POTENTIAL VISIT OF MRS. CINDY MCCAIN TO CHAD

UNCLAS NDJAMENA 000533 SENSITIVE SIPDIS PARIS FOR POL - KANEDA DEPT FOR AF/C, PRM/AFR, AND AF/SPG E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OVIP PREL PREF PHUM ASEC AMGT AFIN UN CD SUBJECT: POTENTIAL VISIT OF MRS. CINDY MCCAIN TO CHAD ¶1. (SBU) Embassy N,Djamena has learned from AF/C that Mrs. Cindy McCain intends to visit Chad December 1-4, 2008 on a private, humanitarian mission. We would like some clarification so that we may be as supportive of this visit as possible. Below are questions to which we request answers. (a) What are Mrs. McCain,s objectives for this visit? (b) Does Special Envoy Williamson intend to accompany Mrs. McCain? (c ) If the answer to b is no, then since this is not official travel nor a NODEL or a CODEL, we assume that no special embassy support is appropriate or authorized for this visit, beyond that normally provided to private citizens. Nonetheless, post is particularly concerned about the security aspect of a U.S. senator's spouse visit, especially travel to eastern Chad, which is an insecure area. Will she be accompanied by Secret Service or any other security personnel? If not, we might consider sending the ARSO along on the trip. (d) Will any services rendered by Embassy N,Djamena, WFP, UNHCR -- especially air charter if necessary -- be reimbursed, and if so, through what mechanism(s)? (e) Should the Embassy notify the GoC officially of the visit by Mrs. McCain? (f) Please provide a point of contact with Mrs. McCain's staff. Given the nature of the visit -- and experience with the last projected trip -- Embassy N,Djamena believes it would be more effective for us to communicate directly with a McCain POC, rather than through the Department, though we would keep the Department informed. (g) What is the envisioned size and composition of the McCain party? Please provide names and duties. (h) Will there be press as a part of the party? (i) Who will advance the visit and when? Please provide contact information. (j) Which international organizations and non-goernmental organizations, if any, are associated ith this visit? (k) Since Mrs. McCain,s staff orked with WP when this trip was attempted earler this year, we would like to know whether WFP/ew York is again involved, and whether staff ther have any information they could hare on this proposed visit. Similarly, has the trip been shared with UNHCR/Geneva? Note that we are informing local WFP and UNHCR reps of the proposed visit. NIGRO