JAPAN RESPONSE: FORCE GENERATION ISSUES TO

UNCLAS TOKYO 000290 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR WHA/CAR - V. DE PIRRO E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV SOCI MCAP MARR SUBJECT: JAPAN RESPONSE: FORCE GENERATION ISSUES TO REINFORCE THE UN PEACEKEEPING MISSION IN HAITI (MINUSTAH) REF: SECSTATE 12558 ¶1. (U) Ministry of Foreign Affairs International Peace Cooperation Division Deputy Director Fumio Yamazaki confirmed the Japan Self Defense Force deployment in support of MINUSTAH is proceeding as described in reftel. An initial contingent of around 190 advance personnel departed Japan February 6. A group of around 40 arrived in Haiti February 8, with the remainder scheduled to arrive in stages by the end of the week. A second wave of 350 personnel, including 190 engineers and 160 support staff, is scheduled to relieve this group on or around February 25. ¶2. (U) Japan has also employed two Antovov heavy cargo planes to transport equipment, which departed Japan February 9 and ¶10. Equipment should begin arriving in the Dominican Republic February 11 and travel overland to Haiti. ¶3. (U) The current deployment is authorized through November 30, 2010, but Yamazaki said the Cabinet Office could extend the deployment as events warrant. ¶3. (SBU) Yamazaki said Japan's ability to provide enabling support for other contributing countries would depend on the request. The Japan Air Self Defense Force is staging flights from Miami and could conceivably transport personnel and equipment specifically in support of the MINUSTAH mission on a space available basis. ROOS