Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09PORTLOUIS397
2009-12-07 11:22:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Port Louis
Cable title:
SEYCHELLES REQUESTS CONTINUED DEPLOYMENT OF US AIR
how-toVZCZCXRO9271 PP RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHRN RUEHTRO DE RUEHPL #0397 3411122 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 071122Z DEC 09 FM AMEMBASSY PORT LOUIS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4874 INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RHMFISS/CJTF HOA PRIORITY RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L PORT LOUIS 000397
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/04/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHSA PBTS MARR SO SE
SUBJECT: SEYCHELLES REQUESTS CONTINUED DEPLOYMENT OF US AIR
ASSETS
REF: PORT LOUIS 394
Classified By: CDA BARRIE WALKLEY FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L PORT LOUIS 000397
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/04/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHSA PBTS MARR SO SE
SUBJECT: SEYCHELLES REQUESTS CONTINUED DEPLOYMENT OF US AIR
ASSETS
REF: PORT LOUIS 394
Classified By: CDA BARRIE WALKLEY FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)
1. (C) SUMMARY: In a December 02 meeting with the Charge,
Seychelles President James Michel praised US assistance in
combating Somali piracy, supported the presence of US UAVs
and requested the continued deployment of P-3s (currently
scheduled to conclude December 22). Secretary-of-State Jean
Paul Adam believes that any "information sharing" that
results in frustrating an act of piracy will be "a public
relations coup." Wavel Ramkalawan, leader of the political
opposition in parliament, also fully supports the continued
deployment of US assets in the Seychelles. END SUMMARY.
2. (C) James Michel, President of the Seychelles, met with
Charge Walkley December 02 to discuss, among other matters,
the deployment of US air assets in the Seychelles. (FYI:
Those assets currently consist of 3 UAVs, 3 P-3s and
approximately 170 personnel). Michel praised the US for
assistance in combating Somali piracy, which he described as
a "regional scourge affecting safety, trade and the economy,"
and added that he believes the US air assets operating out of
the Seychelles "serve as a deterrent to increased piracy,
giving the people of the Seychelles a sense of security."
Michel said he was aware that the P-3s are on a 60-day
mission in the Seychelles, a mission which would thus
conclude on December 22. He then made a specific plea that
the US consider extending the deployment of the P-3s -- or,
if that is not possible -- consider returning the P-3s to the
Seychelles in the near future.
3. (C) Michel said he is convinced that Somali pirates are
not/not using any of the outlying Seychelles islands as
bases, adding that there are Seychelles military and other
observers on the islands to deter/detect any pirate presence.
4. (C) In a separate meeting, the Charge discussed the US air
assets with Jean Paul Adam (Secretary-of-State and close
confidant of Michel, who participated in the meeting with the
President). Adam described the presence of the UAVs and the
P-3s as "mutually beneficial for the Seychelles and the US"
and added that any "information sharing" that directly
results in preventing an act of piracy will be "a marvelous
public relations coup." He said that anything close to
"real-time" information from the UAVs, P-3s or any other
source would be valuable to the Seychelles. Fearing that
de-classification issues regarding sources might hold up the
rapid transfer of information concerning pirate actions, Adam
said that the Seychelles does not need to know the source of
any information, only the information itself.
5. (C) Charge Walkley also met with Wavel Ramkalawan, leader
of the political opposition and head of the Seychelles
National Party. Ramkalawan said that his party -- along with
the great majority of the Seychellois -- fully supports the
recently-signed SOFA and the continued deployment of the UAV
and P-3 surveillance assets. Ramkalawan indicated that the
only opposition to the deployment of the UAVs and P-3s has
come from the New Democratic Party, a minor party which
received less than 2 per cent of the vote in the last
election and holds no seats in parliament.
