Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10MONTEVIDEO104
2010-02-12 19:26:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Montevideo
Cable title:
Uruguay: Engaging on MINUSTAH
how-toVZCZCXYZ0001 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHMN #0104 0431930 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 121926Z FEB 10 FM AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0224 INFO MERCOSUR COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS MONTEVIDEO 000104
SIPDIS
FOR IO/PSC
WHA FOR MCMULLEN
WHA/BSC FOR DRUCKER/DASCHBACH
WHA/PD FOR DICKSON
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL MARR MCAP EAID MASS HA UY
SUBJECT: Uruguay: Engaging on MINUSTAH
REF: STATE 12558
(SBU) Ambassador Nelson met with Defense Minister Gonzalo Fernandez
February 11. On Haiti, Fernandez emphasized Uruguay's commitment
to the relief effort, and provided the following answers to the
questions posed in reftel:
-------------- Firmness: What is the status of each country's offer? What
kind of unit/specialization, and what numbers?
Firm. The Uruguayans have offered to send an engineering company
of 155 troops.
However, Fernandez said that he learned February 10 that the UN has
yet to accept the Uruguayan troop offer. The UN call for 1,800
troops has been oversubscribed, Fernandez continued, meaning that
he had to order a halt to departure preparations until the UN
confirms the need for the extra Uruguayan troops. Fernandez
explained that Uruguay will have to spend approximately USD 2
million in preparation and deployment of the 155 troops, and the
GOU cannot commit such a sum of money without being certain that
the UN will eventually assume those costs.
Apart from troops, the GOU is sending its largest naval vessel, the
Artigas, to Haiti with a load of humanitarian supplies. The
Artigas will depart Montevideo February 21 for the eighteen-day
voyage, and will be carrying a cargo of water purification
machines, large generators, and medicines that the GOU is donating
to the relief effort. Fernandez noted that the ship will likely
have to offload its cargo in the Dominican Republic, as Haiti's
ports will not be sufficiently operational to receive the vessel.
-------------- Sustainability: How long would these forces be prepared to
remain in Haiti?
They, or their potential successors, can remain in Haiti as long as
the UN is able to pay for them.
-------------- Lift: Do they have sea and/or airlift capacity? What would
need to be done in order to speed their deployment?
The GOU is planning to employ contract air to deploy the troops.
The GOU's idea is for the UN to reimburse the cost of a commercial
air flight that will ferry the troops and all their equipment to
Haiti. There has been no discussion about how the troops will
return to Uruguay.
-------------- Enabling: What training or equipment do the forces require to
be self-sustaining and effective?
The attached spreadsheet contains the list of equipment needs the
GOU presented to the UN for the planned deployment of 155 troops.
-------------- Arrival: When would the forces be operational in Haiti?
On or around April 1, 2010.
Nelson
SIPDIS
FOR IO/PSC
WHA FOR MCMULLEN
WHA/BSC FOR DRUCKER/DASCHBACH
WHA/PD FOR DICKSON
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL MARR MCAP EAID MASS HA UY
SUBJECT: Uruguay: Engaging on MINUSTAH
REF: STATE 12558
(SBU) Ambassador Nelson met with Defense Minister Gonzalo Fernandez
February 11. On Haiti, Fernandez emphasized Uruguay's commitment
to the relief effort, and provided the following answers to the
questions posed in reftel:
-------------- Firmness: What is the status of each country's offer? What
kind of unit/specialization, and what numbers?
Firm. The Uruguayans have offered to send an engineering company
of 155 troops.
However, Fernandez said that he learned February 10 that the UN has
yet to accept the Uruguayan troop offer. The UN call for 1,800
troops has been oversubscribed, Fernandez continued, meaning that
he had to order a halt to departure preparations until the UN
confirms the need for the extra Uruguayan troops. Fernandez
explained that Uruguay will have to spend approximately USD 2
million in preparation and deployment of the 155 troops, and the
GOU cannot commit such a sum of money without being certain that
the UN will eventually assume those costs.
Apart from troops, the GOU is sending its largest naval vessel, the
Artigas, to Haiti with a load of humanitarian supplies. The
Artigas will depart Montevideo February 21 for the eighteen-day
voyage, and will be carrying a cargo of water purification
machines, large generators, and medicines that the GOU is donating
to the relief effort. Fernandez noted that the ship will likely
have to offload its cargo in the Dominican Republic, as Haiti's
ports will not be sufficiently operational to receive the vessel.
-------------- Sustainability: How long would these forces be prepared to
remain in Haiti?
They, or their potential successors, can remain in Haiti as long as
the UN is able to pay for them.
-------------- Lift: Do they have sea and/or airlift capacity? What would
need to be done in order to speed their deployment?
The GOU is planning to employ contract air to deploy the troops.
The GOU's idea is for the UN to reimburse the cost of a commercial
air flight that will ferry the troops and all their equipment to
Haiti. There has been no discussion about how the troops will
return to Uruguay.
-------------- Enabling: What training or equipment do the forces require to
be self-sustaining and effective?
The attached spreadsheet contains the list of equipment needs the
GOU presented to the UN for the planned deployment of 155 troops.
-------------- Arrival: When would the forces be operational in Haiti?
On or around April 1, 2010.
Nelson