GOP APPROVES CUSTOMS P-3 ORION FLIGHTS

C O N F I D E N T I A L LIMA 001267 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/04/2017 TAGS: MARR PREL PE SUBJECT: GOP APPROVES CUSTOMS P-3 ORION FLIGHTS Classified By: Ambassador Curtis Struble, Reason: 1.4 (b,d) ¶1. (C) The Peruvian Government informed Embassy via diplomatic note on 3/27/07 that the United States could conduct U.S. Customs P-3 counternarcotics surveillance flights from the Peruvian Air Base in Piura. The note attached eleven conditions, which we have asked JIATF South and Southcom to evaluate. Full text of the note and the attached conditions follows: ¶2. (C) Text begins (informal translation): DIPLOMATIC NOTE (SME-DCD) No. 6-3/139 The Ministry of Foreign Relations Undersecretary of Multilateral Matters General Directorate of Drug Control has the honor to inform the Honorable Embassy of the United States of America in relation to its Diplomatic Note No. 311, dated April 12, 2006, by which it offers the opportunity to improve the counternarcotics program, through the resumption (sic) of surveillance flights from Piura. In view of the above, the Ministry of Foreign Relations - Undersecretary of Multilateral Matters General Directorate of Drug Control has the honor to transmit to the Honorable Embassy that has received its response to the proposal from the Ministry of Defense contained in the document "Considerations of the Peruvian Government to Authorize the Resumption of Surveillance Flights against the Illicit Trafficking in Narcotics with the Orion P-3 Aircraft from the Piura Air Base". We would appreciate the Embassy sending its acceptance to this Chancery in reference to the aforementioned document in order to proceed with the resumption of surveillance flights from the Piura Air Base. The Ministry of Foreign Relations of Peru Undersecretary of Multilateral Matters General Directorate of Drug Control takes this opportunity to renew to the Honorable Embassy of the United States of America the assurance of its highest and distinguished considerations. Lima, March 23, 2007 To the Honorable Embassy of the United States of America ATTACHMENT, DIPLOMATIC NOTE RE (SME-DCD) NO. 6 ) 3/139 CONSIDERATIONS OF THE PERUVIAN GOVERNMENT TO AUTHORIZE THE RESUMPTION OF SURVEILLANCE FLIGHTS AGAINST THE ILLICIT TRAFFICKING IN NARCOTICS WITH ORION P-3 AIRCRAFT FROM THE PIURA AIR BASE. In reference to the request formulated by the Government of the United States of America to restart surveillance flights with Orion P-3 aircraft from the Piura Air Base, Peru establishes the following conditions: ¶1. The Government of the United States of America will inform the Government of Peru of the respective authorizations by the Governments whose territories are involved in the execution of surveillance flights against the illicit trafficking in narcotics, informing those countries about the presence of military or civilian personnel on board. ¶2. The Southern Command of the United States of America will plan air operations, specifying in detail the geographic areas in which they will take place, and will inform the responsible official in the Embassy of the United States in Peru of the same. The operations will be coordinated with the Peruvian Armed Forces Joint Command, who will authorize them in coordination with the Foreign Relations Ministry, due to the need to hold working meetings to optimize those operations when necessary. ¶3. Both parties, each at their own initiative, can make and exchange documents relative to the planning and execution of maritime and air operations destined for the surveillance, monitoring, detection, interception and interdiction of illicit trafficking in narcotics and psychotropic substances. (These documents can be exchanged) between the organizations of both countries with previous authorization from the Peruvian Ministry of Defense and the Embassy of the United States of America in Peru. ¶4. An officer from the Peruvian Navy and/or Peruvian Air Force will be on board the Orion P-3 aircraft during the air operations. That officer will be able to ascertain the need for the presence of representatives from other corresponding institutions, should that prove necessary. That officer will carry out this function in coordination with the Armed Forces Joint Command and the representative of the Embassy of the United States in Peru, responsible for P-3 operations. ¶5. The information obtained as a result of operations within Peruvian territory must be shared only with the Peruvian Government and will have a "classified" character or qualification, and in addition, Peruvian personnel must be authorized access to the equipment on board during air operations. ¶6. The Government of the United States of America will assign to Peruvian officers on board the communications equipment that will allow them to liaison with their control posts on land, preferably a satellite telephone. ¶7. The logistics support for the air operations will be coordinated with and approved by the Joint Command through the Peruvian Air Force. ¶8. In the event the aircraft lands in foreign territory due to circumstances beyond its control, the Government of the United States of America will assume the lodging, transport, meals, and health expenses of the Peruvian personnel on board if it is necessary. ¶9. The Peruvian personnel on board who participate in air operations will be covered by the same health and life insurance as the personnel of the aircraft crew. ¶10. The flight plan or plans will also be coordinated with the authorities of the air transit services of the adjacent FIR (Lima and Guayaquil). ¶11. The air transit services authorities of FIR-Lima and FIR-Guayaquil will be in charge of making the transfer of the aircraft in their respective regions of flight information. Lima, March 23, 2007 Text ends. STRUBLE