MACEDONIA: MOI ON ASSISTANCE TO PAKISTAN AND AFGHANISTAN

UNCLAS SKOPJE 000275 SIPDIS SCA/P FOR RICHARD "TREY" LYONS EUR/RPM FOR AARON COPE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL SMIG PARM PK AF MK SUBJECT: MACEDONIA: MOI ON ASSISTANCE TO PAKISTAN AND AFGHANISTAN REF: STATE 55654 ¶1. This is an action request. See para 4. ¶2. Per reftel, Charge met with Minister of Interior Gordana Jankuloska. In response to our question about donation, lease, or sale of any of Macedonia's four MoI Mi-171 helicopters (a variant of Mi-17) for use in Pakistan, Jankuloska thought the GoM would consider a lease. However, government approval was necessary, and any such transfer would have to be consistent with laws applicable to leases of government equipment. Because the helicopters had just been purchased, a sale would not be considered. Jankuloska said it would take 10-15 days to consider whether the GoM was willing and legally able to lease helicopters. ¶3. Macedonia has been a strong supporter of peace and stability operations, including in Afghanistan. Macedonian contributions have been primarily military, but the Ministry of Interior is seeking to provide assistance in the area of civilian policing as well. Jankuloska wrote Ambassador Reeker on June 1 expressing her Ministry's interest in joining efforts to improve policing in Afghanistan. In particular, the MoI has fifteen police officers with various skill sets who have been trained to take part in international missions. Although the GoM has approached potential European partners seeking inclusion in civilian policing missions, Macedonia has not been invited to join any. ¶4. Post requests that Department provide information on any opportunities to partner with U.S. civilian policing missions in Afghanistan, or other international partners that may prove to be the "right fit" with whom Macedonians to partner. NAVRATIL