ECUADOR: MANTA FORWARD OPERATING LOCATION

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 013944 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL MARR MOPS SNAR EC SUBJECT: ECUADOR: MANTA FORWARD OPERATING LOCATION WITHDRAWAL TIMELINE REF: QUITO 33 ¶1. (U) The following points respond to Embassy Quito's request (reftel) for a timeline for the withdrawal from the Manta Forward Operating Location, as well as other information. Post may share these points with GOE counterparts. ¶2. (U) TALKING POINTS: MANTA FOL WITHDRAWAL -------------- -- The U.S. Air Force has recommended to the U.S. Department of Defense ending FOL activities on 30 September, 2009. -- USAF has therefore recommended ending flight operations on 17 July, 2009, to permit time to conclude all FOL activities by 30 September. -- When U.S. air operations cease, associated U.S.-provided services (e.g. air traffic control liaison, bird aircraft strike hazard (BASH) programs, and crash/fire rescue) will also end. -- DOD will provide specifics on what equipment might be declared excess to DOD requirements by April 2009. -- U.S. laws, DOD regulations and ongoing DOD operational requirements will, however, necessitate removing lifesaving equipment (e.g. fire suppression, ambulance services) communications and security systems (e.g. cameras.) -- Equipment which is installed as part of a "facility" under the terms of the FOL Agreement will remain installed and thus transfer to Ecuadorian control, unless there is a specific DOD requirement for use of such equipment elsewhere. -- These dates are subject to change if circumstances require, but represent the best estimated timeline currently available. -- We request that you coordinate with the Embassy MilGroup Commander and the FOL Commander on what kinds of training might be needed regarding any equipment which may be transferred from U.S. to Ecuadorian control at the end of FOL operations. FOL personnel on site will do their best to provide training on basic equipment operation, as long as such training does not interfere with ongoing operations or actions required as part of the withdrawal. DOD cannot, however, provide advanced or specialized training nor training that may be required from private manufacturers, contractors or service providers. ¶3. (SBU) Additional Background for U.S. Embassy and FOL Personnel -------------- --- -- USAF recommendations regarding disposition of uninstalled equipment at FOL Manta are due to DOD mid-March 2009. The �A;recommendations will outline equipment needed to meet DOD requirements outside Ecuador and excess equipment which may be transferred to Ecuadorian ownership. -- DOD plans for FOL facilities and real property to be turned over to the Ecuadorian Air Force in "working order" at transfer. This means the facilities and installed equipment to be transferred will work as intended, but it does not mean that DOD will necessarily transfer all non-installed equipment which may be needed to operate the facility if such non-installed equipment is required for DOD operations outside Ecuador. -- U.S. law and regulations require certain categories of equipment to be removed, including lifesaving (e.g. STATE 00013944 002 OF 002 firefighting) communications and security systems (e.g. cameras.) Such equipment is required for ongoing DOD operations. -- Items at the FOL identified by DOD as excess to its requirements can be made available to the U.S. Embassy MilGroup for transfer to Ecuadorians. USAF will make recommendations to DOD on what equipment and property it considers to be excess, but final decisions will be coordinated by DOD. Preliminary recommendations must therefore be held exclusively within the USG until decisions are final. -- According to U.S. law, any items declared to be excess will be treated "as is/where is," meaning that DOD will not pay to transport, store, maintain or recondition the equipment nor incur any other costs potentially associated with its transfer. -- DOD has no objection to using DOD CN funds to provide limited training for Ecuadorian personnel to operate equipment to be transferred at the end of the FOL Agreement. The FOL Commander should make recommendations through existing USAF channels to DOD for decision regarding the extent of such training and estimated costs, if any. The DOD CN program will not, however, assume any responsibility for training, maintenance, safety certifications or any other activities associated with transfer of the FOL past the end of the FOL Agreement period. -- DOD has no objection to the FOL Commander -- without need for further authorization -- granting access to Ecuadorian personnel at his discretion to view any FOL facilities (or blueprints, diagrams, etc.) as part of coordination and preparation for transfer of facilities under the terms of the existing FOL Agreement. Any actual request by Ecuadorian personnel to utilize such facilities before 30 September 2009, on the other hand, should be referred to DOD for decision along with the FOL Commander's evaluation on whether granting such a request in part or in whole may risk impeding ongoing operations or the U.S. withdrawal. -- DOD has no objection to the GOE request that the U.S. Embassy and/or the FOL Commander provide information regarding community outreach or similar activities conducted by FOL personnel, at the discretion and best judgment of the FOL Commander without need for further authorization. -- As the drawdown proceeds in the months ahead, DOD and State understand and agree that the Ambassador and U.S. Embassy in Quito will continue to coordinate directly with the FOL regarding issues as they arise, while FOL personnel will continue to operate under the established military chain of command. CLINTON