VZCZCXYZ0002
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHC #8278 3500010
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O P 160007Z DEC 09
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 0000
INFO RUEHJB/AMEMBASSY BUJUMBURA PRIORITY 0000

UNCLAS STATE 128278 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL UNSC XA BY
SUBJECT: BURUNDI: USUN GUIDANCE FOR ADOPTION OF BINUB 
UNSC RESOLUTION 
 
¶1.  USUN is instructed to join consensus on the UN Security 
Council Resolution extending the mandate of the United 
Nations Integrated Office in Burundi (BINUB).  USUN should 
refer any further substantive changes on the Resolution to 
the Department prior to joining consensus for adoption.  End 
action request. 
 
¶2. Begin text: 
 
The Security Council, 
 
Recalling its resolutions and the statements of its President 
on Burundi, in particular resolutions 1719 (2006), 1791 
(2007) and 1858 (2008), 
 
Reaffirming its strong commitment to the sovereignty, 
independence, territorial integrity and unity of Burundi, 
 
Reaffirming the importance of the Declaration of the Summit 
of the Heads of State and Government of the Great Lakes 
Region on the Burundi Peace Process, which took place in 
Bujumbura on 4 December 2008 and the agreements reached 
between the Government of Burundi and the Forces Nationales 
de Libration (Palipehutu-FNL), 
 
Paying tribute to the Regional Peace Initiative, the South 
African Facilitation, the Partnership for Peace in Burundi, 
the African Union and the Political Directorate for their 
sustained engagement in support of Burundi,s peace 
consolidation efforts, 
 
Welcoming the progress achieved by Burundi in key peace 
consolidation areas, as well as the remaining challenges, in 
particular the transformation of the Palipehutu-FNL into a 
political party (FNL), nominating FNL leaders to civil 
service positions, strengthening good governance, ensuring 
the sustainability of the disarmament, demobilization and 
reintegration process, and taking forward the reform of the 
security sector, 
 
Commending the Government of Burundi and the political 
parties for the consensus achieved in nominating the members 
of the Independent National Electoral Commission and the 
consensual adoption of the revised electoral code, welcoming 
the decision of the Government to provide a legal framework 
for the Permanent Forum for Dialogue among parties and 
recalling the importance that the elections scheduled for 
2010 are prepared and conducted in a free, fair and peaceful 
environment, 
 
Emphasizing the need for the United Nations system and the 
international community to maintain their support for peace 
consolidation and long-term development in Burundi welcoming 
in this regard the holding of the Consultative Group meeting 
of donors in Paris in October 2009, and the twin mechanism 
put in place to coordinate international assistance for the 
elections, 
 
Welcoming the continued engagement of the Peacebuilding 
Commission on Burundi and the recent visit of the Chairman of 
the Commission,s Burundi configuration and taking note of 
the July 2009 biannual review of progress in the 
implementation of the Strategic Framework for Peacebuilding 
in Burundi and of the briefing of the Chairman of the Burundi 
configuration of the Peacebuilding Commission on 10 December 
2009, 
 
Recognizing the importance of transitional justice in 
promoting lasting reconciliation among all the people of 
Burundi and welcoming the process of national consultations 
on the establishment of transitional justice mechanisms, in 
accordance with the Arusha Agreements of 2000 and its 
resolution 1606 (2005), 
 
Noting with concern the continuing human rights violations 
and restrictions on civil liberties, including restrictions 
on the freedom of assembly and expression of the political 
opposition and representatives of civil society and 
expressing equal concern for the reports of violence 
perpetuated by youth groups associated with some political 
parties, 
 
Encouraging the Government of Burundi to continue its efforts 
to fight impunity, and to bring to expeditious conclusion 
cases of human rights violations, including killings, 
 
Recalling its resolutions 1325 (2000), 1820 (2008), 1888 
(2009) and 1889 (2009) on women and peace and security, its 
resolutions 1674 (2006) and 1894 (2009) on the protection of 
civilians in armed conflicts and its resolutions 1612 (2005) 
and 1882 (2009) on children and armed conflict, 
 
Having considered the sixth report (2009/611) of the 
Secretary-General on the United Nations Integrated Office in 
Burundi (BINUB), 
 
¶1.    Decides to extend until 31 December 2010 the mandate of 
BINUB, as set out in resolutions 1719 (2006), and renewed in 
its resolution 1791 (2007) and 1858 (2008); 
 
¶2.    Encourages the Government of Burundi and the FNL to 
make every effort to achieve the implementation of the 4 
December 2008 Agreements, calls on all parties to desist from 
any action that may foster the resumption of tensions and 
encourages them to resolve outstanding issues in the spirit 
of reconciliation and dialogue enshrined in the Burundian 
Constitution; 
 
¶3.    Acknowledges the contribution brought to peace-building 
in Burundi by the Regional Initiative, the South African 
facilitation, the Political Directorate and the Partnership 
for Peace in Burundi until 2009 and encourages the Regional 
Initiative leaders, the African Union, and other 
international partners to remain actively engaged on the 
ground to ensure that the implementation of the 4 December 
2008 Declaration is irreversible and to consolidate the peace 
process; 
 
¶4.    Reiterates its request for the Secretary-General, in 
particular through BINUB, to play a robust political role in 
support of all facets of the peace process, in full 
coordination with subregional, regional and international 
partners; 
 
¶5.    Decides that BINUB, working in close cooperation with 
the Government of Burundi, shall pay particular attention to 
supporting the electoral process, democratic governance, the 
consolidation of peace, sustainable reintegration and gender 
issues; 
 