6. (C) COMMENT: President Michel's willingness to meet the
Charge, barely two hours after a long flight back from Cuba,
is an indication of the importance Michel attaches to the
US-Seychelles relationship, including the military
relationship. He sees enhanced value in the deployment of US
assets and is sincere in supporting the presence of the UAVs
and in requesting continued deployment of the P-3s. Both
President Michel and Secretary-of-State Jean Paul Adam are
aware that the US assets in the Seychelles have multiple
missions and targets; they are discreet, however, in ensuring
that any public discussion of the assets focuses only on
anti-piracy capabilities.
WALKLEY
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/04/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHSA PBTS MARR SO SE
SUBJECT: SEYCHELLES REQUESTS CONTINUED DEPLOYMENT OF US AIR
ASSETS
REF: PORT LOUIS 394
Classified By: CDA BARRIE WALKLEY FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)
1. (C) SUMMARY: In a December 02 meeting with the Charge,
Seychelles President James Michel praised US assistance in
combating Somali piracy, supported the presence of US UAVs
and requested the continued deployment of P-3s (currently
scheduled to conclude December 22). Secretary-of-State Jean
Paul Adam believes that any "information sharing" that
results in frustrating an act of piracy will be "a public
relations coup." Wavel Ramkalawan, leader of the political
opposition in parliament, also fully supports the continued
deployment of US assets in the Seychelles. END SUMMARY.
2. (C) James Michel, President of the Seychelles, met with
Charge Walkley December 02 to discuss, among other matters,
the deployment of US air assets in the Seychelles. (FYI:
Those assets currently consist of 3 UAVs, 3 P-3s and
approximately 170 personnel). Michel praised the US for
assistance in combating Somali piracy, which he described as
a "regional scourge affecting safety, trade and the economy,"
and added that he believes the US air assets operating out of
the Seychelles "serve as a deterrent to increased piracy,
giving the people of the Seychelles a sense of security."
Michel said he was aware that the P-3s are on a 60-day
mission in the Seychelles, a mission which would thus
conclude on December 22. He then made a specific plea that
the US consider extending the deployment of the P-3s -- or,
if that is not possible -- consider returning the P-3s to the
Seychelles in the near future.
3. (C) Michel said he is convinced that Somali pirates are
not/not using any of the outlying Seychelles islands as
bases, adding that there are Seychelles military and other
observers on the islands to deter/detect any pirate presence.
4. (C) In a separate meeting, the Charge discussed the US air
assets with Jean Paul Adam (Secretary-of-State and close
confidant of Michel, who participated in the meeting with the
President). Adam described the presence of the UAVs and the
P-3s as "mutually beneficial for the Seychelles and the US"
and added that any "information sharing" that directly
results in preventing an act of piracy will be "a marvelous
public relations coup." He said that anything close to
"real-time" information from the UAVs, P-3s or any other
source would be valuable to the Seychelles. Fearing that
de-classification issues regarding sources might hold up the
rapid transfer of information concerning pirate actions, Adam
said that the Seychelles does not need to know the source of
any information, only the information itself.
5. (C) Charge Walkley also met with Wavel Ramkalawan, leader
of the political opposition and head of the Seychelles
National Party. Ramkalawan said that his party -- along with
the great majority of the Seychellois -- fully supports the
recently-signed SOFA and the continued deployment of the UAV
and P-3 surveillance assets. Ramkalawan indicated that the
only opposition to the deployment of the UAVs and P-3s has
come from the New Democratic Party, a minor party which
received less than 2 per cent of the vote in the last
election and holds no seats in parliament.
6. (C) COMMENT: President Michel's willingness to meet the
Charge, barely two hours after a long flight back from Cuba,
is an indication of the importance Michel attaches to the
US-Seychelles relationship, including the military
relationship. He sees enhanced value in the deployment of US
assets and is sincere in supporting the presence of the UAVs
and in requesting continued deployment of the P-3s. Both
President Michel and Secretary-of-State Jean Paul Adam are
aware that the US assets in the Seychelles have multiple
missions and targets; they are discreet, however, in ensuring
that any public discussion of the assets focuses only on
anti-piracy capabilities.
WALKLEY