US STAFF OFFICERS NEED CUSTOMS CLEARANCE FOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L USUN NEW YORK 001147 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/08/2018 TAGS: AF PGOV PREL SU NSC UNSC KPKO MOPS SUBJECT: US STAFF OFFICERS NEED CUSTOMS CLEARANCE FOR WEAPONS REF: KHARTOUM 01710 Classified By: Ambassador Rosemary A. DiCarlo for reasons 1.4 (b) and ( d). ¶1. (C) Summary: After months of waiting USUN Military Staff Committee (MSC) was notified on 17 NOV by UN Force Generation Services (FGS) that the 8 US Military Staff Officers deploying in support of the UN/AU Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) have been issued letters of approval by the GOS for visas on arrival. A remaining issue must be resolved prior to the deployment of these officers: United States Military observer Group-Washington (USMOG-W) will not deploy US military personnel to high threat level UN missions without side arms. USUN MSC has submitted customs clearance request through UN FGS for the weapons. End Summary. ¶2. (C) FGS notified USUN MSC on 17 NOV that the 8 US Military Staff Officers submitted to FGS were provided with letters of approval for Sudanese visas to be issued upon arrival in Sudan. MSC questioned FGS on the feasibility of this process because Sudanese visas are required by airlines in order to board plains destined for Sudan. FGS assured USUN MSC that visas have been issued upon arrival for other military officers and providing military orders and the letter of approval would alleviate the problem posed by the airlines. FGS also requested that the U.S. refrain from using Egypt air when making travel arrangements for the eight officers. (Note: Egypt Air, according to FGS, has not been receptive to accepting approval upon arrival letters over visa stamped passports. End Note) ¶3. (C) To address the USMOG-W requirement for the provision of side arms for U.S. military personnel, USUN MSC obtained a Note Verbale from the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operation in JAN 08 stating that US officers assigned to UNAMID military staff may carry side arms. USUN submitted a request initially on 4 January 2008 and then again on 8 May, 2008 for the second group of officers. USUN submitted the request through FGS to get approval from Sudanese customs to allow the officers to bring side arms to Sudan. USUN has not received a response from FGS and when queried FGS stated they had not received a response from the Deputy Chief of Military Personnel for UNAMID in Khartoum. In a meeting with Under Secretary Generals (USYG) for the UN Department of Peace Keeping Operations (DPKO),the Department of Fields Services (DFS),the UN Military Advisor and the UNAMID Joint Special Representative on 2 DEC, USUN MSC representative inquired as to the status of the customs clearance. USYG for DFS Susanna Malcorra assured MSC rep that she would follow up with UNAMID regarding the status of customs clearance (Septel). ¶4. (C) Comment: USUN has not been able to obtain any correspondence from UNAMID HQ to the Sudanese MFA regarding side arms. USUN will provide all information that can be obtained in NY and follow up with USYG Malcorra,s assurances. Embassy Khartoum may wish to consider following up with UNAMID HQ in Khartoum when USUN confirms that Note Vebales have been sent from NY to UNAMID. Department may wish to have Embassy Khartoum also engage with the Sudanese MFA to obtain customs clearance for these weapons. End Comment. Khahilzad