¶6.    Recognizes the primary responsibility of the Government 
of Burundi and its national partners to create the propitious 
conditions for the elections in 2010, urges the Government of 
Burundi to take the necessary measures to create an 
environment conducive to the holding of free, fair and 
peaceful elections in 2010 and encourages the Government of 
Burundi and the political parties to remain engaged in 
dialogue, in particular through the Permanent Forum for 
Dialogue; 
 
¶7.    Urges the Government of Burundi and the political 
parties to continue their efforts to preserve the 
independence and credibility of the Independent National 
Electoral Commission; 
 
¶8.    Supports the launch in September 2009 by President 
Nkurunziza of a nationwide civic education campaign for the 
elections and encourages the pursuit of civic education 
activities throughout the electoral process; 
 
¶9.    Welcomes the United Nations readiness to assist in the 
electoral process and requests BINUB to be prepared to 
provide, within existing resources, if required, logistical 
support to the Independent National Electoral Commission at 
crucial phases of the electoral process; 
 
¶10.   Reiterates its request to the Executive Representative 
of the Secretary-General to facilitate and promote dialogue 
among national and international stakeholders, in particular 
in the context of the upcoming elections, while continuing to 
support their efforts to sustain peace and stability; 
 
¶11.   Encourages the Government of Burundi, the Peacebuilding 
Commission, and its national and international partners to 
honour the commitments they have made under the Strategic 
Framework for Peacebuilding and requests the Peacebuilding 
Commission, with support from BINUB, to continue to assist 
the Government of Burundi in laying the foundations for 
sustainable peace and security, reintegration and long-term 
development in Burundi and in mobilizing the resources needed 
to achieve these aims, including for the coming elections; 
 
¶12.   Encourages the Government of Burundi to pursue its 
efforts regarding peace consolidation challenges, in 
particular democratic governance, security reforms, land 
tenure, justice and the protection of human rights, with a 
special focus on women,s and children,s rights; 
 
¶13.   Encourages the Government of Burundi with the support 
of BINUB and other international partners to step up its 
efforts to pursue the structural reforms aimed at improving 
political, economic and administrative governance, with 
continued focus on the fight against corruption, and 
encourages in particular the implementation of the 
comprehensive Public Administration Reform Programme (PARP); 
 
¶14.   Underscores the importance of security sector reform 
and urges all international partners, together with BINUB, to 
support the Government of Burundi,s efforts to 
professionalize and enhance the capacity of the national 
security services, and the police in particular in the fields 
of training on human rights and sexual and gender-based 
violence; 
 
¶15.   Encourages the Government of Burundi, in collaboration 
with all international partners, including BINUB, UNDP and 
the World Bank, to complete the disarmament and 
demobilization process and the strategy for the sustainable 
socio-economic reintegration of demobilized soldiers, former 
combatants, returning refugees, the displaced and other 
vulnerable groups affected by the conflict, particularly 
women and children, and urges international 
partners,particularly the Peacebuilding Commission, to stand 
ready to support this; 
 
¶16.   Welcomes the progress by the Tripartite Commission 
comprising Burundi, UNHCR and Tanzania towards achieving 
dignified durable solutions for refugees living in Tanzania 
and encourages a sustained effort with regards to the 
residual Burundi refugee caseload; 
 
¶17.   Encourages the Government of Burundi, with the support 
of BINUB and other partners, to continue the national 
consultations on transitional justice with a view to their 
timely completion and the publication of the final report, 
and to ensure that the results of these consultations form 
the basis for the establishment of transitional justice 
mechanisms; 
 
¶18.   Calls upon the Government of Burundi to pursue its 
efforts to broaden the respect and protection of human 
rights, including through the establishment of a credible 
National Independent Human Rights Commission, in conformity 
with the Paris Principles outlined in General Assembly 
resolution 48/134 and further encourages it to end impunity 
and to take the necessary measures to ensure its citizens 
fully enjoy their civil, political, social, economic and 
cultural rights without fear or intimidation, as enshrined in 
the Constitution of Burundi and provided for by international 
human rights instruments, including those ratified by 
Burundi; 
 
¶19.   Expresses in particular its concern at the continuing 
sexual and gender-based violence, and urges the Government to 
continue to take the necessary steps to prevent further 
violations and to ensure that those responsible are brought 
to justice; 
 
¶20.   Welcomes the release of all children by armed groups, 
emphasizes the need for their sustainable reintegration and 
reinsertion, welcomes in this regard the program launched by 
the World Bank in this field and urges the Government, with 
the support of BINUB, UNICEF and other members of the Country 
Task Force on the Monitoring and Reporting of Grave Child 
Rights Violations, to fight impunity for violators of 
children,s rights; 
 
¶21.   Urges BINUB to strengthen current provisions for 
cooperation with the United Nations Organization Mission in 
the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC), within the 
limits of their respective capacities and current mandate, in 
cooperation with the Governments of the Burundi and the 
Democratic Republic of the Congo as appropriate; 
 
¶22.   Requests the Secretary-General to provide to the 
Council a briefing on the electoral process in May 2010 and a 
full report on the implementation of the mandate of BINUB in 
November 2010 and requests the Secretary-General to 
incorporate in this report a detailed review of the extent to 
which the benchmarks set in the 14 Aug 2006 Addendum 
(2006/429/Add.1) to his report of 21 June 2006 (2006/429) 
have been met, and, following consultations with the 
Government of the Burundi, to provide recommendations on what 
changes need to be made to the direction and composition of 
the UN presence in Burundi, including recommendations on a 
revised time frame for the transition to a more 
development-focused presence; 
 
¶23.   Decides to remain actively seized of the matter. 
CLINTON