Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08USUNNEWYORK76
2008-01-24 20:52:00
CONFIDENTIAL
USUN New York
Cable title:
UPDATE ON DARFUR PEACEKEEPING DEPLOYMENT FOR 24
how-toVZCZCXRO0481 PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHDU RUEHFL RUEHKUK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHRN RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHTRO DE RUCNDT #0076/01 0242052 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 242052Z JAN 08 ZFF4 FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3609 INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNFUR/DARFUR COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA PRIORITY 1574 RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO PRIORITY 0936 RUEHKH/AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM PRIORITY 1043 RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA PRIORITY 0988 RUEHTC/AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE PRIORITY 8981 RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J5/UNMA// PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 USUN NEW YORK 000076
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
IO AND AF FOR FRONT OFFICE; PLEASE PASS TO SE WILLIAMSON
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/24/2018
TAGS: AF PGOV PREL SU NSC UNSC KPKO MOPS
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON DARFUR PEACEKEEPING DEPLOYMENT FOR 24
JANUARY 2008
Classified By: Military Staff Committee Chief of Staff Colonel Mark Eas
ton for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 USUN NEW YORK 000076
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
IO AND AF FOR FRONT OFFICE; PLEASE PASS TO SE WILLIAMSON
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/24/2018
TAGS: AF PGOV PREL SU NSC UNSC KPKO MOPS
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON DARFUR PEACEKEEPING DEPLOYMENT FOR 24
JANUARY 2008
Classified By: Military Staff Committee Chief of Staff Colonel Mark Eas
ton for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (U) This is an action request. Please see paragraphs 3, 4
and 5.
2. (C) SUMMARY: This week saw limited progress in UNAMID
deployment planning by a number of TCCs including China,
Egypt and Bangladesh, and one potentially significant
development with the provision of helos coming out of Abuja;
the GOS continues to be problematic in a number of ways,
including with SOFA Negotiations. END SUMMARY.
3. (C) UNAMID Deployment update.
- China: The main body of Chinese engineers is due to arrive
in Darfur 23 March 2008. In the meantime, the advance party
of Chinese engineers reportedly has begun work on the super
camp.
- Egypt: According to the UN Darfur Integrated Operations
Team (IOT),Egyptian engineer, signal and heavy transport
company elements will begin to arrive in Darfur in February,
with respective main bodies following in mid-March. The
infantry battalion is scheduled to deploy advance elements in
March and complete deployment in April.
- Bangladesh: Multi-role logistics company scheduled to
deploy in April.
- Pakistan: The UN will revisit Pakistan's offer of an
aerial recce unit in the wake of last week's UKUN-hosted
helicopter donors' meeting. If donor countries will provide
Pakistan with the necessary equipment to upgrade its aerial
recce unit, the UN will accept it for the mission.
- Ethiopia: Infantry battalion will deploy in the
March/April time frame, provided that the UN Pre-deployment
Visit (PDV) goes as planned. The UN PDV is scheduled for
10-15 February
(ACTION REQUEST: USUN recommends Dept. request Embassy Addis
Ababa approach the GOE to confirm its readiness for the UN
PDV).
4. (C) Force Generation update.
--Helos: According to the UN Darfur IOT, Nigerian Military
Advisor (Brigadier General Obasa) in NY indicated that the
Government of Nigeria was considering providing ALL required
helicopter assets for UNAMID. USUN MSC contacted Gen Obasa
who confirmed that his government is considering the offer,
but he had no further details at this time
(ACTION REQUEST: USUN recommends Dept. request Embassy Abuja
approach the GON to determine the validity and viability of
this potential offer).
-Canadian APCs The IOT informed USUN that Canada and the UN
have entered into a 6 month wet lease agreement for the 100
APCs that Canada previously provided in support of AMIS.
While there are details still to be worked out, this APC
support should continue until June. IOT told USUN that after
6 moths the APCs utilized by the Rwandans would be turned
over to the Rwandans as Contingency Owned Equipment (COE).
The UN hopes Canada will do the same with the balance of the
APCs for the countries that are utilizing them. Additionally
the IOT informed USUN that the UK is requesting a partners
meeting in NY to discuss UNAMID/AMIS turnover issues. The
meeting is tentatively scheduled for the week of February
11th
(ACTION REQUEST: USUN recommends Dept. request Embassy Ottawa
approach the GOC to thank Canada for their support and
encourage Canada to donate the additional APCs to South
Africa and Nigeria).
5. (C) Ongoing hindrances by the Government of Sudan.
USUN NEW Y 00000076 002 OF 002
--The IOT informed USUN the GOS is attempting to expel UNAMID
Chief of Staff Brigadier General Patrick Davis-Houston (UK).
Apparently the GOS claims the UN did not use the proper
"vetting process" to assign Gen Davis-Houston to the post,
although the GOS evidently granted Davis-Houston a visa to
assume the post. Additionally, the IOT stated that the AU
also supports the GOS in this because "no AU candidates were
considered." General Agwai, however, had no problem with the
vetting process and wants to retain Davis-Houston.
