GENERAL WARD,S MEETING WITH CHAD PRESIDENT,

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 NDJAMENA 000665 SIPDIS SIPDIS LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/14/2017 TAGS: CD PGOV PREL SUBJECT: GENERAL WARD,S MEETING WITH CHAD PRESIDENT, MINISTER OF DEFENSE Classified By: CDA Tamlyn for reasons 1.4(b) and (d) ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Deputy Commander of the European Military Command General William Ward met President Deby August 8 in Chad in a meeting primarily focused on aircraft sales. While arguing the case for Chad's need for C-130's, President Deby also expressed interest in learning more about the C-27 as an option until C-130s could be made available in 2010. President Deby thanked General Ward for U.S. cooperation under the Trans-Saharan Counterterrorism Partnership (TSCTP) and requested additional military equipment, training and exchange programs. In separate meetings with Defense Minister Nour and Chief of Defense General Daoud, Ward underscored the importance of transforming Chad's military into an army with minds &more attuned to professionalism.8 General Ward also stressed U.S. support for the deployment of an international force in Eastern Chad. End Summary. -------------- The Delegation -------------- ¶2. (U) General William Ward, Deputy Commander of the European Military Command met with President Idriss Deby Itno, Defense Minister Nour and Chief of Defense General Daoud in N'Djamena on August 8. He was accompanied by EUCOM POLITICAL Advisor Ambassador Yates, Charge d,Affairs Tamlyn, EUCOM officers, Embassy DATT and Embassy Pol/Econ officer (notetaker). -------------- Training & Chadian Military -------------- ¶3. (SBU) President Deby opened the meeting by recalling that U.S.-Chadian mil-to-mil cooperation had been particularly strong in the 80's when Chad first purchased C-130's (and he himself had traveled to the United States in connection with the sales). RELATIONS had continued on a reduced scale during the 90's and through the closure of the USAID mission, but had recently picked up again with the counterterrorism assistance. President Deby expressed gratitude for U.S. provision of vehicles, training and equipment for Chadian troops. He asked that more military officers be sent to the U.S. for training and requested lightly armored vehicles in order to prevent the kind of casualties which previous clashes (such as with the GSPC) had produced. "With these mechanisms, we can be prepared for any terrorist threat,8 he said. He argued that Chad deserved more "attention" from Washington in view of the many areas with which it was cooperating with the United States. ¶4. (C) President Deby also expressed a keen interest in intensifying cooperation to conter terrorist threats in the region and stresse the need for increased intelligence sharing. Inthis context he asked specifically why he had reeived no nformation emanating from the U.S. overflghts of eastern Chad to which he had recently prvided consent. ¶5. (SBU) General Ward told Debythat the purpose of his trip was to highlght his personal commitment to continuing this strategic partnership with Chad. Ward said he valued the ongoing dialogue on how to make our assistance better and assured Deby that he would advocate for those programs of mutual interest in Washington and reinforce the need to share information of mutual concern as regards terrorism. He noted that current USG assistance, such as the Pan-Sahel Initiative (PSI) and IMET-funded training programs, helps build the capacity of the Chadian military and should be seen as a platform on which other assistance can be built. -------------- C-130 -------------- ¶6. (SBU) In the context of mil-to-mil cooperation, Deby noted that there is a pressing need for C-130 aircraft in Chad. Deby claimed that since 2004, two thirds of the C-130 flights in country had been for humanitarian purposes. According to Deby, Chad's only C-130 must spend six months a year out of the country for maintenance and there were no rental options in the region. President Deby was satisfied to hear from General Ward that the sale of C-130's was on track, but concerned that the delivery was not until 2010. General Ward suggested that Deby consider the C-27 Spartan as an option, as this plane was available now. Deby seemed interested in this prospect, and agreed to work with the Embassy's Defense Attach to learn more about the plane. General Ward suggested that Deby may want to consider where the additional resources will be made available for the purchase of the NDJAMENA 00000665 002 OF 003 airplane and alluded to how a decision such as that would affect the country's budget for poverty reduction and sustainable development. Deby,s comment was &I'm fine with that.8 -------------- Darfur & Eastern Chad -------------- ¶7. (SBU) Turning to problems in Darfur, Deby expressed his frustration that inaction in Darfur continued to adversely affect Chad. He noted that &immediate action8 was needed because Darfur acted as a base to destabilize the region, including countries from Burkina Faso to Nigeria. Deby stated that there was a need to intensify action to counter the effects of Darfur and that we needed to work with the UN and civilian forces on making some progress toward a solution of the Darfur crisis. ¶8. (SBU) General Ward noted that the USG supports the deployment in eastern Chad of an EU-led peacekeeping force. He reminded the President that a substantial part of what the UN does in Darfur and in the region is underwritten by the financial support of the U.S. Deby responded by telling Ward that he was, in general, committed to the deployment of an EU force in eastern Chad but said that an assessment of its effectiveness would have to be made after it had been deployed for six months. He did not mention a possible UN follow-on force. -------------- Ambassador Nomination Update -------------- ¶9. (SBU) Ward also encouraged Deby to support the nomination of the new U.S. Ambassador to Chad, pointing out that this would be a tangible example of positive RELATIONS between the two countries. Deby responded that he understood the message. (Note: Agrement was given by the Government of Chad on Friday, August 10. End note.) -------------- Just call me Nour -------------- ¶10. (SBU) Minister of Defense Nour (who insisted that he be called "just Nour" with no honorifics) rushed back from a session with President Deby to hold an abbreviated meeting with General Ward. (Comment: we had heard that Nour was reluctant to leave his residence, and believe that he may have been called to the Presidency and ordered to show up at the Ministry for the meeting. End comment). ¶11. (SBU) Education and military training dominated the discussion. Nour said that he &feels responsible8 for the education and well-being of the Chadian people. In order to best serve the country, one must have a strong army. To have a strong army and serve the people, Nour said, Chad needs to organize and modernize the armed forces. Chad does not need more weapons; rather, he called for continued U.S. assistance for basic training for the military, including general education. Nour regretted the decline in educational standards and predicted that in 10-15 years Chad could be led by a majority of illiterate people. He asked rhetorically what kind of military (or society) Chad could have under those circumstances. ¶10. (SBU) General Ward echoed Nour's comments and affirmed that he attached the same importance to education and training. He noted that through existing programs, such as IMET, the U.S. was able to assist friends such as Chad in addressing educational and training concerns. Ward agreed that education is essential for stability, and stated that the United States was prepared to augment existing programs that help bring about stability. -------------- View from the French -------------- ¶11. (SBU) At the last meeting of the day, French officers from the Epervier Military base gave a Power Point presentation to General Ward on their activities and military cooperation in Chad. The French said that their objective, like the USG, is to assist the Chadian military by providing training and education. They said that there has been a drawdown of French troops here over the last 20 years and a decrease in aid and investment. Partnerships and collaboration between allies become all the more imperative, NDJAMENA 00000665 003 OF 003 they said. Ward echoed these themes by saying that one of AFRICOM,s goals is to help with coordination, and added that no country wants to duplicate what their allies are already doing. He closed the discussion by acknowledging French input and expertise in country and promising continued consultations between the French and U.S. militaries in Chad. ¶12. (U) General Ward did not clear this cable before departure. ¶13. (U) Tripoli minimize considered. TAMLYN