USS PORT ROYAL CONDUCTS SUCCESSFUL VISIT TO DILI

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DILI 000395 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS SEVENTH FLEET FOR VADM CROWDER PACOM FOR POLADS, STATE FOR EAP/MTS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: MARR MOPS PREL TT SUBJECT: USS PORT ROYAL CONDUCTS SUCCESSFUL VISIT TO DILI ¶1. (SBU) Summary. The USS Port Royal visited Dili on December 10-12, a visit that all of Post's contacts characterized as extremely successful. The ship's engagements with the host nation, the United Nations Integrated Mission to Timor-Leste, and the Australian-led International Stabilization Force (ISF) were well and tightly executed. The citizens of Dili welcomed community relations activities undertaken by the Port Royal's crew, its captain's generous donation of toys and medical equipment to a major local charity, and the presence of our sailors able to enjoy liberty. Senior GOTL officials, including the President and Speaker of Parliament, visited the Port Royal and emphasized their appreciation for the return of a U.S. warship to Timor waters. End summary. ¶2. (SBU) The December 10-12 visit of the USS Port Royal (PRL) was very well-received and successfully conducted. Major events were as follows: four community relations activities (COMRELs) consisting of two schools and one chapel painted, and equipment at the National Hospital repaired; one Project Handclasp event with the Dili Diocese which involved the donation of four pallets worth of toys and hygiene products; office calls to the Secretary of State for Defense, the Timor-Leste Defense Force SIPDIS (F-FDTL) Commander, and the ISF Commander; a VIP reception aboard ship which included a senior UN delegation; a soccer tournament between teams from the PRL, ISF, and F-FDTL; ship tours provided to both the President of the Republic and to F-FDTL's maritime component; and deck landing qualification training with helicopter pilots from the ISF. The ship's captain also attended a reception hosted by the Japanese Ambassador to Timor-Leste. Several of these events were favorably covered by the local media. ¶3. (SBU) Anchorage for the PRL was established about two kilometers out from Dili Port due to the relatively shallow water depth within, was open and safe, and no complications were encountered. According to the ship's captain, security in the Dili pier area was excellent. Local officials established vehicle entrance control measures, to include an armed detail which oversaw personnel entrance into PRL's service boat launch site. ¶4. (SBU) Liberty for sailors included access to entertainment spots along the Dili beachfront, extending from the Embassy Dili in the west, to the Christo Rei beach in the east. Scuba diving and snorkeling tours were also organized and conducted for a total of about 15 sailors. The U.S. Navy's regional husbanding agent, Glenn Marine, arranged for bus transport of sailors along the beachfront. Additionaly, the Embassy was able to provide a drinks and barbeque concession to nearly 100 sailors who visited the compound's swimming pool. Sailors were given a back-on-ship curfew of 1900 hours daily, and there were zero adverse incidents. Additionally, local proprietors emphatically remarked as to the courteousness of sailors encountered, and Timorese coordinators at the respective COMREL sites were very pleased by the effort sailors put into their projects. ¶5. (SBU) The visit was dependent upon security provided by a combination of forces from the United Nations Police (UNPOL), ISF, and F-FDTL. Principal logistical support was provided for by the ISF. Also, there was coordination between the PRL's shore police, with both UNPOL and the ISF's military police. The PRL had a liaison officer posted in the UNPOL National Operations Center during time in which sailors were at liberty. ¶6. (SBU) Embassy Dili initiated extensive coordination with the ISF, UNPOL, and F-FDTL as soon as PRL's visit plans were confirmed. As Timor-Leste is a country which includes a non-U.S. led military joint task force, an active UN peacekeeping operation, and both national police and defense forces all operating within the same space, the challenges were unique. However, the visit's execution occurred with few complications particularly because of the willingness of all agencies to both support and participate in PRL-related activities. DILI 00000395 002 OF 002 ¶7. (SBU) While non-USNS Mercy ship visits to Timor-Leste were once fairly routine, there have been none in nearly three years. The result has been the loss of a great deal of historical knowledge regarding the preparation for a U.S. naval visit to Dili. Due to the challenges associated with the conduct of ship visits to Timor-Leste, including limited resource capabilities among local vendors, greater attention must be paid prior to a ship's arrival to coordination with the numerous non-U.S. entities operating here, including UN and ISF, international actors responsible for local security. This will ensure that timelines proposed by Embassy Dili are as close to being realistic as possible, within the context of a visiting ship's operational tempo. ¶8. (SBU) Therefore, we recommend that future ship visits be preceded whenever possible by advance parties (ADVONs). ADVONs could lay the basis for the conduct of COMREL activities, particularly as it relates to materials and manpower needed, and conduct local purchases as required; coordinate with UNPOL and the ISF within the context of Timor-Leste's peculiar security environment; and coordinate with UNPOL, the ISF, and F-FDTL on potential bilateral or multilateral training and logistical support opportunities. All of these activities require less than 48 hours to conduct, so the duration of an ADVON to Timor-Leste would be relatively minimal. ¶9. (SBU) Comment. While the challenges associated with ship visits to Timor-Leste may be somewhat higher than at other ports of call in the region, the opportunities are also great. Ship visits here allow very positive interaction with the citizens and leaders of Timor-Leste, a vulnerable nation exceedingly friendly towards the U.S., and provides our forces the chance to engage operationally with United Nations forces, as well as those from our ally Australia in the ISF. For the first time in too many years, the USS Port Royal proudly showed the American flag in Dili. We are eager to welcome and support future visits of U.S. naval vessels and other U.S. forces to Timor-Leste. KLEMM