LOGISTICS SHARING (ACSA): NICARAGUA READY TO SIGN

UNCLAS MANAGUA 000795 SIPDIS DEPT FOR WHA/CEN, WHA/PPC DEPT FOR L/PM AND L/T DEPT ALSO FOR PM SOUTHCOM FOR JAG AND POLAD-AMB TRIVELLI OSD FOR VANESSA MITCHELL AND OGC E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: MARR OPDC PREL MOPS NU SUBJECT: LOGISTICS SHARING (ACSA): NICARAGUA READY TO SIGN ¶1. (U) This is an ACTION REQUEST. Please see para 4 for action. ¶2. (U) On August 4, we received diplomatic correspondence (letter MRE/DGA-AN/0092/08/09) from the Nicaraguan Foreign Ministry (MINREX) responding to our request (diplomatic note number 2008-280, dated 12 December 2008) to conclude a logistics sharing and cross-services agreement (ACSA). Our unofficial English translation of the letter follows. A copy of this letter in Spanish has been passed to WHA/CEN and to the Southcom Political Advisor (POLAD). ¶3. (U) BEGIN TEXT OF EMBASSY UNOFFICIAL TRANSLATION Ministry of Foreign Affairs MRE/DGA-AN/0092/08/09 OGZ/RM/JR The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Nicaragua, Directorate General of the Americas, greets the Honorable Embassy of the United States of America, on the occasion of referring to communication No. 280, dated December 12, 2008 related to the Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA). In this sense, the Ministry informs the Honorable Embassy it concurs with the terms of the proposed agreement, as long as the following observations are considered: 1 - This agreement does not constitute an International Treaty, but is an Inter-Institutional Agreement. 2 - Revise page 3 of the Spanish translation, number 4 part b, the word "de" after "arriendo" is repeated. 3 - It is suggested to alternate the names of the signing institutions and coordinate with the parties for the respective signatures. As previously mentioned, this Ministry informs the honorable Embassy that the Army of Nicaragua is ready to sign this aforementioned agreement, and to this end you may contact this Ministry or Brigadier General Adolfo Jose Zepeda Martinez, Chief of Public Relations and Foreign Affairs of the Army of Nicaragua, to discuss the details for organizing the signing of the document. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Directorate General of the Americas, avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the honorable Embassy of the United States of America the assurances of its highest consideration. Managua, August 3, 2009 To the Honorable Embassy of the United States END OF EMBASSY UNOFFICIAL TRANSLATION ¶4. (U) ACTION REQUEST. With this official correspondence, the GON has now indicated its willingness to conclude and sign the bilateral ACSA as presented by the USG without substantive changes. We request Department provide instructions as to how to proceed toward concluding this agreement, including guidance as to who would sign for the USG. We note that U.S. Southern Command's Gen. Fraser is expected to be in Managua in early September to attend the 30th Anniversary of the founding of the Nicaraguan Military. An ACSA signing ceremony in conjunction with his projected visit presents an excellent opportunity to underscore the continued excellent partnership between the militaries of the United States and of Nicaragua. ¶5. (U) Embassy POCs for this issue are: Deputy Pol Counselor, Jesse Curtis (CurtisJS@state.sgov.gov) and U.S. Military Group Commander, LTC Michael Regan Michael.Regan@tcsc.southcom.smil.mil). CALLAHAN