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

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Beijing the week of 14 January 2008.

HEAVY SUPPORT PACKAGE (GOS approved):

China --engineers: About 135 engineers have arrived in Nyala

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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

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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