EUCOM J5 MG GRATION BEGINS MIL-MIL DIALOGUE WITH LIBYA

C O N F I D E N T I A L TRIPOLI 000374 SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/MAG EUCOM FOR J5 SECDEF FOR 0SD/ISA/NESA E.O. 12958: DECL: 7/17/2016 TAGS: MARR PREL MASS LY SUBJECT: EUCOM J5 MG GRATION BEGINS MIL-MIL DIALOGUE WITH LIBYA CLASSIFIED BY: GREG BERRY, CDA, Embassy Tripoli, State. REASON: 1.4 (b),(d) CLASSIFIED BY: GREG BERRY, CDA, Embassy Tripoli, State. REASON: 1.4 (b),(d) ¶1. (C) EUCOM J-5 MG Scott Gration became the first American general officer to visit Libya in over a quarter of a century during a low key July 8-12 visit. His visit was hosted by MG Ahmed Mahmoud Az-Zway, the nominal head of the Staff College and Bureau of Technical Coordination, and de facto Libyan military point man for dealing with the USA (including on the WMD issues). He also met with MG Riffi Sharifi, the head of the Air Force, Dr. Ahmed Fituri, the MFA U/S for American Affairs, and paid a site visit to the Libyan Naval Academy, the American cemetery, and the ruins of Leptis Magna. ¶2. (C) Uppermost on the Libyan agenda were the eight C-130's in Georgia and the C-130's in Libya. The Libyans want both sets assessed and if possible refurbished for Libya's use. The Libyans are also interested in refurbishing CH-47 helicopters, which they bought from the Italian company Augusta. Az-Zway also asked about help from the U.S. in setting up English language labs, a battle simulation center and improving Libya's coastal, border and air defense systems. ¶3. (C) MG Gration stressed a "crawl, walk, run" approach in which we should first develop a common understanding and vision, then start exchanges and non-lethal cooperation and then joint inter-operability. He explained where things stood on licensing an assessment of the C-130's in Georgia and thought a U.S. military team might be able to do an assessment of the planes in Libya. He also thought an assessment of the CH-47's might be possible, but pointed out logistical difficulties in getting spare parts to repair these older aircraft. He suggested we start with some professional training at NDU, and then technical training. He also invited Az-Zwayy to visit EUCOM. Az-Zwayy responded that he was more interested in visiting the U.S. Gration told post these early stages of the relationship should be handled through field grade mil-mil contacts. He would not recommend additional general officer visits until before the end of the year. ¶4. (C) In the closing meeting, Az-Zwayy provided the text of a draft MOU to formalize the defense relationship. Gration thought formalized annual or biannual meetings might be in order. They did not discuss the actual MOU text. They did sign a set of minutes summarizing what was discussed. (Both texts faxed to State NEA/MAG.) ¶5. (C) This message was cleared with EUCOM J5. BERRY