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