Identifier | Created | Classification | Origin |
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07COLOMBO304 | 2007-02-20 13:56:00 | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | Embassy Colombo |
VZCZCXYZ0010 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHLM #0304/01 0511356 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 201356Z FEB 07 FM AMEMBASSY COLOMBO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5493 RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI IMMEDIATE INFO RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 0677 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 6877 RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI 7446 |
UNCLAS COLOMBO 000304 |
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: With Department concurrence, Post plans to sign an Acquisition and Cross Servicing Agreement (ACSA) with the government of Sri Lanka on or about February 28, 2007. Because of the risk that the agreement could be misconstrued by local parties pursuing domestic political agendas, Embassy proposes limiting media coverage to an official photographer and a press release by our Public Affairs section. End Summary. 2. (SBU) Sri Lanka, positioned astride major sea lanes and at the doorstep to India, can play a significant role in military readiness as political and military efforts shift focus on Asia in the new millennium. Since 2002, USPACOM and Embassy Colombo have sought to enter into an ACSA with the Government of Sri Lanka (GSL). 3. (SBU) Efforts by USPACOM and Embassy's Office of Defense Cooperation, working with a new Sri Lankan administration dedicated to prosecuting a domestic anti-terror campaign, have now produced a ten-year agreement. The signing will expand DoD's capacity and capability to conduct global operations by adding another logistical option in South Asia, which ultimately reduces cost and provides flexibility to U.S. forces moving through the region. 4. (SBU) There is, however, some risk of internal political players misconstruing both the reach and the purpose of the agreement. Sri Lankan nationalists have often mischaracterized ACSA as a basing agreement to allow U.S. forces a bastion within easy reach of Muslim republics in Central Asia. Further, both pro-government and pro-insurgent factions could brand it as an arms agreement in support of the current military campaign against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Human rights activists may mis-construe the agreement as tacit USG endorsement of the human rights abuses that have been committed by Sri Lankan military forces in the past year. 5. (SBU) Since this agreement primarily benefits U.S. forces, we think there are strong arguments to proceed with signing the agreement. Because of the risk that some of the political players mentioned in para 4 might mis-characterize or leak news of the signing, we recommend the Department of State approve a short signing ceremony between the Ambassador and the Sri Lankan Defense Secretary with an official photographer, but no other press. The SIPDIS Embassy would plan to release the attached statement following the ceremony. 6. (U) Below is the text of the proposed press release: U.S. & Sri Lanka Sign Mutual Services Pact Colombo ? February 28, 2007: Sri Lankan Defense Secretary Gothabaya Rajapaksa and U.S. Ambassador Robert Blake signed a ten-year logistical agreement strengthening ties between the two countries and providing a framework for increased interoperability. The Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA) will allow the United States and Sri Lanka to transfer and exchange logistics supplies, support, and re-fueling services, either in kind or at a reduced cost, during peacekeeping missions, humanitarian operations and joint exercises. The United States has ACSA agreements with 89 other countries around the world. The categories of allowable goods and services include food, petroleum, and transportation. The provision of weapons systems or ammunition is expressly prohibited under this agreement. Each nation's forces can support the other during contingencies, such as disaster relief or peacekeeping operations, which reduces the logistics requirement for each nation. Logistics support allowed under this agreement cannot be transferred beyond the forces of the receiving party without consent of the providing party. The agreement will be in effect for ten years, and all transactions must be mutually agreed upon before any transfer is made. "ACSA will facilitate the exchange of non-lethal equipment, increase cooperation in the field and reduce the paperwork involved," Ambassador Blake said. "For example, if the Sri Lankan Army had sent troops to assist in the Pakistani earthquake and needed winter coats for the soldiers, under ACSA the United States could provide those winter coats in exchange for fuel and foodstuffs the next time a U.S. vessel made a port call in Colombo. On-the-ground cooperation between our two armed forces was evident in the aftermath of the tsunami disaster. This will enhance both nations' ability to engage SIPDIS in disaster relief and peacekeeping missions more effectively," he added. "We have ACSA agreements with numerous countries around the world," he explained. "This brings Sri Lanka into the same category. It increases our ability to work smoothly together." BLAKE |