Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07CAIRO3134
2007-10-25 12:40:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Cairo
Cable title:
EGYPT: "NO" TO UNAMID AVIATION SUPPORT AND
how-toVZCZCXRO9114 PP RUEHROV DE RUEHEG #3134 2981240 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 251240Z OCT 07 FM AMEMBASSY CAIRO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7294 INFO RUCNFUR/DARFUR COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 003134
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/25/2017
TAGS: KPKO PGOV MARR MASS MOPS EG SU
SUBJECT: EGYPT: "NO" TO UNAMID AVIATION SUPPORT AND
TRANSPORTATION ASSETS
REF: A. SECSTATE 147667
B. CAIRO 2083
C. CAIRO 2035
D. CAIRO 1062
Classified by Minister Counselor for Economic and Political
Affairs William R. Stewart for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 003134
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/25/2017
TAGS: KPKO PGOV MARR MASS MOPS EG SU
SUBJECT: EGYPT: "NO" TO UNAMID AVIATION SUPPORT AND
TRANSPORTATION ASSETS
REF: A. SECSTATE 147667
B. CAIRO 2083
C. CAIRO 2035
D. CAIRO 1062
Classified by Minister Counselor for Economic and Political
Affairs William R. Stewart for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (SBU) On October 24, emboffs urged Assistant Minister of
Defense for Armament Major General Fouad Abd Al Halim and
Assistant Minister of Defense for Policy Major General
Mohamed Al Assar to reconsider providing aviation support and
transport assets for the UN/AU Mission in Darfur (UNAMID),
per ref A demarche. MG Fouad responded that Egypt cannot
support UNAMID's aviation and transport needs at this time
because MoD assets are limited. The aviation request is
particularly problematic, he said, because of the complex
support and maintenance network required for helicopters.
The unstable security situation in Darfur also is a concern,
he continued, citing the particular vulnerability of
helicopters to hostile action.
2. (C) Comment: MG Fouad's mention of security concerns, and
Foreign Minister Aboul Gheit's previous comments that "we
will not put our boys in harm's way" (ref D),highlight that
force protection is a prime Egyptian concern when offering
forces for UNAMID. Personnel and equipment security concerns
were behind Egypt rejecting of UN requests for armored
personnel carriers without Egyptian troops to operate them
(ref B) and Egyptian engineers without Egyptian infantry to
protect them (ref C).
RICCIARDONE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/25/2017
TAGS: KPKO PGOV MARR MASS MOPS EG SU
SUBJECT: EGYPT: "NO" TO UNAMID AVIATION SUPPORT AND
TRANSPORTATION ASSETS
REF: A. SECSTATE 147667
B. CAIRO 2083
C. CAIRO 2035
D. CAIRO 1062
Classified by Minister Counselor for Economic and Political
Affairs William R. Stewart for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (SBU) On October 24, emboffs urged Assistant Minister of
Defense for Armament Major General Fouad Abd Al Halim and
Assistant Minister of Defense for Policy Major General
Mohamed Al Assar to reconsider providing aviation support and
transport assets for the UN/AU Mission in Darfur (UNAMID),
per ref A demarche. MG Fouad responded that Egypt cannot
support UNAMID's aviation and transport needs at this time
because MoD assets are limited. The aviation request is
particularly problematic, he said, because of the complex
support and maintenance network required for helicopters.
The unstable security situation in Darfur also is a concern,
he continued, citing the particular vulnerability of
helicopters to hostile action.
2. (C) Comment: MG Fouad's mention of security concerns, and
Foreign Minister Aboul Gheit's previous comments that "we
will not put our boys in harm's way" (ref D),highlight that
force protection is a prime Egyptian concern when offering
forces for UNAMID. Personnel and equipment security concerns
were behind Egypt rejecting of UN requests for armored
personnel carriers without Egyptian troops to operate them
(ref B) and Egyptian engineers without Egyptian infantry to
protect them (ref C).
RICCIARDONE