RESPONSE CABLE: ANTIGUA AIR STATION LEASE RENEWAL

UNCLAS BRIDGETOWN 000002 SIPDIS SLUG FOR: JONATHAN MITCHELL AT MITCHELLJA2@STATE.SGOV.GOV, WALTER EARLE AT WALTER.EARLE@OSD.SMIL.MIL, THOMAS HEROLD AT HEROLDTC@STATE.SGOV.GOV, AND BART WAGER AT JAMES.WAGER@OSD.SMIL.MIL E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: MARR PREL XL SUBJECT: RESPONSE CABLE: ANTIGUA AIR STATION LEASE RENEWAL REF: A. SECSTATE 134187 ¶B. STATE-EMBASSY EMAILS OF 12/19/08 AND PREVIOUS ¶C. EMBASSY-AFSPC EMAIL OF 5/13/08 ¶1. (U) Post received a Diplomatic Note responding to DOD,s request for a 90 day extension of the lease for the United States Air Force maintained facility in Antigua and Barbuda, as well as the U.S.-Antigua Defense Areas and Facilities Agreement, both of which expire on December 31, 2008 (Ref A). ¶2. (U) Text from Diplomatic Note numbered 396, dated 29 December 2008 follows: (Complimentary opening) refer to the Embassy's note No. 120 of 24th December 2008, requesting an interim extension of the current lease for 90 days of the Defence areas and facilities agreement. The Ministry wishes to confirm that the 90 days extension has been granted and would also wish to propose the release of some parcels of unused lands by the United States Government. (Complimentary closing) ¶3. (U) The Embassy is seeking clarification concerning the parcels of "unused" land referenced in the diplomatic note, and is seeking confirmation that the note also commits Antigua to continue applying the provisions of the existing Defense Areas and Facilities Agreement throughout the extension period; we will report any updates as they are received. OURISMAN