Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ASMARA18
2008-01-14 08:37:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Asmara
Cable title:
UNMEE FUEL UPDATE
how-toVZCZCXRO1041 RR RUEHROV DE RUEHAE #0018 0140837 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 140837Z JAN 08 FM AMEMBASSY ASMARA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9380 INFO RUCNIAD/IGAD COLLECTIVE RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1567 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 1745 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0688 RUMICEA/JICCENT MACDILL AFB FL RUEPADJ/CJTF-HOA J2X CAMP LEMONIER DJ RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000018
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/13/2018
TAGS: KPKO PBTS PREL MOPS ASEC ER ET XW
SUBJECT: UNMEE FUEL UPDATE
Classified By: Ambassador Ronald K. McMullen for reason 1.4 (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000018
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/13/2018
TAGS: KPKO PBTS PREL MOPS ASEC ER ET XW
SUBJECT: UNMEE FUEL UPDATE
Classified By: Ambassador Ronald K. McMullen for reason 1.4 (d)
1. (C) Summary: UNMEE Force Commander Major General Mohammad
Taisir (protect) estimates UNMEE can continue operations at
the current reduced levels until January 31. After that
UNMEE would have to dip into its strategic fuel reserve,
which Taisir said is only sufficient to move UNMEE's troops
back to Asmara. End Summary.
2. (C) Fuel Until January 31
--------------
UNMEE Force Commander Taisir told the ambassador January 11
that UNMEE has fuel sufficient to operate at the current
reduced level only until January 31. The government of
Eritrea has not responded to UNMEE's repeated requests for
its normal deliveries of fuel. Further, Taisir said that an
UNMEE proposal to use its trucks to import fuel from Sudan
has gone unanswered. Other UNMEE sources say UNMEE vehicles
continue to refuel in Ethiopia, but that the Eritreans refuse
to allow UNMEE vehicles to return with jerry cans or other
extra fuel containers.
3. (C) No Generalized Fuel Shortage
--------------
A/DCM noted over a dozen loaded fuel trucks plying the
Massawa - Asmara road January 12-13, many of which were
Eritrea Defense Force vehicles. There is no shortage of fuel
(apart from diesel) in Asmara at present and gas stations are
operating normally.
4. (C) Embassy Asmara's Assistance Sought
--------------
UNMEE's Asmara-based political head, Dr. Lebohang Moleko
(protect),sent the ambassador a message January 13 asking
for Post intervention with Eritrean authorities to relive
this fuel shortage. Excerpts from the message of the Deputy
Special Representative of the Secretary General to the
ambassador follow:
At the moment we are at a very critical stage. Our
operations have had to be scaled down, but this is not the
biggest concern. What is most worrying is fuel to run our
refrigerators and communications; ...serious problems with
perishables such as food and blood in our clinics, etc. I
have suggested (to Eritrean authorities) that we be given
permission to bring fuel from our Mission in Sudan, but so
far we have had no response. I would like to ask for your
assistance if you can be able to talk to someone who can make
a more reasonable decision (than from UNMEE's military
liaison). Your help would be welcomed.
5. (C) Comment: While Major General Taisir was careful not
to opine on any possible political motive for the Eritrean
restriction of UNMEE fuel supplies, he did finally allow that
the shortage "did not appear to be logistical in nature."
Most observers here suspect the government of Eritrea is
choking UNMEE in advance of the mandate renewal discussion to
ratchet up pressure on the international community to force,
in the GSE's view, Ethiopia to abide by the EEBC border
ruling. End Comment.
MCMULLEN
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/13/2018
TAGS: KPKO PBTS PREL MOPS ASEC ER ET XW
SUBJECT: UNMEE FUEL UPDATE
Classified By: Ambassador Ronald K. McMullen for reason 1.4 (d)
1. (C) Summary: UNMEE Force Commander Major General Mohammad
Taisir (protect) estimates UNMEE can continue operations at
the current reduced levels until January 31. After that
UNMEE would have to dip into its strategic fuel reserve,
which Taisir said is only sufficient to move UNMEE's troops
back to Asmara. End Summary.
2. (C) Fuel Until January 31
--------------
UNMEE Force Commander Taisir told the ambassador January 11
that UNMEE has fuel sufficient to operate at the current
reduced level only until January 31. The government of
Eritrea has not responded to UNMEE's repeated requests for
its normal deliveries of fuel. Further, Taisir said that an
UNMEE proposal to use its trucks to import fuel from Sudan
has gone unanswered. Other UNMEE sources say UNMEE vehicles
continue to refuel in Ethiopia, but that the Eritreans refuse
to allow UNMEE vehicles to return with jerry cans or other
extra fuel containers.
3. (C) No Generalized Fuel Shortage
--------------
A/DCM noted over a dozen loaded fuel trucks plying the
Massawa - Asmara road January 12-13, many of which were
Eritrea Defense Force vehicles. There is no shortage of fuel
(apart from diesel) in Asmara at present and gas stations are
operating normally.
4. (C) Embassy Asmara's Assistance Sought
--------------
UNMEE's Asmara-based political head, Dr. Lebohang Moleko
(protect),sent the ambassador a message January 13 asking
for Post intervention with Eritrean authorities to relive
this fuel shortage. Excerpts from the message of the Deputy
Special Representative of the Secretary General to the
ambassador follow:
At the moment we are at a very critical stage. Our
operations have had to be scaled down, but this is not the
biggest concern. What is most worrying is fuel to run our
refrigerators and communications; ...serious problems with
perishables such as food and blood in our clinics, etc. I
have suggested (to Eritrean authorities) that we be given
permission to bring fuel from our Mission in Sudan, but so
far we have had no response. I would like to ask for your
assistance if you can be able to talk to someone who can make
a more reasonable decision (than from UNMEE's military
liaison). Your help would be welcomed.
5. (C) Comment: While Major General Taisir was careful not
to opine on any possible political motive for the Eritrean
restriction of UNMEE fuel supplies, he did finally allow that
the shortage "did not appear to be logistical in nature."
Most observers here suspect the government of Eritrea is
choking UNMEE in advance of the mandate renewal discussion to
ratchet up pressure on the international community to force,
in the GSE's view, Ethiopia to abide by the EEBC border
ruling. End Comment.
MCMULLEN