PERU: FORCE GENERATION ISSUES TO REINFORCE UNPKO MISSION IN

UNCLAS LIMA 000171 SENSITIVE SIPDIS C O R R E C T E D COPY CAPTION DEPT ALSO FOR IO AND WHA/FO DAS CMCMULLEN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV SOCI MCAP MARR SNAR ASEC EFIN KJUS KPKO HA PE SUBJECT: PERU: FORCE GENERATION ISSUES TO REINFORCE UNPKO MISSION IN HAITI (MINUSTAH) REF: 10 STATE 012558; 10 LIMA 00067 ¶1. (SBU) This telegram responds to action request in paragraph 7 of Ref A. The information was provided by senior MINDEF officials and military officers. We understand that the GOP has already transmitted the information below to UNDPKO. ¶A. Firmness: What is the status of each country's offer? The offer appears to be a firm commitment. ¶B. What kind of unit/specialization, and what numbers? The offer is for 150 infantry soldiers to provide security. (Ninety troops from the Army, 30 Navy and 30 Air Force have already been selected.) ¶C. Sustainability: How long would these forces be prepared to remain in Haiti? For a two-month deployment with MINUSTAH. ¶D. Lift: Do they have sea and/or airlift capacity? What would need to be done in order to speed their deployment? Peru has both air and sea lift capabilities and says it does not need assistance to deploy its troops to Haiti . ¶E. Enabling: What training or equipment do the forces require to be self-sustaining and effective? Peru already has experience with MINUSTAH and maintains a PKO training center located in Ancon, near Lima. The Peruvians say they do not require any equipment. ¶F. Arrival: When would the forces be operational in Haiti? The first troops are expected to arrive NLT first week in March. Comment: ¶2. (SBU) Peru has been a GPOI partner since 2007 and some 216 Peruvians are currently serving with MINUSTAH. MOD Rafael is visiting Washington DC beginning on February 12, providing an opportunity to thank Peru for its efforts in Haiti and to learn more details about its upcoming deployments. At the February 9 Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) special summit in Quito, President Garcia pledged $10 million to Haiti for the reconstruction of schools as well as water and sanitation facilities. Garcia later received some domestic criticism for Peru's donations, since the cities of Ica and Pisco have not yet fully recovered from the 2007 earthquake. Peru has also recently been suffering from floods and mudslides provoked by the El NiC1o weather phenomenon. End Comment. Nealon