SALVADORAN MOD WITHOUT REPLY ON IRAQ SOFA

C O N F I D E N T I A L SAN SALVADOR 001247 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/31/2018 TAGS: ES PGOV PREL MOPS MARR SUBJECT: SALVADORAN MOD WITHOUT REPLY ON IRAQ SOFA REF: BAGHDAD 3351 Classified By: Robert I. Blau, CDA, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 1.(C) Summary: Minister of Defense Molina told MilGrp Commander October 29 that he is concerned about the lack of progress of an official invitation from Iraq that would provide the Salvadoran Armed Forces (ESAF) a legal basis to remain in Iraq after December 31, 2008. Molina said he would be traveling to Iraq December 2-8, with a stop in Washington on December 3, and would like to meet with the U.S. Secretary of Defense on December 3 to discuss the situation. An appointment request with Deputy Secretary Negroponte is pending. He provided non-paper that lists the key issues for El Salvador and a redeployment plan in case an invitation is not forthcoming. This cable transmits the text of the MOD non-paper on this subject. End Summary. ¶2. (C) Minister of Defense Molina (MOD) told MilGrp Commander October 29 that he is concerned with the lack of progress on an official invitation from Iraq to allow Salvadoran Armed Forces (ESAF) to remain in Iraq after December 31, 2008. He stressed that without a legal basis for remaining in Iraq, the ESAF could not continue in Iraq and that the MOD had to plan for the worst case scenario. He also said that CENTCOM had asked the Ministry for a plan. ¶3. (C) Molina said he would be traveling to Iraq December 2-8, with a stop in Washington on December 3. He said that this trip would be the last chance for an official invitation from Iraq, but that would not give the Ministry much time to conduct mission analysis and to provide a recommendation to President Saca. Nonetheless, he said, he would try as hard as possible since it is an important mission. ¶4. (C) Molina said that he would like to meet with the U.S. Secretary of Defense on December 3 to get an update and discuss a way forward. (Note: An appointment request with Deputy Secretary Negroponte is pending.) He said that the Minister of Foreign Affairs may accompany him to Washington and Iraq. ¶5. (C) Molina provided the following non-paper (original e-mailed to WHA/CEN and SOUTHCOM) that lists the key issues for the Salvadorans and describes the redeployment plan in the case that there is no official invitation or extension of the UN resolution. ¶6. (C) Begin unofficial translation of non-paper: RELATIVE CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE PARTICIPATION OF EL SALVADOR IN IRAQ -- AWAITING AN OFFICIAL REQUEST FROM THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT -- NEED TO KNOW THE SHORT TO MEDIUM TERM STRATEGIC CONTEXT FOR IRAQ (DOD, DOS) -- WHAT DOES THE PARTICIPATION OF OTHER COUNTRIES REPRESENT FOR THE UNITED STATES? -- WHAT DOES EL SALVADOR,S CONTINUED PARTICIPATION IN IRAQ REPRESENT TO THE UNITED STATES? WHAT CRITERIA WERE CONSIDERED FOR THE INCORPORATION OF EL SALVADOR IN THE LIST OF COUNTRIES? -- NEED THE PROBABLE REQUEST OR INVITATION FROM THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO CARRY OUT THE APPROPRIATE PLANNING ACTIONS AND DECISION CYCLE -- POSSIBLE VISIT OF IRAQI OFFICIALS, OR SALVADORAN OFFICIALS' TRIP TO WASHINGTON, TO MEET WITH THE AMBASSADOR OF IRAQ AND WITH DEPARTMENT OF STATE AND DEFENSE OFFICIALS -- PROCESS: - RECEIVE REQUEST FROM THE GOI - RELATIVE ANALYSIS OF TASKS, SITUATION, GEOGRAPHICAL AREA ETC. ACCORDING TO THE (ABOVE) REQUEST - IDENTIFICATION OF CAPABILITIES - IDENTIFICATION OF LIMITATIONS - RECOMMENDATION TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC - IDENTIFICATION OF NECESSITIES - INITIATION OF THE ORGANIZATION AND PREPARATION OF THE CONTINGENT -- DEVELOPMENT OF A BILATERAL EL SALVADOR-IRAQ AGREEMENT -- DEVELOPMENT OR UPDATE OF THE STANDING AGREEMENT BETWEEN EL SALVADOR-UNITED STATES IS REQUIRED -- DISCUSSIONS WITH POLITICAL PARTIES AND IN LOCAL MEDIA -- IF REQUEST FROM GOI IS NOT RECEIVED, THE TIME LIMITS FOR A REDEPLOYMENT WOULD BE THE FOLLOWING: (INFORMATION REQUIRED FROM CENTCOM) - 31DEC008: END OF MISSION - THROUGH 20JAN009: TURN IN INVENTORIES IN CAMP DELTA TO AL KUT - 22-25JAN009: CARGO TRANSPORTATION TO EL SALVADOR - 26-31JAN009: CUSCATLAN BATALLION TRANSPORTATION TO EL SALVADOR End non-paper. BLAU