GOVERNMENT OF SURINAME DIPLOMATIC NOTE GRANTING APPROVAL

UNCLAS PARAMARIBO 000016

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/CAR J.ROSHOLT, K.WILLIAMS; WHA/PPC M.BORDERS, INR/IAA
R.CARHART
YUMA FOR COL BULLINGTON, J.WYMER, L.VANDERZYL
SOUTHCOM FOR POLAD L.AMSELEM AND S.WETZEL
BRASILIA FOR DATT COL B.BUTCHER

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL MARR MASS PGOV NS
SUBJECT: GOVERNMENT OF SURINAME DIPLOMATIC NOTE GRANTING APPROVAL
OF USAYPG STRYKER TEST


NOTE: THIS IS AN ACTION REQUEST - SEE PARAGRAPH 5.


1. (U) Below is the text of the official Government of Suriname
Diplomatic Note No. 12.938 / AB responding to USG requests for GOS
approval test of the Stryker vehicle.

BEGIN TEXT:

No. 12.938 / AB

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Suriname presents
its compliments to the Embassy of the United States of America and
has the honour to refer to the latter's note no. 77 dated May, 24,
2007 wherein it is stated in the second paragraph that, "the U.S.
Army Yuma Proving Ground (USAYPG),an agency of the U.S. Army, seeks
approval from the Government of Suriname for the establishment of a
Tropical Test Center in the Moengo area of the District of Marowijne
to conduct tests on equipment that the U.S. military currently has
in its inventory or is considering for purchase."

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has further the honour to refer to
the Embassy's note no. 174, wherein it is stated in the second
paragraph that, "With respect to the foregoing, the Embassy of the
United States respectfully requests that the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs advise whether the Government of the Republic of Suriname
has reached a decision whether to approve the proposal of the U.S.
Army Yuma Proving Ground."

With respect to the foregoing, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of
the Republic of Suriname hereby would like to inform the esteemed
Embassy that the Government of Suriname approves the proposal for
the test of a single "Stryker" eight-wheeled armored troop transport
vehicle in the Moengo area in the District of Marowijne.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs further informs the esteemed Embassy
that the Government of the Republic of Suriname appoints the
Ministry of Defense of Suriname as the overall coordinator for this
subject matter and likes to point out that any test of any other
(piece of) equipment than the single "Stryker" referred to before,
will need to be individually submitted as a request for approval by
the Government of the Republic of Suriname.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Suriname avails
itself of this opportunity to renew to the Embassy of the United
States the assurances of its highest considerations.


To: the Embassy of the Paramaribo, November 28, 2007
United States of America Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Paramaribo Republic of Suriname
(seal of the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs)

END TEXT

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PRESS COVERAGE OF YUMA DISCUSSION IN NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
-------------- --------------

2. (U) On January 8, during the GOS's budget presentations to the
national assembly, the Minister of Defense Ivan Fernald was
questioned extensively about Yuma's Stryker test proposal. Press
coverage of the session focused on the concerns of assembly members,
including fears over perceived U.S. military encroachment and
(unsubstantiated) rumors of U.S. intentions to establish a military
base in Suriname. Fernald's defense included speculation on
benefits to Suriname resulting from this and further tests. Assembly
members interpreted this as "expansion" of the project. Coalition
faction leader Otmar Rodgers requested a meeting of the parliament
behind closed doors. He said Fernald's statements reminded him of
Panama, and continued, "we have learned many lessons from American
movements in South America where there was talk of 'peaceful
penetration." August Bado, a representative from the Moengo area,
asked for more information and said he wanted to know how the local
community will benefit. Ruth Wijdenbosch, head of the subcommittee
on armed forces, said that she hopes the Government will provide
more information, as Fernald's presentation was "insufficient."
President Ronald Venetiaan also expressed surprise at the
"expansion" implied by Fernald's comments, noting that French and

Brazilian authorities had already expressed some concerns. However,
the President assured assembly members that, as far as he knows, the
Yuma proposal involves only one test.

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MOD ANALYSIS
--------------

3. (SBU) On January 9, DCM Genton contacted Ministry of Defense
Permanent Secretary Dennis Kamperveen, who had been present at the
January 8 session of the national assembly, to seek some
clarification on what had been said. Kamperveen admitted that some
parliamentarians had raised concerns during the Minister's
presentation, but following the President's intervention,
"everything was clear." By "clear" he meant that the GOS had
approved only the testing of the Stryker, and any further testing
would require another request from the USG. According to
Kamperveen, the President also asserted that, "If there were
problems, I never would have done it" (i.e., approved the test).
Kamperveen concluded by noting that the GOS awaits the USG reaction
to the GOS diplomatic note.

--------------
SURALCO
--------------

4. (SBU) During an unrelated telcon in mid-December between DCM
Genton and Warren Pedersen, the managing director of SURALCO (the
U.S. company which operates mining concessions on the proposed test
sites),Pedersen said that he was unaware of the details of the
proposed Yuma testing, as he has never received any formal
communication regarding the proposal. He noted that SURALCO would
require formal notification from the GOS authorizing the Stryker (or
any other) test on the SURALCO concessions. He added that SURALCO
lawyers would need to have an opportunity to discuss and clarify
liability issues (with USAYPG and the GOS) regarding USAYPG's use of
test sites on the SURALCO concessions.

--------------
ACTION REQUESTED
--------------

5. (U) In light of the GOS's formal approval of the single
"Stryker" test, Post and the GOS request formal, cabled notification
from USAYPG of a proposed timetable and detailed implementation plan
for execution of the Stryker test in Suriname to enable Post to
respond to GOS Diplomatic Note No. 12.938 / AB.

SCHREIBER HUGHES