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. Visit Canada's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/ottawa GALLAGHER