AFGHANISTAN TRANSIT - REQUEST FOR GENERAL

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 092632 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/04/2019 TAGS: MARR PREL US RS AF SUBJECT: AFGHANISTAN TRANSIT - REQUEST FOR GENERAL AUTHORIZATION REF: STATE Classified By: EUR A/S Philip Gordon, reasons 1.4(b) and (d). ¶1. (U) This is an action request. Please see paragraphs 2 and 5. ¶2. (SBU) Summary: Embassy is requested to present to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) the request for General Authorization for transit of military equipment and personnel to Afghanistan. End Summary GENERAL AUTHORIZATION REQUEST -------------- ¶3. (SBU) The Afghanistan Transit Agreement signed in July identifies the contents of a General Authorization request in Article 2, paragraph 3. The draft request for General Authorization in paragraph 6 below was prepared by USTRANSCOM in consultation with the State Department and fulfills the requirements stated in the agreement. ¶4. (S/NF) The draft request intentionally contains a low level of specificity. Since this General Authorization may be automatically renewed annually, a broad authorization will give USTRANSCOM greater flexibility and eliminate the need to renegotiate a General Authorization or to seek a one-time authorizationshould our needs in Afghanistan change. USTRANSCOM understands that the MFA may request more detail on the cargoes to be carried and is prepared to provide that detail if requested. ACTION REQUEST -------------- ¶5. (C) Embassy is requested to provide the request for General Authorization in paragraph 6 below to the MFA. If the MFA requests more specificity, Embassy is requested to urge Russia to accept a lower level of specificity and to remind it that the categories of items that are prohibited are specified in the agreement. Embassy is requested to consult with USTRANSCOM on any proposed changes to the General Authorization, as these may affect its operational ability. ¶6. (SBU/REL RUSSIA) BEGIN DRAFT TEXT OF THE REQUEST FOR GENERAL AUTHORIZATION a) General description of the anticipated destinations: The ultimate destination of all cargo and personnel transiting Russia under this general authorization is the U.S. Armed Forces in Afghanistan. Some flights would first stop at the transit center in Manas, Kyrgyzstan. The main destinations within Afghanistan are Bagram Air Base, Kandahar Air Base, Kabul Air Base, and Bastion Air Base. Other airfields within Afghanistan may also be used to a lesser extent. b) General description of the cargoes and personnel anticipated to be transported: Cargoes to be transported include armaments, military equipment, and military property, including small arms, ammunition, other weapons, uniforms and other clothing, and logistical support equipment. Personnel to be transported include members of the U.S. Armed Forces, U.S. Government employees, and personnel contracted by the U.S. Government to support operations in Afghanistan. c) General address and a general indication of the information of the recipient of the armaments, military equipment, and military property: Commander, International Assistance Security Force/U.S. Forces Afghanistan Kabul, Afghanistan STATE 00092632 002 OF 002 d) Planned period during which transits will occur: 1 October 2009 - 30 September 2010 e) Anticipated general transit routes: Along the established airways of the Russian Federation on the most direct route between entry and exit points. Where no airway exists, along the most direct route approved by the Russian Federation. f) Access points, and if necessary, locations for intermediate landing of the aircraft in the territory of the Russian Federation (airports and airfields open to international transport) selected from a list provided by the Russian Party. For flights to/from Western United States: North: ABERI, LISKI, NIKIN, ORVIT, VALDA South: DAKIN, BOKIS For flights to/from Eastern United States: West: KOMEK, NOTAR, BODLA, KELEK, ADEMA East: LANOR, GUTAN, MULTA, BEBLU, ARISA For flights to/from Western Europe: West: GUKOL, TAMAK East: OBATA, AZABI Airfields: Ul'yanovsk (Vostochnyy) Kazan Krasnoyarsk (Yemel'yanovo) Novosibirsk (Tolmachevo) END DRAFT TEXT OF GENERAL AUTHORIZATION REQUEST POINT OF CONTACT -------------- ¶4. (U) Please contact Daniel Wartko in PM/RSAT at (202) 647-6391 or via email at WartkoDJ@state.sgov.gov for further background information. CLINTON