TANZANIA OVERFLIGHTS REVISITED, NO READ ON RESPONSE

S E C R E T DAR ES SALAAM 000592 SIPDIS SIPDIS PM/ISO FOR KJACKSON, AF/RSA FOR MBITTRICK, AF/E FOR BYODER E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/05/2016 TAGS: MARRV MOPS PREL PBTS PTER PINR TZ SUBJECT: TANZANIA OVERFLIGHTS REVISITED, NO READ ON RESPONSE REF: DAR ES SALAAM 0498 Classified By: Political Officer Maureen B. Latour for reasons 1.4(a) a nd (b). ¶1. (S) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA),through Grace Martin, Head of Section for Europe and the Americas, contacted Poloff April 4 regarding the outstanding USG request for overflight permission. In a April 5 meeting, Martin told Poloff that she had been directed to research the issue, but had been unable to find anything in writing. Martin requested written material from Poloff who agreed to provide the talking points from the original request demarche. Martin said she was researching the issue for Ambassador Pastor Ngaiza, Director of the Europe and Americas Division of MFA. ¶2. (S) Despite not having written material, Martin knew the request well and was aware of the possibility for Tanzanian personnel to ride in the aircraft. Per the original request demarche, Poloff emphasized that riders were very difficult due to space and technical limitations of aircraft and noted that was something to be coordinated through the militaries of the two governments as they worked out the modalities of such operations. Poloff noted the request was for permission for basing as well as for overflights and stressed that overflights would benefit both governments in fighting the global war on terror. ¶3. (S) Background: The USG request has been outstanding since the August 2004 demarche by then-Charge d'Affaires Michael Owen. The issue was on hold during the elections and transition to a new government in 2005. Ambassador Retzer raised the issue with Foreign Minister Dr. Asha-Rose Mtengeti Migiro at a March 15 meeting in Arusha. Minister Migiro was unaware of the outstanding request (reftel),but said she would look into it promptly. ¶3. (S) COMMENT: The meeting with Poloff is a postitive sign that the new Tanzanian government takes our request seriously, and is intent on developing a formal response. We will continue to follow-up. DELLY