DARFUR: LSP HANDOVER CONCLUDED, AMIS SUPPORT

C O N F I D E N T I A L USUN NEW YORK 000883 SIPDIS SIPDIS IO AND AF FOR FRONT OFFICE; PLEASE PASS TO SE NATSIOS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/18/2017 TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL SU SUBJECT: DARFUR: LSP HANDOVER CONCLUDED, AMIS SUPPORT CONTRACT EXTENSION HITS SNAG REF: A. SECSTATE 145210 ¶B. SECSTATE 144892 ¶C. LEVINSON-JOVIN EMAILS Classified By: Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad for Reasons 1.4 B/D. ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: USUN carried out reftel instructions on October 17, executing a Light Support Package (LSP) handover document and delivering a note verbale detailing extended U.S. assistance to AMIS during the transition to UNAMID. UN officials were fully cooperative regarding the handover document but took issue with two aspects of the note verbale. They offered to prepare a formal written response to clarify the remaining issues. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (SBU) Per reftel instructions, on October 17 AMB Wolcott and Poloffs delivered the ref A LSP "handover document" to UN DPKO Director of Logistical Support Max Kerley and Logistics Planning Officer Jennifer Boggs. AMB Khalilzad had signed the handover document for the USG prior to the meeting. Kerley signed for the UN, completing the handover of the involved facilities. Subsequent to the meeting, Poloff transmitted a copy of the handover document signed by AMB Khalilzad and UN DPKO Director of Logistical Support Max Kerley (ref C). ¶3. (SBU) AMB Wolcott also delivered ref B note verbale (NV) detailing a U.S. offer to extend its contract support of AMIS troop camps through Match 31, 2008 and a U.S. commitment to make a no-cost transfer of USG-owned equipment to UNAMID as soon as possible. AMB Wolcott explained that the U.S. has agreed to extend its operations and maintenance support of AMIS -- including operation and management of camps, vehicles, and communications equipment beyond the AMIS-UNAMID transfer of authority date on a reimbursable basis. She made clear, however, that this agreement only extends until March 31, 2008 and that the U.S. expects the UN to conclude a contract for the extension with a private vendor before the end of March, 2008 and to provide written assurances to the U.S. to that effect. She also pointed out that the UN was in arrears on the reimbursement to the U.S. on the previous support contract. ¶4. (SBU) In response to the NV, Kerley insisted that A/S Jendayi Frazer and UN DPKO Jane Holl Lute had agreed that the U.S. would pay for January through March on a non-reimbursable basis. Boggs also raised concerns about the equipment language, which she said would not allow the UN to continue with contracting because it does not make clear what equipment the winning contractor could use. Boggs said she was in direct communication with officers in Washington and working to come up with alternative language. Kerley offered to send a formal reply to the NV to raise the payment and equipment issues. (NOTE. USUN asked that he delay a formal reply pending our communication with Washington. END NOTE.) With regard to the outstanding arrearage, Boggs acknowledged the delinquency but said it was due in part to a U.S. request to delay payment into FY 2008. She assured that processing is again underway. Kerley promised a prompt resolution and payment. ¶5. (C) COMMENT. DPKO and the Department clearly have different views on what was agreed between A/S Frazer and DPKO A/S Jane Holl Lute regarding the terms under which the U.S. will pay for the extension of the existing operations and maintenance contract through April 2008 and the availability of U.S. supplied equipment to contractors in Darfur. USUN has no information regarding other U.S.-UN communications that these UN officials believe has had the effect of modifying ref B. END COMMENT. KHALILZAD