UPDATE ON END USE, SECURITY ASSURANCES AGREEMENT WITH CAR

UNCLAS BANGUI 000244 SENSITIVE SIPDIS AF/C FOR MASHRAF, SSARDAR; PM/PPA FOR RFEATHERSTONE AF/RSA FOR JCHALFIN, MBITTRICK E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KTIA MARR MASS PGOV CT SUBJECT: UPDATE ON END USE, SECURITY ASSURANCES AGREEMENT WITH CAR GOVERNMENT REF: STATE 31891 ¶1. (SBU) Ambassador Cook delivered reftel demarche to Deputy Defense Minister (and President Bozize's son) Jean-Francis Bozize, in a meeting on December 12. The Ambassador explained the importance of the reftel agreement in unlocking U.S. peace-keeping operations funding for security sector reform in the CAR. The Deputy Minister promised to study the agreement with his technical team and expedite a response in coordination with the MFA, as necessary. ¶2. (SBU) Ambassador Cook also delivered reftel demarche to CAR MFA Dieudonne Kombo-Yaya in a meeting on December 17. The Foreign Minister promised to engage with the Deputy Minister in order to formulate a response and better enable the USG to partner with the CAR. ¶3. (SBU) COMMENT: Despite the assurances by both Ministers, Post does not / not expect the agreement to be returned by the end of ¶2008. Nonetheless, Post believes that continued pressure on both the Ministry of Defense and the MFA will allow for an exchange of diplomatic notes and a finalization of this agreement early in 2009. END COMMENT COOK ##