MFA APPROVES USE OF NON-DIPLOMATIC LICENSE PLATES

UNCLAS KHARTOUM 000459 SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/SPG, A/S FRAZER DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR AFR/SUDAN SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV AMGT KSEC EAID SU SUBJECT: MFA APPROVES USE OF NON-DIPLOMATIC LICENSE PLATES REF: KHARTOUM 435 ¶1. (SBU) MFA Protocol Director Ambassador Ali Yusuf called in CDA Fernandez and the UK Ambassador March 27, 2008 to advise us that both the US Embassy and the UK Embassy had been approved by the Sudanese Government to use non-diplomatic license plates for both official vehicles and personal vehicles in Sudan "in order to help protect our staff." The measure will go into effect immediately and will remain in effect for a period of three months, though Ambassador Yusuf said it could be extended if the embassies felt that it is required. Ambassador Yusuf said the embassies could request non-diplomatic plates for any number of our vehicles. The plates will be produced next week and the numbers assigned will be closely held by the MFA. There is a 50 dollar charge per license plate and the diplomatic plate must be exchanged for the regular plate (there was no flexibility on this point) but each vehicle will retain its diplomatic registration to show to police if stopped. ¶2. (SBU) Post will work out the logistics of the transfer of plates over the next week. FERNANDEZ