FY10 1206 FUNDS REQUEST FOR LATVIAN COMMUNICATIONS

UNCLAS RIGA 000482 C O R R E C T E D C O P Y (TEXT - PARAGRAPH 2) SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/CE, EUR/NB DEPARTMENT FOR PM/PPA JOHANNA KNOCH AND SCOTT KWAK JCS J5 FOR COL MIETUS; SECDEF FOR LT COL FENTON USDP:DSCA/ERASA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: MASS MCAP PREL LG SUBJECT: FY10 1206 FUNDS REQUEST FOR LATVIAN COMMUNICATIONS CAPABILITY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM REF: SECSTATE 92407 ¶1. Post has submitted a request for 1.5 million USD in 1206 funding to materially increase the Latvian Operational Mentoring and Liaison Team (OMLT),Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC) and Special Operations Forces (SOF) multiband and high frequency communications capabilities for current and future NATO ISAF and other operations in key theaters worldwide. The Country Team has reviewed the request and concurs with the document submitted to EUCOM for approval. ¶2. This request has Chief of Mission approval. There is a critical need for OMLT and SOF with JTAC teams in ISAF. Latvia has already deployed two OMLTs to ISAF in partnership with the Michigan National Guard and has scheduled a third deployment in spring 2010. In using 1206 funds to support this program, the USG will significantly enhance this NATO partner,s ability to effectively operate in stability operations abroad and provide improved regional defense capabilities. Post is not aware of any credible evidence of gross violations of human rights by the units who are proposed to receive assistance. ¶3. Latvia is facing another round of cuts in its 2010 defense budget as a consequence of a severe economic downturn. This additional funding will allow Latvia to continue to deploy much needed specialized units such as OMLTs, JTAC teams and special operations forces to Afghanistan with U.S.-interoperable communications packages without having to rely heavily on U.S. support. Additionally, this funding will fill a critical Latvian communications program shortage by providing sufficient high frequency and multiband radios to simultaneously support these deployments and effectively train the units for follow-on deployments. Without this funding, it is unlikely that this shortage will be filled in the near future by any other mechanism. ¶4. ODC Latvia POC for this project is LTC Thomas M. Butler at 371-6732-6299, butlertm@state.sgov.gov or tbutler@san.osd.mil. GARBER