OUR CLOSEST ALLIES? MEETING WITH INCOMING BRITISH

S E C R E T FREETOWN 000082

NOFORN
SIPDIS
C O R R E C T E D COPY CAPTION
DEPARTMENT FOR AF/W (JHUNTER/ESPRUILL)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/04/2019
TAGS: SNAR PREL PGOV UK SL
SUBJECT: OUR CLOSEST ALLIES? MEETING WITH INCOMING BRITISH
HIGH COMMISSIONER

REF: 08 FREETOWN 552

Classified By: Ambassador June Carter Perry for reason 1.4 (B)


1. (C) Incoming British High Commissioner Ian Hughes paid
an office call on the Ambassador February 25. Deputy High
Commissioner Rachel Cooper and DCM Glenn Fedzer also
attended. The Ambassador discussed President Obama and
Secretary Clinton's foreign policy objectives and areas of
mutual interest in Sierra Leone, but concerns over support of
UNIPSIL and the actions taken with two narco-traffickers were
the key items of discussion.


2. (S/NF) High Commissioner Hughes conceded that HMG had
not supported USG efforts to have two narco-traffickers
currently under U.S. indictment expelled from Sierra Leone
and turned over to the DEA. The indictments were prepared
expeditiously at the request of Sierra Leone's President,
Ernest Bai Koroma, and presented in November (REFTEL).
British diplomats consulted during the process said their
position on the issue had to come from London; Hughes'
comments were the first indication that London had decided to
oppose the expulsion requests. Post had earlier suspected
Sierra Leone's sudden intransigence to what had been their
own request came from British prodding. Hughes hinted that
the British preference had been to put the traffickers on
trial, and while still unable to support the expulsions,
might be able to "work around" the problem following the
conviction of the traffickers.


3. (C) In a discussion of support for UNIPSIL (United
Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office for Sierra Leone),
Hughes revealed that HMG had advocated the reduction of
helicopters (from two to one) assigned in support of UNIPSIL.
The Ambassador explained that very poor infrastructure
limited accessibility to many places in Sierra Leone. Many
locations were also the focal point of numerous NGO and IFI
projects and expatriate staff. The Ambassador noted as well
that at least two aircraft were required if
regularly-scheduled routine maintenance were to be
maintained, and that in case of emergency the diplomatic
corps may have to look to the UN for evacuation assistance.
(We note that Hughes' predecessor had expressed these
concerns in a diplomatic corps meeting at the UN in
mid-2008.) Hughes, who noted his son flew on helicopters
frequently as a member of the U.S. Army, promised to look
into supporting our position.


4. (S/NF) Overall, High Commissioner Hughes set an
excellent starting tone for bilateral cooperation in Sierra
Leone, but concerns remain. It is notable that British
objections were influential enough to convince President
Koroma to back off his initial request to the U.S, and
troubling that it appears HMG may still oppose the expulsions
following the trial. It is likely their position stems from
the considerable investment made by HMG to restructure and
revitalize Sierra Leone's justice sector; however, they risk
quite a blow to their image should the traffickers buy
themselves an acquittal or an expedited escape. If the trial
ends in a conviction, the British may be more helpful, loudly
declaring victory for themselves and quietly supporting
Sierra Leone in passing the traffickers on to more secure
circumstances in the United States.
PERRY