DEMARCHE REQUEST: NATO: AIRLIFT TO THE AFRICAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L OTTAWA 001697

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/06/2015
TAGS: MARR SU CA NATO
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE REQUEST: NATO: AIRLIFT TO THE AFRICAN
UNION IN DARFUR

REF: SECSTATE 103310

Classified By: POL M/C Brian Flora. Reason 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Post delivered reftel demarche points on Friday, June
3, to Foreign Affairs Canada (FAC) Sudan Task Force Director
Wendy Gilmour and NATO Deputy Director Isabelle Poupart. FAC
forwarded the points to the NATO policy office at National
Defence. Promising us a "more definitive answer" later this
week, on June 6 Gilmour stated that Canada agrees in
principle that AU "partners" should coordinate contributions
through SHAPE; however, the principal coordination effort
should take place in Addis (led by the AU) to the greatest
extent possible. Canada believes that NATO's presence in
Addis must be more than "just an L.O. (liaison officer)."


2. (C) Re-affirming Canada's pledge of CAD 20 million
(approx. USD 16 million) for contract airlift to the AU,
Gilmour said that Canada's ability to "kick-in stratlift"
early on is severely constrained by Canadian contracting
regulations, which would stretch out the process over a long
period of time. Consequently, the GOC might be looking at
providing intra-theater tactical lift, which could be made
available by mid-Fall (October/November timeframe). "Cutting
a cheque" to NATO (vice a bilateral contribution) would
expedite the process, she said, and the GOC was waiting to
hear whether NATO is in a position to accept
grants/contributions from member governments. Gilmour
acknowledged the point that strategic lift must precede
tactical lift, but said the GOC was encouraged by the various
offers for strategic lift made in Addis. The GOC hoped these
offers would cover the need, enabling Canada to address the
longer-term tactical lift shortfall.

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GALLAGHER