GOES WELCOMES MNF-I UNSCR DRAFT; HOPES FOR QUICK

C O N F I D E N T I A L SAN SALVADOR 002403

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/13/2008
TAGS: ES IZ MARR PARM PREL UNSC
SUBJECT: GOES WELCOMES MNF-I UNSCR DRAFT; HOPES FOR QUICK
APPROVAL

REF: A. STATE 165490


B. SAN SALVADOR 2249

Classified By: Ambassador Charles L. Glazer for reasons 1.4 (a),(b) an
d (d).


1. (C) PolCouns delivered ref (A) demarche to Nelson Amaya,
MFA Deputy Director General for Foreign Policy. Amaya,
accompanied by Gustavo Argueta, MFA Multilateral Affairs
Officer, and Milton Magana, MFA Director for Asia, Africa,
and Oceania, welcomed the draft resolution and said MFA would
be in contact with its UN mission in New York to follow its
progress. Amaya hoped for quick adoption of a UNSCR
extending UNSC authorization for MNF-I, needed in order for
the GOES to maintain its contingent of 280 troops in Iraq.


2. (C) Separately, we have been urging the Salvadoran
Legislative Assembly to move quickly on a vote in favor of
continuing the deployment through 2008. While not a legal
requirement, President Saca has sought and obtained Assembly
approval allowing the Salvadoran Armed Forces (ESAF) to
remain in Iraq through the end of the current UN Chapter VII
mandate. We expect the Assembly to consider the issue on
December 20 (its final session of the year).


3. (C) Comment: In earlier votes, the Assembly has referenced
the governing USNCR text when approving the ESAF deployment.
Given that the draft MNF-I resolution may not be approved by
the Assembly's last scheduled plenary session, ARENA
leadership in the Assembly may choose to approve the
deployment conditioned on an extended UNSC mandate, schedule
an extraordinary session during the holiday break, or provide
approval in the new year. None of these options presents
legal obstacles to the continued deployment in Iraq. We will
keep Washington informed on the progress of the Salvadoran
Assembly vote.
Glazer