DEMARCHE REQUESTS TO FOLLOW UP UNAMID DEPLOYMENT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 STATE 002736 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/07/2018 TAGS: PREL MOPS PGOV UNSC SU CH SUBJECT: DEMARCHE REQUESTS TO FOLLOW UP UNAMID DEPLOYMENT ISSUES REF: USUN NEW YORK 001221 Classified By: IO A/S Kristen Silverberg, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. PURPOSE: The Department asks posts to demarche host governments at the highest appropriate level to follow up deployment issues concerning the deployment of the United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) pursuant to reftel (NOTAL). Posts may draw upon the following themes in their demarches: -Welcome strongly your host government's contribution to UNAMID. -Explain that sustainable peace in Sudan is a top United States government priority. The rapid deployment of UNAMID is a key component of the international community's strategy for peace in Darfur, along with an immediate ceasefire and a viable peace process. -Express interest in the status of your host government's contribution and push for action tailored to the problems specific to your host country, pursuant to reftel and the Background below. ¶2. DEADLINE: We would appreciate a timely response no later than opening of business 14 January 2008. ¶3. POINT-OF-CONTACT: Grace M. Kang IO/PSC 202-736-7735. ¶4. BACKGROUND: The UN Security Council authorized the deployment of UNAMID in Resolution 1769 dated 31 July 2007. Although the transition of authority from the AU Mission in Sudan (AMIS),which was already deployed in Darfur, to UNAMID took place on 31 December, very little of UNAMID has actually deployed. In addition, the Heavy Support Package of UN assistance to AMIS has also not fully deployed, despite its approval by the UN, AU, and government of Sudan (GOS). We had pushed for the Heavy Support Package to deploy by 31 December so it could assist with the deployment of other UNAMID components. The following breaks down the component parts of the Heavy Support Package and UNAMID and provides instructions for each demarche to accelerate deployment as much as possible. An additional consideration: on 7 January 2008, Sudanese Armed Forces attacked a clearly marked UNAMID supplies convoy. A Sudanese civilian driver was badly injured in the attack. We strongly condemned this attack at the UN Security Council on 9 January. Troop contributing countries must not be deterred by the attack. We are seeking a Security Council resolution that strengthens the arms embargo in response. We particularly seek the government of China to pressure the government of Sudan (GOS) to stop such outrageous attacks and to cooperate fully with UNAMID's deployment. The GOS must accept the full troop-contributing country (TCC) list, grant access to land and water, agree to an appropriate Status of Forces Agreement, grant flight clearances (including at night and not limited to medical evacuations),issue visas in a timely manner, and accept UN accoutrements for UNAMID soldiers. China seeks our support in preventing attacks on their citizens and oil investments by rebels, who have threatened such attacks. Given the special influence China has on Sudan, we seek the highest level engagement in New York, followed by the Deputy Secretary's engagement in Beijing, as stated in the paragraphs below. The Deputy Secretary plans to raise these issues during his visit to SIPDIS Beijing the week of 14 January 2008. HEAVY SUPPORT PACKAGE (GOS approved): China --engineers: About 135 engineers have arrived in Nyala STATE 00002736 002 OF 003 with enough equipment to begin work. UN Darfur Integrated Operations Team (IOT) believes the main body and the remainder of the equipment will not arrive before the end of March. Embassy Beijing has reported repeated delays in deployment, dating back to September 2007. The rapid deployment and employment of the Chinese engineers is essential, since they will be building the camps and infrastructure that will enable additional UNAMID units to deploy. The engineers who have already deployed should begin working now. Although Embassy Beijing initially reported that the government of China (GOC) said deployment would take place the end of January (after missing a mid-December deadline),the GOC now does not confirm that or any other date. During his visit to Beijing, the Deputy Secretary plans to discuss UNAMID deployment with Chinese officials. Given the 7 January Sudanese Armed Forces' attack on UNAMID and the GOC's close relationship with the government of Sudan (GOS),the Department requests the USUN Permanent Representative to meet with his Chinese counterpart to exchange views on measures to strengthen UNAMID and ensure its success. Productive areas for engagement include discussing how best to push for faster UNAMID deployment, not just concerning the Chinese engineers, but also in overcoming obstructions by the GOS and determining an appropriate Security Council response to the GOS' brazen January 7 attack. In addition, we share GOC's concern about possible rebel attacks and seek to strategize with the GOC on how to achieve a ceasefire and viable