Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
02ROME1416
2002-03-20 11:32:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Rome
Cable title:  

FRG OFFERS KING ARMORED MERCEDES; SEEKS TO

Tags:  PREL EAID AF GM AFGHANISTAN 
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CONFIDENTIAL ROME 001416 

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C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 001416

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NSC FOR KHALILZHAD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/20/2007
TAGS: PREL EAID AF GM AFGHANISTAN
SUBJECT: FRG OFFERS KING ARMORED MERCEDES; SEEKS TO
COORDINATE VEHICLE'S ARRIVAL BY AIRPLANE IN KABUL

REF: STATE 50444

CLASSIFIED BY: POL MINCOUNS TOM COUNTRYMAN, REASONS 1.5 (B)
AND (D).

CONFIDENTIAL ROME 001416

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C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 001416

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NSC FOR KHALILZHAD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/20/2007
TAGS: PREL EAID AF GM AFGHANISTAN
SUBJECT: FRG OFFERS KING ARMORED MERCEDES; SEEKS TO
COORDINATE VEHICLE'S ARRIVAL BY AIRPLANE IN KABUL

REF: STATE 50444

CLASSIFIED BY: POL MINCOUNS TOM COUNTRYMAN, REASONS 1.5 (B)
AND (D).


1. (U) GENERAL WALI, SON-IN-LAW TO FORMER AFGHAN KING ZAHIR
SHAH, TELEPHONED POLOFF MARCH 20 WITH AN URGENT REQUEST THAT
THE USG FACILITATE (THE MORE ACCURATE TERM MAY BE "PROVIDE")
DELIVERY OF AN ARMORED MERCEDES BENZ S600L REPORTEDLY BEING
GIVEN TO THE KING BY THE FRG AND MERCEDES BENZ. ACCORDING TO
WALI, THE GERMANS WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE VEHICLE AVAILABLE
FOR THE KING UPON HIS ARRIVAL IN KABUL. THE VEHICLE WEIGHS
4,150 KG. AND HAS "ALL SECURITY MEASURES INCORPORATED." (THE
AFGHANS ALSO USED THE TERM "BULLET-PROOF." WE ASSUME THIS IS
AN ARMORED VEHICLE.)


2. (U) WALI RECEIVED THE INFORMATION FROM DR. RAHMAN
ASHRAF, WHOM HE DESCRIBED AS AN AFGHAN-GERMAN GEOLOGY
PROFESSOR WHO REGULARLY SPEAKS TO THE AFGHANS ON BEHALF OF
THE GERMAN GOVERNMENT. WALI THEN HAD DR. ASHRAF TELEPHONE
POLOFF. ASHRAF CONFIRMED THE ABOVE AND SAID THE GERMANS
HOPED TO FLY THE VEHICLE INTO BAGRAM. ASHRAF ASSERTED THAT
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EVERY DAY, TWO AIRCRAFT FLY FROM RAMSTEIN AFB TO BAGRAM; THE
GERMANS HOPED TO BE ABLE TO PUT THE VEHICLE ON ONE OF THESE
FLIGHTS -- ONE ARRIVING BEFORE THE KING DOES. (SEE PARA 4.)
HE SAID THE FACTORY WOULD DELIVER THE CAR TO RAMSTEIN FROM
STUTTGART AS EARLY AS "TODAY" (MARCH 20) OR THE MORNING OF
MARCH 21. ASHRAF SAID DR. ZALMAI RASSOUL, FORMER EXECUTIVE
SECRETARY TO THE KING AND CURRENT CIVIL AVIATION MINISTER IN

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THE AIA, RAISED THE MATTER WITH SPECIAL ENVOY KHALILZAD AND
WITH AIA CHAIRMAN KARZAI, WHO BOTH REPORTEDLY SUPPORT THE
GIFT. WALI URGED US TO COMMUNICATE THE URGENCY OF THE
REQUEST FOR TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE, AS WELL AS THE KING'S
ENTHUSIASTIC ACCEPTANCE OF AND SUPPORT FOR THE GENEROUS OFFER.


3. (U) POLOFF ASKED ASHRAF FOR CONTACTS IN GERMANY,
PREFERABLY BOTH IN THE GERMAN GOVERNMENT AND AT MERCEDES
BENZ. ASHRAF CALLED BACK TO PROVIDE CONTACT INFORMATION FOR
A MR. MUELLER, WHO HE SAID IS THE MERCEDES DIRECTOR IN CHARGE
OF SECURITY VEHICLES. MUELLER CAN BE REACHED BY TELEPHONE AT
49-711-173-3103, IN HIS OFFICE IN STUTTGART. ASHRAF DID NOT
HAVE A GOVERNMENT CONTACT, BUT SAID MUELLER WAS "AWARE OF ALL
ARRANGEMENTS." DR. ASHRAF'S CONTACT INFORMATION IS AS
FOLLOWS: 49-171-540-6283 (CELLULAR); 49-74-717-3274 (HOME);
49-70-7129-74039 (OFFICE, TUBINGEN UNIVERSITY, INSTITUTE FOR
GEOLOGY AND PALEONTOLOGY).


4. (C) COMMENT: GIVEN USG CONCERNS ABOUT THE KING'S SAFETY
INSIDE AFGHANISTAN (REF),THIS OFFER MAY BE A USEFUL ONE,
ALTHOUGH WE ARE NOT IN A POSITION TO EVALUATE THE CAR'S
PRACTICALITY ON AFGHAN TERRAIN. THE KING DEPARTS ROME MARCH
25, TO ARRIVE IN AFGHANISTAN MARCH 26, SO THERE IS LITTLE
TIME TO GET THE MERCEDES IN PLACE TO RECEIVE HIM ON THE
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GROUND, AS THE GERMANS REPORTEDLY WANT AND WE MAY WISH TO
SUPPORT.
SEMBLER

CONFIDENTIAL

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2002ROME01416 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL