VZCZCXYZ0717
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHC #3380 0131811
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 131806Z JAN 10
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0000

UNCLAS STATE 003380 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: UNSC PREL PHUM PHSA
SUBJECT: TALKING POINTS FOR SOMALIA CONSULTATIONS JANUARY 
14 
 
¶1.    Action Request:  USUN should draw from the building 
blocks in paragraph 2 below in drafting the statement for the 
UN Security Council briefing and consultations on Somalia on 
January 14, 2010.  End action. 
 
¶2.    Begin building blocks: 
 
-- Special Representative Ould-Abdallah, thank you for your 
briefing today.  Today I would like to address three areas: 
the security environment, humanitarian needs and the 
political process. 
 
-- The United States continues to watch events in Somalia 
with concern.  Somalia,s tenuous security environment 
permeates daily life and impedes progress on all levels.  The 
horrific December 3 suicide attack on the Hotel Shamo 
exemplifies the will of terrorist groups to target both the 
TFG and innocent civilians.  The United States condemns this 
attack in the strongest possible terms. 
 
-- The absence of security makes it exceedingly difficult for 
the TFG to fulfill the transitional tasks it is charged with 
undertaking in accordance with the Djibouti Peace Process. 
Security must improve in order for political stability to 
take hold, for large-scale economic development to become 
possible, and for recovery to begin. 
 
-- To this end, the United States supports deployment of the 
African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) to its fully 
authorized strength of 8,000, and the development of the 
TFG,s security institutions, which is central to our 
strategy of stabilizing Mogadishu and supporting the Somali 
peace process. 
 
-- The UN Support Office for AMISOM (UNSOA) has made a 
significant positive impact upon AMISOM forces as it 
continues to deliver food, fuel, and medical supplies and 
helps to enhance security and communications. We are grateful 
for the details of today,s report, which help ensure 
accountability and transparency in the UN,s logistic support 
assistance. 
 
-- Since the deployment of AMISOM in 2007, the United States 
has provided over $171 million in bilateral assistance for 
logistical and equipment support as well as pre-deployment 
training and equipment to the Burundian and Ugandan forces on 
the ground. 
 
-- We look forward to the renewal of AMISOM,s mandate later 
this month, which gives us an opportunity to rally 
international support and urge the fulfillment of pledges to 
AMISOM,s mission. 
 
-- We also encourage international support for the 
development of Somali military, police, and security forces, 
as well as greater coordination and training of TFG forces. 
 
(-- Also critical for Somalia,s stability are international 
efforts to prosecute suspected pirates who seek to divert 
critical assistance and stymie international trade.  These 
efforts should be strengthened and broadened to ensure an 
environment in which people and goods can be transported 
safely.  For this reason, we welcome the International Trust 
Fund Supporting the Initiatives of the Contact Group on 
Piracy off the Coast of Somalia which we hope will assist 
international efforts to combat piracy off of Somalia,s 
coast.) 
 
-- Secondly, I would like to raise the humanitarian 
situation.  The Secretary-General,s report notes that the 
current humanitarian situation is dire: up to three million 
Somalis are in need of food assistance and the number of 
internally displaced persons has reached 1.55 million, of 
which the vast majority are located in the southern and 
central areas. 
 
-- Yet, it is in these very areas that al-Shaabab has forced 
the suspension or closure of desparately-needed relief 
rograms, including the World Food Program by rejecting 
humanitarian aid, threatening staff, and demanding high fees. 
  The result is that approximately 900,000 people in southern 
Somalia, or one third of the WFP,s caseload, will no longer 
have access to critical assistance. 
 
-- The United States has been the largest donor of 
humanitarian assistance to Somalia and remains committed to 
coordinating with the international community to meet the 
humanitarian needs of the Somali people.  We will work with 
the WFP and other UN and non-governmental partners to 
continue to provide vital humanitarian assistance in spite of 
these challenging conditions. 
 
-- We are also becoming increasingly concerned by recent 
incidents of gender-based violence in IDP settlements, as 
well as the recruitment of child soldiers.  We welcome the 
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and UNPOS,s 
work to develop a technical framework with the TFG so that 
prevention efforts may work better targeted in the future. 
 
-- Third, I would like to emphasize that in spite of 
overwhelming challenges and intolerable security conditions, 
over the past three months the TFG has persevered and even 
made strides.  The United States welcomes the TFG,s efforts 
to expand its support base, enhance cooperation with Ahlu 
Sunnah Wal Jama,a, and conduct a review of its relationship 
with Puntland.   The TFG,s work to finalize the 2010 budget, 
continue development of the national constitution, and 
address security challenges, including through the Joint 
Security Committee, is also promising.  It is also a positive 
sign that armed opposition elements continue to defect and 
opt instead to work towards peace with the TFG. 
 
--  The United States continues to encourage all Somali 
stakeholders to abide by the provisions of the Djibouti 
Agreement and we reject efforts aimed at developing alternate 
peace processes that only threaten to destabilize the TFG,s 
efforts at local and national political reconciliation. 
 
-- The United States welcomes the UN,s work to establish a 
footprint in Somalia, as mandated by UNSCR 1872.  We also 
welcome UNPOS, security sector assessment, which it co-led 
with the United States and the European Union.  This 
assessment will assist in the development of military, 
police, justice, intelligence, and other programs which will 
build Somalia,s capacity to ultimately deliver its own 
security. 
 
-- Finally, it is clear that instability in Somalia continues 
to be fueled by spoilers.  In one of its final acts of last 
year, this Council sent a clear message to those spoilers, 
including al-Shabaab and foreign governments, who seek to 
undermine the TFG and wreak havoc on innocent lives.  We will 
not tolerate fomenting instability in Somalia.  The United 
States will continue to work with Council members to use all 
tools at our disposal to hold perpetrators of unrest 
accountable and promote stability in Somalia and the horn of 
Africa. 
 
¶3.  End Talking Points. 
CLINTON