(ACTION REQUEST: USUN recommends Dept. request USAU approach
the AU leadership to accept the COS and encourage AU to weigh
in accordingly with the GOS).
--Status of Forces Agreement: The UN lead negotiator has made
no progress with the Government of Sudan to accept the
standard SOFA agreement. The UN negotiator's assessment is
that the GOS has no intention of treating UNAMID as a
Peacekeeping Operation, and that the caveats the GOS is
attempting to write into the SOFA are unacceptable and will
not allow UNAMID to fulfill its mandate.
KHALILZAD
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
IO AND AF FOR FRONT OFFICE; PLEASE PASS TO SE WILLIAMSON
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/24/2018
TAGS: AF PGOV PREL SU NSC UNSC KPKO MOPS
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON DARFUR PEACEKEEPING DEPLOYMENT FOR 24
JANUARY 2008
Classified By: Military Staff Committee Chief of Staff Colonel Mark Eas
ton for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (U) This is an action request. Please see paragraphs 3, 4
and 5.
2. (C) SUMMARY: This week saw limited progress in UNAMID
deployment planning by a number of TCCs including China,
Egypt and Bangladesh, and one potentially significant
development with the provision of helos coming out of Abuja;
the GOS continues to be problematic in a number of ways,
including with SOFA Negotiations. END SUMMARY.
3. (C) UNAMID Deployment update.
- China: The main body of Chinese engineers is due to arrive
in Darfur 23 March 2008. In the meantime, the advance party
of Chinese engineers reportedly has begun work on the super
camp.
- Egypt: According to the UN Darfur Integrated Operations
Team (IOT),Egyptian engineer, signal and heavy transport
company elements will begin to arrive in Darfur in February,
with respective main bodies following in mid-March. The
infantry battalion is scheduled to deploy advance elements in
March and complete deployment in April.
- Bangladesh: Multi-role logistics company scheduled to
deploy in April.
- Pakistan: The UN will revisit Pakistan's offer of an
aerial recce unit in the wake of last week's UKUN-hosted
helicopter donors' meeting. If donor countries will provide
Pakistan with the necessary equipment to upgrade its aerial
recce unit, the UN will accept it for the mission.
- Ethiopia: Infantry battalion will deploy in the
March/April time frame, provided that the UN Pre-deployment
Visit (PDV) goes as planned. The UN PDV is scheduled for
10-15 February
(ACTION REQUEST: USUN recommends Dept. request Embassy Addis
Ababa approach the GOE to confirm its readiness for the UN
PDV).
4. (C) Force Generation update.
--Helos: According to the UN Darfur IOT, Nigerian Military
Advisor (Brigadier General Obasa) in NY indicated that the
Government of Nigeria was considering providing ALL required
helicopter assets for UNAMID. USUN MSC contacted Gen Obasa
who confirmed that his government is considering the offer,
but he had no further details at this time
(ACTION REQUEST: USUN recommends Dept. request Embassy Abuja
approach the GON to determine the validity and viability of
this potential offer).
-Canadian APCs The IOT informed USUN that Canada and the UN
have entered into a 6 month wet lease agreement for the 100
APCs that Canada previously provided in support of AMIS.
While there are details still to be worked out, this APC
support should continue until June. IOT told USUN that after
6 moths the APCs utilized by the Rwandans would be turned
over to the Rwandans as Contingency Owned Equipment (COE).
The UN hopes Canada will do the same with the balance of the
APCs for the countries that are utilizing them. Additionally
the IOT informed USUN that the UK is requesting a partners
meeting in NY to discuss UNAMID/AMIS turnover issues. The
meeting is tentatively scheduled for the week of February
11th
(ACTION REQUEST: USUN recommends Dept. request Embassy Ottawa
approach the GOC to thank Canada for their support and
encourage Canada to donate the additional APCs to South
Africa and Nigeria).
5. (C) Ongoing hindrances by the Government of Sudan.
USUN NEW Y 00000076 002 OF 002
--The IOT informed USUN the GOS is attempting to expel UNAMID
Chief of Staff Brigadier General Patrick Davis-Houston (UK).
Apparently the GOS claims the UN did not use the proper
"vetting process" to assign Gen Davis-Houston to the post,
although the GOS evidently granted Davis-Houston a visa to
assume the post. Additionally, the IOT stated that the AU
also supports the GOS in this because "no AU candidates were
considered." General Agwai, however, had no problem with the
vetting process and wants to retain Davis-Houston.
(ACTION REQUEST: USUN recommends Dept. request USAU approach
the AU leadership to accept the COS and encourage AU to weigh
in accordingly with the GOS).
--Status of Forces Agreement: The UN lead negotiator has made
no progress with the Government of Sudan to accept the
standard SOFA agreement. The UN negotiator's assessment is
that the GOS has no intention of treating UNAMID as a
Peacekeeping Operation, and that the caveats the GOS is
attempting to write into the SOFA are unacceptable and will
not allow UNAMID to fulfill its mandate.
KHALILZAD