Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05SANSALVADOR2033
2005-07-15 18:30:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy San Salvador
Cable title:  

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

Tags:  KPKO MARR MASS PREL ES UNGA 
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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

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