EL SALVADOR: WILLING GLOBAL PEACE OPS INITIATIVE (GPOI) PARTNER

UNCLAS SAN SALVADOR 002033 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR: WHA/PPC (JEFF BISCHOFF),PM/PPA (MATTHEW HARDIMAN) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KPKO MARR MASS PREL ES UNGA SUBJECT: EL SALVADOR: WILLING GLOBAL PEACE OPS INITIATIVE (GPOI) PARTNER REF: A. STATE 127981 B. 2004 SAN SALVADOR 3247 ¶1. (SBU) Reftel demarche was delivered to Foreign Minister by Ambassador and to Minister of Defense (MOD) by MILGP Commander on July 13. On July 14, Ambassador also hand delivered to FM, who is in Washington with Ambassador for the Saca/Bush meeting, a non-paper summarizing Ref B background on GPOI and Ref A demarche information. During July 13 conversation, MOD informed MILGP Commander that the GOES fully agrees with the CFAC plan and supports a GPOI partnership. Additionally, the Salvadoran Chief of Defense (CHOD) reported to MILGP Commander that on July 13 CFAC CHODs met in Guatemala and agreed that each country would provide an independent and self-sufficient company size unit (150 troops) to form the 600-person CFAC PSO battalion, and that the unit would train at the Coban Regional Peacekeeping Training Center in Guatemala. ¶2. (SBU) Embassy considers El Salvador to be an ideal partner for the GPOI due to a well-organized and professional military that has recent battalion-sized deployment and operations experience in Iraq and familiarity with PSOs gained from the deployment of UN-Accredited Military Observers in Liberia, Western Sahara, the Ivory Coast, and Sudan, and GOES Salvadoran Military support of WARMINCA in Guatemala. During the past two years El Salvador has deployed four consecutive rotations of 360-380 personnel in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. These battalions have provided humanitarian support and reconstruction assistance and have contributed significantly to stability and security within their area of operations. Additionally, the GOES expressed a willingness to deploy a company size unit in support of MINUSTAH in Haiti (Ref B) and has expressed a willingness to deploy military personnel in support of UN peacekeeping operations worldwide. ¶3. (SBU) As further evidence of El Salvador's commitment to global peacekeeping, the Salvadoran Military has actively worked to provide peacekeeping training at the national level. The Salvadoran Military is building a curriculum to provide observer and basic peacekeeping operations training at their National Peacekeeping Operations School. The School is also developing stand-alone courses to fulfill UN DPKO deployment requirements. Embassy is currently working with the Center for Civil Military Relations (CCMR) on the execution of Phase 1 of the Enhanced International Peacekeeping Capabilities Fund. A team from CCMR will accomplish an assessment this fall to help determine training and equipment needs based on existing capabilities at the National PKO School. ¶4. (SBU) El Salvador has submitted the individual equipment list to the Embassy and CFAC officials. The Armed Forces will be able to competently use any funds that become available either through the FMS system or any other option State/DoD makes available. In order to execute GPOI funds expeditiously, Embassy recommends that State PM facilitate pertinent authorizations to allow Embassy GSO procurement offices to execute funds without normal ICASS procedural restrictions. Silverman