JUNE 2008 NATIONALIZATION UPDATE

UNCLAS BOGOTA 002214 SIPDIS DEPT FOR INL/LP DEPT FOR WHA/AND E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SNAR SENV KCRM PTER CO SUBJECT: JUNE 2008 NATIONALIZATION UPDATE ¶1. (U) NAS Director and NAS Nationalization Coordinator met on June 17 MOD Special Projects Director Alejandro Gamboa. VMOD Pinzon was traveling to Afghanistan and provided guidance to Gamboa prior to departing. The discussion reviewed the status of various nationalization themes to include the UH-1N and UH-1H helicopters, fuel, and the nationalization road ahead. -------------- UH-1N's -------------- ¶2. (U) Gamboa confirmed the MOD is keen to sign the loan agreements and expected to receive authorization from the Colombian MFA to sign the documents before the end of the week. NAS Bogota has completed all the necessary preparations for inventory transfers and is prepared to physically transfer parts and equipment once the documents have been signed. The 18 UH-1N helicopters remain grounded at the Tolemaida airbase until the lease agreements have been signed by both parties. Gamboa also noted his interest to modify several sub appendixes to update the current inventories of aircraft to the 2004 Annex to the 1962 Bilateral Agreement. -------------- UH-1H's - Melgar Training Facility -------------- ¶3. (U) Gamboa confirmed the MOD is still finalizing its position on the 15 UH-1H's at the Melgar rotary school; whether they will accept title or request a loan. He noted the MOD will continue pursuing excess defense article OH-58 training helicopters from the United States, but his team understands there is a future role for Hueys at GOC training schools. Gamboa advised he wants to coordinate possible Actas de Entrega (donation documents) for any fixed infrastructure items the USG will transfer (buildings, equipment, etc) in Melgar. All parties agreed to tackle the UH-1H issue after completing work on the UH-1 Novembers. -------------- Fuel -------------- ¶4. (U) Gamboa acknowledged MOD Santos's letter said the GOC would cover fuel for all current NAS supported aircraft on October 1, ¶2008. Gamboa again flagged his team's desire to clarify any possible domestic legal concerns regarding the GOC purchasing fuel for aircraft it does not operate or own. NAS agreed to meet with him and/or the relevant COLMIL agencies to work through any concerns and to clarify whether any modifications to any LOA's were required. NAS restated our clear expectation the GOC will be ready on October 1, 2008 to assume all fuel costs for NAS supported aircraft. -------------- Nationalization Road Ahead -------------- ¶5. (U) Gamboa noted the MOD remained generally favorable to the nationalization road ahead presentation made during Ambassador OP Garza's meeting with VMOD Pinzon on May 14, 2008. Gamboa said the MOD was in the midst of the GOC's budget cycle and had not seen its likely 2009 budget numbers, and it was difficult to provide more concrete feedback without first seeing those numbers. He also thanked NAS for the offer to brief GOC COLMIL personnel on the road ahead for nationalization, but MOD did not currently require the briefing. Gamboa acknowledged that many difficult decisions had occurred in 2008, and noted the MOD was bracing for the shock of assuming fuel costs October 1. Gamboa said the GOC agreed on the importance of the nationalization timeline, and expressed his hope that the GOC could count on a certain degree of USG flexibility as we moved forward in the years ahead. We noted our commitment to working as partners through this process to implement the nationalization timeline. Brownfield