peace process to prevent attacks by all parties. This session sets the stage for further strategic engagement by the Deputy Secretary during his visit to Beijing the following week. Bangladesh -- multi-role logistics company: Pre-deployment visit was concluded 7 December and has provided a load list to the UN. It is scheduled to deploy 25 March. The Department asks Embassy Dhaka to demarche host government to ensure that the logistics company is ready to deploy on that date. Nigeria --level II hospital: Expected to deploy on 22 March. The Department asks Embassy Abuja to demarche host government and ensure the hospital is ready to deploy on that date. Egypt --signals (185 personnel),multi-role engineers (335 personnel),and medium transport (150 personnel) companies: The UN has received the Egyptian load list and anticipates contracting air transport to deploy these units to Darfur 18-23 February 2008. The Department asks Embassy Cairo to confirm the deployment date. Pakistan --engineers and level II hospital: The Pakistanis have yet to provide the UN with a load list. UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) notes it will take 60-75 days to contract air transport once the load lists are provided. The Department asks Embassy Islamabad to demarche host government to provide the UN load lists as soon as possible. Nepal --Formed Police Unit: is expected in February. According to the UN Darfur Integrated Operations Team, the equipment for it is being "held up" in India. Embassy New Delhi has reported that the Nepalese embassy in New Delhi said the army cargo to Darfur via Kolkata is "too time consuming," due to bureaucratic and procedural inefficiencies, but is not being "held" per se. The Department asks Embassy New Delhi to demarche host government, jointly with the Nepalese if appropriate, to reinforce the point that time is of the essence in transporting the equipment to Darfur, while avoiding any suggestion that we are accusing them of holding the shipment. UNAMID regular deployment (GOS approved): Egypt --battalion: Egypt conducted its in-country reconnaissance of Darfur 8 ) 15 December. MOU negotiations STATE 00002736 003 OF 003 for its infantry battalion are scheduled for 2-4 January ¶2008. Egypt is responsible for sending a negotiation team to New York. The UN has scheduled its pre-deployment visit for 14-18 January. The Department asks Embassy Cairo to confirm these dates and actions and inquire as to when the Egyptian battalion will be ready to deploy. Ethiopia --battalion, sector reconnaissance company, multi-role logistics company, medium transport company: concluded its in-country reconnaissance of Darfur and has MOU negotiations scheduled for 7-11 January 2008. The Department asks Embassy Addis Ababa to confirm this action is taking place, including detailing of the Ethiopian negotiating team. UNAMID regular deployment (Pending GOS approval): The following troops remain blocked by GOS refusal to approve their deployment. These TCCs have been unwilling to move forward absent a green light from the GOS. The Department requests Embassies Katmandu and Bangkok to seek confirmation of the latest state of play and report details to the Department immediately. Any information on the dialogue between these TCCs and Khartoum and the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations would be greatly appreciated. Thailand --battalion: Thailand negotiated its Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the UN on December 11 - 14 to create a contract that sets forth what it will provide for UNAMID and what the UN will reimburse to it so that expectations and responsibilities are clear. The UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations is planning for the Thai battalion to deploy in March 2008 assuming government of Sudan (GOS) acceptance. Thailand has stated it will deploy only with the consent of the GOS. The Department asks Embassy Bangkok to demarche the Thai government to confirm its position. UNAMID helicopters: For both the Heavy Support Package and UNAMID, the following helicopters are needed: six tactical and three sets of six utility helicopters for a total of 24 helicopters. We are pursuing individual demarches with specific possible contributors, but we note that the British and Russians have proposed options for contracting these assets directly. The British delegation is sponsoring a meeting in New York to discuss the helicopter requirement and its availability on 15-16 January. Russia --Russia has made two proposals to the UN: 1) Russia would sell their helicopters to a troop-contributing country (TCC) for that TCC's use in UNAMID. The TCC would have to provide the pilots and logistics. 2) Russia would rent their helicopters to the UN on a "dry lease" basis, which means the UN would pay the Contingency Owned Equipment rate for the helicopters only. Under this proposal, the UN would find pilots and logistics support from another source. The Department has questions about the utility of such a "mix-and-match" approach, but would appreciate further information on the Russian proposals. The Department asks Embassy Moscow to confirm these offers. RICE