UPDATE ON DARFUR PEACEKEEPING DEPLOYMENT FOR 13

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 USUN NEW YORK 001166 SIPDIS SIPDIS IO AND AF FOR FRONT OFFICE; PLEASE PASS TO SE NATSIOS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/13/2017 TAGS: AF PGOV PREL SU UNSC KPKO MOPS SUBJECT: UPDATE ON DARFUR PEACEKEEPING DEPLOYMENT FOR 13 DECEMBER 2007 REF: USUN 1154 Classified By: Ambassador J. Wolcott for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: -- HSP Deployment update: Equipment for the Chinese engineering unit is still in transit. Bangladesh and Nigeria have not yet provided a load list from which the UN can contract air movement. The UN is conducting a PDV with Pakistan this week. Egypt has submitted a load list and the UN anticipates deploying the Egyptians 15-20 February 2008. - UNAMID Deployment update: Egypt, the Nordic (Sweden and Norway) and Thailand have scheduled their Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) negotiations with the UN. Nepal and the Netherlands have not scheduled theirs. --TCC Update: Still no pledge of helicopters or transport units. UN officials asked unofficially if the U.S. would provide, or facilitate from a third country, U.S.-model helicopters with acceptable military capabilities to be piloted by Jordan. - Government of Sudan (GOS) acceptance of TCCs: In a meeting that took place on 10 December, the Government of Sudan stated that a formal response to the TCC list would be issued this week. The GOS also promised that other issues pertaining to deployment, such as bases, night flights, visa and equipment seizures would be "resolved" this week as well. --SOFA negotiations: SOFA negotiations commenced on 12 December with potential resolution by 31 December. End SUMMARY ¶2. (C) Deployment Update. --- HSP --- --Chinese Engineers have yet to receive their equipment. The initial load of equipment is being held up at the border to Darfur because of security and road condition concerns. The main body of Chinese engineers and equipment is not due to arrive until 20 March 2008. --Bangladeshi Logistic Company: Bangladesh has still not provided a load list to the UN. (Note: DPKO notes that it will take 60-75 days to contract air once the load lists are provided.) --Pakistani units: the UN began their Pre-deployment visit (PDV) with Pakistan on 12 December. Load lists for movements must be submitted by Pakistan once the PDV is complete. -- Nigerian Level II Hospital: Nigeria has still not provided a load list to the UN. -- Egypt: UN has received Egyptian load list and anticipate contracting air to deploy the Egyptians to Darfur 15-20 February 2008. -------------- UNAMID -------------- --Nepal and The Netherlands: Both countries have yet to schedule MOU negotiations with the UN. --Egypt: MOU negotiations scheduled for 2-4 January 08. --Nordic: MOU negotiations scheduled to begin 13 December. While the UN expects the GOS to reject the Nordic engineer company, deployment preparations continue. --Thailand: Started MOU negotiations on 11 December. DPKO states that Thailand cannot advance any further along its deployment timeline without GoS approval. ¶3. (C) TCC Update. Still no commitments of helicopters or transportation units for UNAMID. In a December 10 meeting between the SYG Deputy Chief of Staff Kim Won Soo and USUN USUN NEW Y 00001166 002 OF 002 Ambassador Jackie Wolcott, Kim offered the idea of accepting the existing Jordanian offer of pilots and equipping them with appropriate U.S. model helicopters from the U.S. or another country (REFTEL). Kim asked if the U.S. would be willing to provide helicopters to UNAMID, which would be flown by Jordanian pilots. (NOTE: Per DPKO, the Jordanian pilots are trained on U.S. model helicopters. END NOTE.) Kim also asked if the U.S. would approach Kuwait and Saudi Arabia to determine if either would be willing to provide appropriate aviation assets. AMB Wolcott and USUN MSC responded that it was highly unlikely that the U.S. would provide helicopters, but would forward the proposal to Washington (REFTEL). ¶4. (C) GOS Acceptance of TCCs: UN officials told USUN that a UNAMID-GOS meeting was scheduled to take place in Khartoum sometime between December 10 and 14. According to DPKO, the GOS agreed to resolve all outstanding issues (bases, night flights, equipment seizures, visas, etc.). Additionally, the GOS promised to provide a formal response to the TCC list this week. SYG Deputy Chief of Staff Kim Won Soo predicted that the GOS would accept the Thai and Nepalese units, but reject the Nordics. (COMMENT: In discussions with OMA/DPKO on 12 December the formal response to the TCC selection was characterized as a "pipe-dream." END COMMENT.) ¶5. (C) SOFA Negotiations: UN began negotiations with GOS concerning the UNAMID SOFA on 12 December. UN believes this issue could be resolved by 31 December. In the interim the model UN SOFA is in effect. Khalilzad