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