FUTURE PROCESSING OF NEC CONTAINERS

UNCLAS KHARTOUM 000523

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR AF A/S FRAZER, AF/SE NATSIOS, OBO GEN
WILLIAMS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ABLD AMGT ASEC PREL US SU
SUBJECT: FUTURE PROCESSING OF NEC CONTAINERS

REF: KHARTOUM 508


1. (U) The Deputy Chief of Mission was called to the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs, Department of Protocol, on April 2 in
order to discuss the New Embassy Compound (NEC). Ambassador
Ali Yusuf explained that, while those shipping containers
holding building materials currently in customs are fully
cleared, in the future it will be necessary to obtain
additional approvals for all subsequent shipments.
Therefore, the Embassy, with as much advance notice as
possible, should inform the MFA via diplomatic note of
shipments en route and prior to arrival in port. The MFA
will in turn inform the Ministry of Finance in order to
expedite the clearance of the containers through customs.
Yusuf explained that this is expected of all diplomatic
missions in Khartoum and is currently being enforced with
several new embassy compounds under construction.


2. (U) The DCM underscored that there were nearly 350
additional containers needed for construction of the NEC.
On-time construction required expeditious processing of these
containers through customs. It was imperative that the
Embassy not find itself in the same situation it was across
the past six months. Yusuf said that he understood this and
that adherence to these procedures would ensure the
expeditious treatment of future shipments.


3. (U) The DCM also provided Yusuf a copy of the Embassy's
diplomatic note of March 29, which he had not yet seen, but
which was delivered to the America's Desk. In it the Embassy
acknowledged the Ministry's efforts to secure the release of
the containers in question. The dipnote also said that the
Embassy looked forward to the expeditious treatment of future
shipments. It further underscored the Embassy's
understanding that future containers would not be subject to
"unwarranted retentions or inspections." Yusuf took issue
with the latter, insisting that, per the Vienna Convention,
construction materials were not the same thing as diplomatic
cargo and that the Government had the right to inspect the
containers so long as a U.S. official was present. The DCM
replied that the Embassy would certainly insist on having
someone present if any of the containers required inspection.
Yusuf stated that the MFA would provide a written response
to the Embassy's diplomatic note.


4. (SBU) Comment: While the Embassy has been the recipient
of good news of late, this meeting suggests that we're not
completely out of the woods yet on the container issue. Nor
can we overlook the sheer amount of time and energy the
Mission has expended on this issue across the past six
months. Post will continue to monitor closely the container
issue in order to ensure there are no further impediments in
the construction of a new embassy in Khartoum. End comment.
HUME