AMBASSADOR DELIVERS DEMARCHE ON AVIATION ASSETS

C O N F I D E N T I A L PRETORIA 003765 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/25/2017 TAGS: PGOV KPKO UN SU SF SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR DELIVERS DEMARCHE ON AVIATION ASSETS FOR DARFUR REF: STATE 147491 Classified By: Ambassador Eric M. Bost for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) (C) Ambassador delivered reftel demarche to SAG DFA DepForMin Sue Van der Merwe on 10/25/2007, reiterating the urgent need for specialized air assets to be deployed for peacekeeping in Darfur and emphasizing South Africa's comparative advantage to make a contribution compared to other African countries. DepForMin Van der Merwe thanked the Ambassador and indicated that this issue was actively discussed recently at the cabinet level -- at least twice -- after the US, UK and France had variously delivered similar demarches. Post believes the SAG is sympathetic to this demarche and will make an effort to respond positively to this request. However, due to constraints related to deployment of its relatively small uniformed services for several other peace support roles in Africa, the SAG/SANDF lacks the capacity to respond at the level that is being requested. Post remains convinced that despite the constraints on SAG capacity, demarches to the SAG for these and other AU-related peacekeeping missions will likely gain more traction if delivered by the AU or other African troop contributing countries. BOST