U/S MUTRIFF SIDDIQ: GOS RECEPTIVE TO C-17; WANTS

UNCLAS KHARTOUM 001619 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR AS A/S FRAZER, AF S/E NATSIOS, AND AF/SPG NSC FOR PITTMAN AND HUDSON ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL KPKO MARR AU UN SU SUBJECT: U/S MUTRIFF SIDDIQ: GOS RECEPTIVE TO C-17; WANTS AMIS TO MAKE PARALLEL REQUEST REF: KHARTOUM 1599 ¶1. (SBU) On October 16, CDA Powers and DLO representative met Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs Mutriff Siddiq to inquire about GoS flight clearances for USAF C-17s that the U.S. proposed to airlift the scheduled deployment of Rwanda troops to Darfur. CDA Powers noted that since CDA Fernandez had raised the issue with the MFA on October 9 (reftel),U.S. planning had advanced with the first flight notionally scheduled to start on October 18. As is routine for requested flight clearances, CDA gave Siddiq four diplomatic notes requesting flight clearances for the intial proposed USAF flights. ¶2. (SBU) Siddiq said that since the October 9 meeting, the GoS had discussed the proposal and was "receptive to the idea." He added that the U.S. proposal should be supported by a formal African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) request for flight clearances via diplomatic note. Siddiq said that GoS would be able to reply to the proposal following formal diplomatic note requests from the U.S and the AMIS. Noting the urgency of the matter, Siddiq said that while the AMIS notes are being prepared, he would &prepare a reply.8 ¶3. (SBU) Siddiq said that it normally takes 72 hours to provide flight clearances. He emphasized that "we have told all of the Diplomatic Missions about this requirement." He added that notwithstanding the failure to comply with this requirement, "We will try to meet the target dates." ¶4. (SBU) Emboffs shared copies of the notes fiven to the MFA with AMIS, and requested them to send a parallel diplomatic note endorsing U.S. efforts to deploy AU-UN troops and asking the MFA for the necessary flight clearances. We informed them of urgency of the situation given the timetable for deployment. POWERS