EXTENSION OF THE COMALAPA CSL AGREEMENT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SAN SALVADOR 000712 SIPDIS FROM THE AMBASSADOR FOR THE DEPUTY SECRETARY ALSO FOR WHA - SHANNON, PM - MULL E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/12/2018 TAGS: PGOV PREL MARR MOPS ES SUBJECT: EXTENSION OF THE COMALAPA CSL AGREEMENT REF: STATE 13351 Classified By: The Ambassador, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Your visit June 3 and 4 finally elicited a Salvadoran Government reaction to our proposed extension and expansion of the Comalapa Cooperative Security Location (CSL) agreement (reftel). That proposal is not viable. The GOES sees the geographic expansion of the agreement as raising questions of sovereignty and they see problems combining the standing SOFA with the Comalapa agreement. I understand Washington agencies will meet June 16 to discuss next steps. Now that the GOES has responded to our proposal, I would like to offer my views on the best way forward and urge deliberate speed in responding. ¶2. (C) President Saca has made clear he favors extending the agreement to allow continued use of the Comalapa CSL by U.S. forces. I believe we should seek a limited number of additional mission sets to include humanitarian operations, search and rescue operations, anti-trafficking in persons operations and anti-arms trafficking operations in addition to the current counter-narcotics mission. These missions will have the support of the Salvadoran government and should see easy approval by the Salvadoran Legislative Assembly. ¶3. (C) In addition to these additional mission sets, I believe we should seek agreement from the GOES for a ten-year extension of the agreement without the withdrawal option set to kick in from August 2010. The Comalapa CSL agreement and the SOFA should remain separate. ¶4. (C) We have a unique opportunity with the Saca administration not just to renew the Comalapa CSL agreement, but to include additional mission sets that will enhance the utility of the CSL and to lock in a real ten-year extension, not just a five-year agreement subject to cancellation on one year's notice. ARENA and allied parties in the Legislative Assembly have the votes to pass this proposal. The opposition FMLN, which has made an about face on the CSL in the last five years, will have the opportunity to put its money where its mouth is and support the agreement or risk demonstrating that their public statements are still at odds with their actions. ¶5. (C) We need to move quickly to reach agreement with the Salvadorans before the Assembly grinds to a halt as 2009 elections approach. I will outline this approach with President Saca as soon as Washington is on board. GLAZER