Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08USUNNEWYORK1035
2008-11-07 15:40:00
CONFIDENTIAL
USUN New York
Cable title:
UPDATE ON AIRLIFT AND MISSING ASSETS FOR UNAMID
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C O N F I D E N T I A L USUN NEW YORK 001035
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/05/2018
TAGS: AF PGOV PREL SU NSC UNSC KPKO MOPS
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON AIRLIFT AND MISSING ASSETS FOR UNAMID
Classified By: Ambassador Rosemary A. DiCarlo for reasons 1.4 (b) and (
d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L USUN NEW YORK 001035
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/05/2018
TAGS: AF PGOV PREL SU NSC UNSC KPKO MOPS
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON AIRLIFT AND MISSING ASSETS FOR UNAMID
Classified By: Ambassador Rosemary A. DiCarlo for reasons 1.4 (b) and (
d).
1. (C) Summary: USUN Military Staff Committee (MSC) Political
Officer and Senior advisor for Special Envoy's office spoke
with UN Secretariat Staff regarding the US airlift offers and
the Ethiopian helicopter pledge. UN officials told USUN (1)
60% deployment by year end is contingent upon US airlift and
(2) Ethiopian helicopters can not be used in Darfur unless
they are upgraded with night flying capabilities. End Summary.
2. (C) U.S. AIRLIFT
In a meeting with Lt Col Tim House of UN Force Generation
Services, US reps (political officer, military advisor and
Senior advisor for Special Envoy's office) discussed the
status of UNAMID's deployment following a Friends of UNAMID
meeting with U/SYG Malcorra on 10/30 (Septel).
3.(C) The FGS officer said the outstanding U.S. offer of
airlift is "vital" and that the UN objective of 60 percent
UNAMID deployment by the end of 2008 will not be met without
the U.S. provision of airlift. He was referring to the offers
to airlift the backlog of containers of equipment from El
Obeid into Darfur. He reiterated that the request was made of
the United States to provide reimbursable airlift because of
the ability of the United States to provide political
pressure on TCCs and the GOS and expedite the deployment.
4. (C) The FGS officer argued that some discussions about
UNAMID's deployment have irresponsibly focused on troop
numbers as opposed to operational capacity. The U.S. airlift
of equipment (Rwandan equipment and containers from El Obeid)
will ensure that incoming peacekeepers are not just added
boots on the ground -- it will expedite the provision of
equipment necessary to improve the mission's capabilities.
5. (C) HELICOPTERS: A STEP FORWARD ON ETHIOPIAN ATTACK HELO
The missing assets for UNAMID were also addressed by the FGS
officer, who said the key priority is Ethiopia's pledge of
five attack helicopters. This pledge has not yet translated
into a concrete offer due to the need for night vision
modifications.
6. (C) FGS responded favorably to a suggestion that the
United States could send an assessment mission to Addis with
a representative from a partner country to determine the
scope of the night vision modifications necessary prior to
deployment. USUN MilAd again raised this issue with likely
contributors in a Friends of UNAMID informal discussion on
11/6. The UKUN mil ad responded that the UK is interested in
contributing 1 million (pounds) toward Ethiopian
modifications and would like to proceed with an assessment
mission to Addis to determine the scope, cost and timeline
for modifications. UN representatives at the Friends of
UNAMID meeting asked to be included on this assessment trip
if and when it occurs. USUN/MSC is prepared to send a
representative on such a visit and recommends action be taken
quickly in order to secure the UK contribution, which must be
obligated by the end of 2008.
Khalilzad
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/05/2018
TAGS: AF PGOV PREL SU NSC UNSC KPKO MOPS
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON AIRLIFT AND MISSING ASSETS FOR UNAMID
Classified By: Ambassador Rosemary A. DiCarlo for reasons 1.4 (b) and (
d).
1. (C) Summary: USUN Military Staff Committee (MSC) Political
Officer and Senior advisor for Special Envoy's office spoke
with UN Secretariat Staff regarding the US airlift offers and
the Ethiopian helicopter pledge. UN officials told USUN (1)
60% deployment by year end is contingent upon US airlift and
(2) Ethiopian helicopters can not be used in Darfur unless
they are upgraded with night flying capabilities. End Summary.
2. (C) U.S. AIRLIFT
In a meeting with Lt Col Tim House of UN Force Generation
Services, US reps (political officer, military advisor and
Senior advisor for Special Envoy's office) discussed the
status of UNAMID's deployment following a Friends of UNAMID
meeting with U/SYG Malcorra on 10/30 (Septel).
3.(C) The FGS officer said the outstanding U.S. offer of
airlift is "vital" and that the UN objective of 60 percent
UNAMID deployment by the end of 2008 will not be met without
the U.S. provision of airlift. He was referring to the offers
to airlift the backlog of containers of equipment from El
Obeid into Darfur. He reiterated that the request was made of
the United States to provide reimbursable airlift because of
the ability of the United States to provide political
pressure on TCCs and the GOS and expedite the deployment.
4. (C) The FGS officer argued that some discussions about
UNAMID's deployment have irresponsibly focused on troop
numbers as opposed to operational capacity. The U.S. airlift
of equipment (Rwandan equipment and containers from El Obeid)
will ensure that incoming peacekeepers are not just added
boots on the ground -- it will expedite the provision of
equipment necessary to improve the mission's capabilities.
5. (C) HELICOPTERS: A STEP FORWARD ON ETHIOPIAN ATTACK HELO
The missing assets for UNAMID were also addressed by the FGS
officer, who said the key priority is Ethiopia's pledge of
five attack helicopters. This pledge has not yet translated
into a concrete offer due to the need for night vision
modifications.
6. (C) FGS responded favorably to a suggestion that the
United States could send an assessment mission to Addis with
a representative from a partner country to determine the
scope of the night vision modifications necessary prior to
deployment. USUN MilAd again raised this issue with likely
contributors in a Friends of UNAMID informal discussion on
11/6. The UKUN mil ad responded that the UK is interested in
contributing 1 million (pounds) toward Ethiopian
modifications and would like to proceed with an assessment
mission to Addis to determine the scope, cost and timeline
for modifications. UN representatives at the Friends of
UNAMID meeting asked to be included on this assessment trip
if and when it occurs. USUN/MSC is prepared to send a
representative on such a visit and recommends action be taken
quickly in order to secure the UK contribution, which must be
obligated by the end of 2008.
Khalilzad