Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BERLIN89
2008-01-18 20:19:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Berlin
Cable title:
GERMANY: NO TROOPS FOR ESDP DEPLOYMENT IN CHAD AND
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHRL #0089 0182019 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 182019Z JAN 08 FM AMEMBASSY BERLIN TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0272 INFO RUCNFR/DARFUR COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0580 RHMFISS/COMSOCEUR VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY RHMFISS/CDRUSAREUR HEIDELBERG GE PRIORITY RHMFISS/HQ USAFE RAMSTEIN AB GE PRIORITY RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEHRL/USDAO BERLIN GE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L BERLIN 000089
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/18/2018
TAGS: PREL MOPS MARR CD GM FR
SUBJECT: GERMANY: NO TROOPS FOR ESDP DEPLOYMENT IN CHAD AND
C.A.R.
REF: A. STATE 3208
B. PARIS 0072
Classified By: POL M/C JEFF RATHKE. REASONS: 1.4 (B) AND (D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L BERLIN 000089
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/18/2018
TAGS: PREL MOPS MARR CD GM FR
SUBJECT: GERMANY: NO TROOPS FOR ESDP DEPLOYMENT IN CHAD AND
C.A.R.
REF: A. STATE 3208
B. PARIS 0072
Classified By: POL M/C JEFF RATHKE. REASONS: 1.4 (B) AND (D).
1. (C) Pol mil-chief delivered ref A points to Erik-Jan van
Oosterhout in the MFA ESDP Office January 14, underscoring
U.S. support for the mission and urging Germany to consider
ways of contributing to it. Pol-mil chief noted that while
recent French pledges of helicopters and troops would ensure
that the long-delayed mission now went forward (ref B),
German support for the mission would still be very useful.
2. (C) Van Oosterhout confirmed press reporting that Germany
had already ruled out sending troops on this mission,
believing that it had "already done its part" in deploying
750 troops for last year's ESDP election support mission in
Congo. He noted that while the Congo mission had turned out
well, it had not been popular among the general public in
Germany, who questioned "what are we doing in Africa?" There
was simply no political appetite in Germany to send the
Bundeswehr on another mission to this part of the world so
soon after the Congo operation.
3. (C) Van Oosterhout also highlighted that Germany was
already making transport aircraft and troops available in
support of the related UNAMID mission, and would be
financially supporting the ESDP mission in Chad to the tune
of about 28 million Euros (i.e., based on Germany's 20% share
of the 140 million Euro ESDP common funding costs). Van
Oosterhout indicated that German reluctance about deploying
troops on the Chad mission was also related to the feeling
that the deployment was as much about protecting the
interests of France (who has long maintained a military
presence in Chad) as those of the Sudanese refugees located
there.
TIMKEN JR
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/18/2018
TAGS: PREL MOPS MARR CD GM FR
SUBJECT: GERMANY: NO TROOPS FOR ESDP DEPLOYMENT IN CHAD AND
C.A.R.
REF: A. STATE 3208
B. PARIS 0072
Classified By: POL M/C JEFF RATHKE. REASONS: 1.4 (B) AND (D).
1. (C) Pol mil-chief delivered ref A points to Erik-Jan van
Oosterhout in the MFA ESDP Office January 14, underscoring
U.S. support for the mission and urging Germany to consider
ways of contributing to it. Pol-mil chief noted that while
recent French pledges of helicopters and troops would ensure
that the long-delayed mission now went forward (ref B),
German support for the mission would still be very useful.
2. (C) Van Oosterhout confirmed press reporting that Germany
had already ruled out sending troops on this mission,
believing that it had "already done its part" in deploying
750 troops for last year's ESDP election support mission in
Congo. He noted that while the Congo mission had turned out
well, it had not been popular among the general public in
Germany, who questioned "what are we doing in Africa?" There
was simply no political appetite in Germany to send the
Bundeswehr on another mission to this part of the world so
soon after the Congo operation.
3. (C) Van Oosterhout also highlighted that Germany was
already making transport aircraft and troops available in
support of the related UNAMID mission, and would be
financially supporting the ESDP mission in Chad to the tune
of about 28 million Euros (i.e., based on Germany's 20% share
of the 140 million Euro ESDP common funding costs). Van
Oosterhout indicated that German reluctance about deploying
troops on the Chad mission was also related to the feeling
that the deployment was as much about protecting the
interests of France (who has long maintained a military
presence in Chad) as those of the Sudanese refugees located
there.
TIMKEN JR