EMBASSY PARAMARIBO CONCURS WITH SOCSOUTH JCET TOR

S E C R E T PARAMARIBO 000663 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/CAR JROSHOLT E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/20/2017 TAGS: ASEC MARR PINS PREL PTER NS MASS SUBJECT: EMBASSY PARAMARIBO CONCURS WITH SOCSOUTH JCET TOR REF: A. 1. MODIFICATION TO TOR FOR SNS2008JCET613W 162104Z OCT 07 ¶B. 2. SECOND MODIFICATION TO TOR FOR SNS2008JCET613W 232021Z OCT 07 Classified By: Charge T.Genton for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (S) Post provides initial concurrence with the Terms of Reference (TOR) provided by Special Operations Command South (SOCSOUTH) with the following caveats noted: A.(S) Timeline: the following modifications are requested: (1) Pre-deployment site survey (PDSS): 3rd week of January 2008 (2) Advance team arrival (ADVON): Late February 2008 (3) Remainder of main body team arrival: March 2008 ¶B. (S) Due to the sensitive nature of the political situation in Suriname associated with the ongoing trial of former military strongman, Desi Bouterse, each phase of training will need to be carefully considered prior to continuation. While no specific impediments to implementation are anticipated, it is necessary to monitor, analyze, and reassess the local political climate and develop mutually agreed upon tripwires; if necessary, we may need to consider amendments to the timeline or scope of training -- or discontinue training -- if the situation significantly changes. ¶C. (C) TOR requests in paragraph 23 an agreement for Administrative and Technical Immunity for deploying U.S. SOF personnel. Post believes that the current Status of Forces Agreement should provide all necessary legal protections to project implementation. A copy of the SOFA can be obtained from the Military Liaison Officer, LCDR W.T.Green. ¶D. (C) Paragraph 23 also states that USSOUTHCOM has ensured that the Department of State has been made of aware of this training. Post requests clarification as to which specific offices and points of contact at State have received this briefing (e.g. PM, Regional Bureaus, etc.). ¶E. (C) Details related to weapons, force protection, security awareness and other security matters will need to be coordinated with the Embassy RSO. ¶F. (C) With respect to counter narco-terrorist training, Post believes that Embassy DEA Country Attache should be consulted; ¶G. (C) Paragraph 25: Public affairs posture will be passive; however, in light of the sensitive political considerations related to the aforementioned trial, all public affairs will be handled by and through the Embassy Pol/PD officer, unless express permission is given by the Ambassador. SocSouth and Embassy will develop talking points for use in handling routine inquiries. ¶H. (C) Host nation concurrence will be required on the scope of training. ¶2. (C) Post understands the need for Leahy vetting in order to move forward on this training. Unit identified for training is the &Corps Special Tropen8, or Special Forces unit of the Suriname Armed Forces. Unit and commander vetting was submitted to the U.S. State Department on 14 December ¶2007. No derogatory information on this unit or its commander was found by Post. Final adjudication is expected to be received from State on/about the second week of January 2008. ¶3. (C) Post notes the need for transparency with the Government of Suriname. This proposal will require the approval of the Minister of Defense, and will likely be discussed with the Council of Ministers and the President. DCM Genton and MLO Commander Green have discussed the proposal with senior Surinamese military and Ministry of Defense officials and have a pending request for a meeting with the Minister of Defense to discuss the proposal. Subsequently, a formal Diplomatic Note will be transmitted to the Ministry of Defense requesting concurrence and support for JCET training for 2008. Post will inform SOCSOUTH and provide copies of answering Diplomatic Note once received. ¶4. (C) U.S. Ambassador, Lisa Bobbie Schreiber Hughes, concurs with Terms of Reference with amendments noted and agrees to continued coordination and discussion towards implementation. ¶5. (C) Commander, U.S. Military Liaison Office Paramaribo and Senior Defense Representative, LCDR W.Tracy Green, concurs with deployment of JCET to Suriname. GENTON