temporary basis in accordance with the provisions of 
resolution 1609 (2005) and calls on troop contributing 
countries to support the efforts of the Secretary-General in 
this regard; 
 
¶6. Endorses the Secretary-General,s recommendation in his 
Special Report of 10 June 2009 (S/2009/299) to implement the 
third stage of UNMIL,s drawdown, from October 2009 to May 
2010, repatriating 2,029 military personnel, three attack 
helicopters and 72 armored personnel carriers, leaving 
UNMIL,s military strength at 8,202 personnel, including 
7,952 troops in Liberia and 250 at the Special Court for 
Sierra Leone, and keeping the UNMIL police component at its 
current authorized strength; 
 
¶7. Requests the Secretary-General, in cooperation with the UN 
country team and Government of Liberia, to develop a 
strategic integrated plan to coordinate activity towards the 
achievement of benchmarks, and recalling the statements of 
its President on 22 July 2009 (S/PRST/2009/23) and 5 August 
2009 (S/PRST/2009/24) which emphasized the need for coherence 
between, and integration of, peacemaking, peacekeeping, 
peacebuilding and development to achieve an effective 
response to post-conflict situations, and requests the 
Secretary-General to provide in his reports an indication of 
progress toward achieving a coordinated UN approach in 
Liberia and in particular on critical gaps to achieving 
peacebuilding objectives; 
 
¶8. Underscores the importance that the military concept of 
operations and rules of engagement be regularly updated and 
be fully in line with the provisions of this resolution, and 
requests the Secretary-General to report on them to the 
Security Council and Troop Contributing Countries; 
 
 
¶9.  Further requests the Secretary-General to continue to 
monitor progress on core benchmarks, in particular on 
progress on preparations for the 2011 elections, and on the 
progress made towards building the capacity of the Liberia 
National Police, and to report regularly on that progress to 
the Security Council; 
 
¶10.  Calls upon the Government of Liberia, in coordination 
with UNMIL, the UN country tream and international partners 
to redouble efforts to develop national security and rule of 
law institutions that are fully independently operational, 
and to this end encourages coordinated progress on the 
implementation of all Security and Justice Development Plans, 
including the Liberia National Police strategic plan referred 
to in paragraph 29 of the Secretary-General's report of 10 
August 2009 (S/2009/411); 
 
 
¶11. Further requests the Secretary-General to keep it 
regularly informed of the situation on the ground and to 
provide by 15 August 2010 a report on the issues addressed in 
paragraphs 2 and 8; 
 
¶12. Decides to remain seized of the matter. 
 
End text. 
CLINTON