NEW ZEALAND'S RESPONSE TO MESSAGE ON NATO SUPPORT

C O N F I D E N T I A L WELLINGTON 000884 SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/ANP E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/13/2015 TAGS: EAID AEMR ASEC MASS PGOV PREF PREL PK NZ NATO SUBJECT: NEW ZEALAND'S RESPONSE TO MESSAGE ON NATO SUPPORT REF: A. WELLINGTON 848 ¶B. STATE 195483 ¶C. STATE 194572 (U) Classified by: Political-Economic Counselor Katherine B. Hadda. Reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Post's defense attache on October 28 delivered the ref C demarche -- encouraging New Zealand's contribution to the NATO relief effort in Pakistan -- to Air Vice-Marshal David Bamfield, vice chief of the New Zealand Defense Force (ref A). In a letter dated November 2, Air Marshal Bruce Ferguson, chief of the New Zealand Defense Force, responded that New Zealand would be unable to provide a military contribution to the operations in Pakistan due to limited resources. The letter noted that the government was contributing in other ways, having pledged NZ $1.5 million (US $1.05 million) to be spent on shelter, medicines and other essential supplies (ref A). ¶2. (C) The letter also said, "New Zealand shares the concerns of the United States and NATO in the wake of the enormous destruction and suffering caused by this disaster. ... New Zealand recognises the substantial contribution the United States is making to the relief effort. The United States is always among the first to step up to help in these situations and your country's efforts in this relief effort are truly commendable." McCormick