Uruguayan Engagement on Haiti Continues

UNCLAS MONTEVIDEO 000060 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AEMR ASEC MARR PREL KPKO HA UY SUBJECT: Uruguayan Engagement on Haiti Continues ¶1. Uruguay continues to participate proactively in the Haitian relief effort. The GOU is preparing to send the command and control ship ROU 04 General Artigas, in addition to the 1,200 peacekeeping troops already in country and the two large water purification units that are set to be sent via Brazilian transport in the coming days. ¶2. The remains of Leuitenant Coronel Gonzalo Martirene, a Uruguayan officer who was killed in the collapse of the UN Headquarters, will be repatriated January 26. Incoming Minister of Defense Luis Rosadilla will travel to Port au Prince January 28 to visit the Uruguayan peacekeepers and assess needs. ¶3. In ongoing efforts to support Uruguayan aid to Haiti, on January 25, post expedited visas for five water purification system operators who will be traveling to install and operate two water purification systems in Haiti in conjunction with Uruguayan peacekeeping troops' efforts. Embassy Montevideo has dispatched one local voucher specialist and one local procurement specialist to lighten the Department's administrative burden. From Montevideo, Embassy staff have been able to assist the Department by translating important press documents. Other Embassy staff stand by to aid in the relief effort as needed. Matthewman