DARFUR: SYG BAN SAYS BRAZIL AND SPAIN WILL

C O N F I D E N T I A L USUN NEW YORK 001052 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/20/2017 TAGS: PREL UNSC KPKO SU SUBJECT: DARFUR: SYG BAN SAYS BRAZIL AND SPAIN WILL CONSIDER SUPPLYING HELICOPTERS Classified By: Ambassador Zalmay M. Khalilzad, per 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) During a November 19 meeting with Amb Khalilzad (discussion of Lebanon and Burma covered in septels),SYG Ban Ki-Moon noted that UN Special Envoy Eliason would brief the Security Council next week on developments in Sudan. In the meantime, the SYG noted that he was somewhat encouraged by recent positive signals from the Sudanese regarding the Thai and Nepalese contributions to UNAMID. (Note: Ban was referring to Khartoum's granting of visas to Thais and Nepalese to conduct pre-deployment visits to Sudan. End Note.) Signals from the Sudanese about the proposed Nordic contingents, however, were still negative. Ban also reported that Brazil and Spain had expressed their willingness to consider providing helicopters for the UN mission, while Italy had indicated that it is ready to provide "aviation support" to UNAMID. Khalilzad