Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08COLOMBO477
2008-05-16 10:54:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Colombo
Cable title:
DARFUR HELICOPTERS: SRI LANKANS HOPE THEY CAN HELP
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHLM #0477 1371054 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 161054Z MAY 08 FM AMEMBASSY COLOMBO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8132 INFO RUEHAM/AMEMBASSY AMMAN PRIORITY 0043 RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA PRIORITY 0891 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 7888 RUEHKV/AMEMBASSY KYIV PRIORITY 0003 RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME PRIORITY 0409 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 2770 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0769 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 000477
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS AND IO/PSC (MROZINSKI)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/17/2018
TAGS: MARR PREL KPKO CE
SUBJECT: DARFUR HELICOPTERS: SRI LANKANS HOPE THEY CAN HELP
REF: COLOMBO 00459
Classified By: Ambassador Robert O. Blake, Jr. for reasons
1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 000477
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS AND IO/PSC (MROZINSKI)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/17/2018
TAGS: MARR PREL KPKO CE
SUBJECT: DARFUR HELICOPTERS: SRI LANKANS HOPE THEY CAN HELP
REF: COLOMBO 00459
Classified By: Ambassador Robert O. Blake, Jr. for reasons
1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Ambassador spoke on May 16 with Defense Secretary
Gotabhaya Rajapaksa to seek an update on the Government of
Sri Lanka's response to our request that Sri Lanka provide
helicopters to support the UN-AU peacekeeping operation in
Darfur (reftel). Rajapaksa said he had spoken with AIR FORCE
Commander Goonetileke and asked him to take a hard look at
what assets the AIR FORCE might be able to spare. Rajapaksa
said Sri Lanka is "trying to work out something, so that we
can help." He indicated he hopes to have a more definitive
response by Monday or Tuesday of next week. Ambassador
expressed appreciation for Sri Lanka's efforts and again
underlined the importance of the request.
BLAKE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS AND IO/PSC (MROZINSKI)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/17/2018
TAGS: MARR PREL KPKO CE
SUBJECT: DARFUR HELICOPTERS: SRI LANKANS HOPE THEY CAN HELP
REF: COLOMBO 00459
Classified By: Ambassador Robert O. Blake, Jr. for reasons
1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Ambassador spoke on May 16 with Defense Secretary
Gotabhaya Rajapaksa to seek an update on the Government of
Sri Lanka's response to our request that Sri Lanka provide
helicopters to support the UN-AU peacekeeping operation in
Darfur (reftel). Rajapaksa said he had spoken with AIR FORCE
Commander Goonetileke and asked him to take a hard look at
what assets the AIR FORCE might be able to spare. Rajapaksa
said Sri Lanka is "trying to work out something, so that we
can help." He indicated he hopes to have a more definitive
response by Monday or Tuesday of next week. Ambassador
expressed appreciation for Sri Lanka's efforts and again
underlined the importance of the request.
BLAKE