SUDAN - UNAMID DEMARCHE REQUEST TO FOREIGN

UNCLAS STATE 161824 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV KPKO UN SU SUBJECT: SUDAN - UNAMID DEMARCHE REQUEST TO FOREIGN MINISTER MORATINOS REF: USUN 1052 ¶1. Purpose and Objective: This is an action request. Embassy Madrid is requested to make a high-level demarche by the Ambassador to Foreign Minister Moratinos requesting Spain to provide helicopter (number 1 priority) or transport support for the United Nation-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID). The details of the support requirements are listed below. The equipment critically required is as follows: -- 6 Attack helicopters for the heavy support package -- 6 Utility helicopters for the heavy support package -- 12 Utility helicopters for UNAMID deployment -- 2 Transport companies for UNAMID deployment ¶2. Background: Timely deployment of the United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) is one the Department of State,s top priorities. UNAMID currently lacks critical aviation and transportation assets. UNAMID will be a predominantly African force and has received generous offers of contributions from many African infantry units (including Rwanda, Nigeria, Senegal, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Malawi). Nevertheless, UNAMID still lacks commitments for critical force multipliers/enablers, which will likely come from non-African troop contributors, including units to provide adequate aviation and transportation support assets. The Department wishes to assist the UN as much as possible in the successful and rapid deployment of UNAMID. Aviation and heavy transportation assets are essential to UNAMID,s success given the need for mobility in such a large territory with difficult terrain. Deployment of a robust, effective hybrid force is a critical part of our strategy for sustainable peace in Darfur. If Spain is able to respond positively to this request, Spanish officials should be asked to bring its capabilities to the urgent attention of the UN's Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) in New York and to engage DPKO in direct discussions of the UN's precise requirements. UN SYG Ban recently reported Spain,s willingness to consider providing helicopter assets to UNAMID during a meeting with Ambassador Khalilzad in New York. ¶3. Action Request: Embassy Madrid is requested to demarche FM Moratinos requesting Spanish aircraft support for UNAMID. UNAMID,s aircraft needs are great and we urge Spain to provide helicopter or transport aircraft to support this mission. ¶4. Point of Contact: LTC James D. Thomas or Grace M. Kang in IO/PSC, 202 736-7733. The email addresses for the POCs is thomasjd@state.sgov.gov and kanggm@state.sgov.gov; please include IO-PSC-DL (PSCusers@state.sgov.gov) from the GAL on the CC line. RICE