UN REQUESTS NATO ASSISTANCE FOR CONGO MISSION

C O N F I D E N T I A L USNATO 000512 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/10/2019 TAGS: PREL MASS MCAP MOPS MARR PINS PGOV UN NATO CG, TZ, XA SUBJECT: UN REQUESTS NATO ASSISTANCE FOR CONGO MISSION Classified By: A/Political Advisor A. "Hoot" Baez. Reason: 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (SBU) On November 6, NATO Assistant Secretary General for Operations Martin Howard distributed to Allies a United Nations request for NATO assistance in the form of equipment and training aids for a unit of 200 Tanzanian trainers that will train the armed forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This training would be conducted consistent with relevant UN Security Council Resolutions. Two annexes were attached to the request, listing the equipment and training aids required (e-mailed to EUR/RPM). In his cover note, Howard said that he would raise this issue at an upcoming meeting of NATO's Policy Coordination Group (PCG). ¶2. (C/NF) Comment: It is not clear why the request, which was sent in September, was held for so long by the NATO Private Office or International Staff, nor why it is now being finally released to Allies. Perhaps the upcoming PCG meeting will clarify these points. ¶3. (C/NF) Comment Continued: This is one of the very few instances where the UN has directly requested NATO support since the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the two organizations. Since it is not even known whether the September request has been overtaken by events or reflects continuing needs, it is difficult to predict what Allied reaction in the PCG discussion will be. If fact, most Allies will probably be waiting to hear what Howard has to say on the matter before forming national positions. Regardless, we should welcome the UN's request as evidence that the relationship between the two organizations is growing, however tentatively. Any NATO response should serve to encourage a further deepening of NATO-UN relations. We may also wish to consider how we could use such requests as political leverage in our efforts to overcome the theological resistance by some Allies -- particularly France -- to an appropriate NATO role in Africa. End Comment. ¶4. (SBU) The text of the UN's request (minus the detailed annexes) follows: BEGIN TEXT Reference: DPKO/OMA/2009/1670 The Secretariat of the United Nations presents its compliments to the Secretary General of NATO and has the honour to refer to the support and contributions to the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC). The Secretariat would like to inform NATO that Tanzania is planning to deploy a unit of 200 trainers for training the armed forces of the Government of Democratic Republic of Congo (GoDRC) vide SCR 1843. This unit is required to deploy by mid-December 2009, to commence training of GoDRC's troops by January 2010. Government of Tanzania has indicated its inability to provide Contingent Owned Equipment and training aids required for this unit, and has requested support from MONUC and member states. Lists of COE and training aids are attached at Annexes A and B respectively. Should NATO wish to participate in supporting the Government of Tanzania in equipping the unit, confirmation to this effect may be sent to Office of Military Affairs/Department of Peacekeeping Operations not later than 08 October 2009. The Secretariat of the United Nations avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Secretary General of NATO the assurances of its highest consideration. //S// (Note: Signature is illegible. End note) 17 September 2009 END TEXT DAALDER