GERMANY CONCERNED HOW ALLEGED SUDAN CONVOY ATTACK

C O N F I D E N T I A L BERLIN 000365


DEPARTMENT PASS TO NEA/IPA TOM GOLDBERGER, NEA/RA ROBERT
ADLER; T FOR CONSTANTINOS NICOLAIDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/27/2019
TAGS: EUN MOPS NATO PREL GM IS SU
SUBJECT: GERMANY CONCERNED HOW ALLEGED SUDAN CONVOY ATTACK
COULD AFFECT GAZA SMUGGLING INTERDICTION EFFORTS

REF: STATE 25578

Classified By: Deputy Political Counselor Stan Otto for reasons 1.4 (b,
d).


1. (C) POLOFF met with MFA Deputy Director for Near East
Division Robert Doelger March 27 to discuss views on the Gaza
smuggling interdiction Program of Action (PoA) (reftel) and
the status of German efforts at assisting Egypt with land
border interdiction. Doelger asked POLOFF for any further
information on a March 26 Jerusalem Post report of an alleged
Israeli bombing in January of a convoy of trucks in Sudan
suspected of attempting to smuggle arms to Gaza. The
Jerusalem Post report also mentioned the Copenhagen/London
meetings on Gaza smuggling interdiction and named the
countries participating. Doelger expressed concern that
confirmation of the alleged Israeli attack on this convoy
could be problematic for countries participating in the
Copenhagen/London interdiction meetings as this would
indicate that Israel, which participates as an observer in
the interdiction group, had carried out unilateral actions
against smuggling. Doelger noted that the group has focused
on "rules of engagement" and transparency in the context of
interdiction efforts. He said that Germany is waiting for
more facts on the alleged attack before making any statements
or comments or drawing any conclusions. Important to know,
he said -- if the attack actually did occur -- is whether the
attack took place in the midst of the Gaza conflict or after
the United States signed the MOU with Israel in mid-January.


2. (C) Regarding the PoA, Doelger noted that the document is
still being discussed by the relevant government ministries.
He reiterated Germany's interest in Egyptian buy-in,
including to participate as an observer in the interdiction
meetings. He said that the MFA has discussed this issue with
Egyptian counterparts and that the Egyptians are less
negative about participating as observers than they had been,
particularly after seeing the PoA. Doelger stressed the need
for continuing to respect Egyptian sensitivities. Doelger
also repeated that Germany would likely limit its
participation in the PoA to intelligence sharing and
diplomatic support.


3. (C) POLOFF asked about the status of Germany's efforts to
assist Egypt with land border interdiction. Doelger said
that Egypt has accepted a German offer of sniffer dogs and
communications equipment, but that other aspects of the
program are pending due to Egyptian focus on U.S. tunnel
detection assistance. Doelger said that coordination on
assistance efforts is taking place between the U.S. and
German Embassies in Cairo.


Koenig