VZCZCXRO9668
PP RUEHBZ RUEHGI RUEHMA RUEHROV
DE RUEHC #1824 3340055
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P R 300037Z NOV 07
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUEHMD/AMEMBASSY MADRID PRIORITY 7481
INFO DARFUR COLLECTIVE
UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 9789
UNCLAS STATE 161824
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KPKO UN SU
SUBJECT: SUDAN - UNAMID DEMARCHE REQUEST TO FOREIGN
MINISTER MORATINOS
REF: USUN 1052
1. Purpose and Objective: This is an action request.
Embassy Madrid is requested to make a high-level demarche by
the Ambassador to Foreign Minister Moratinos requesting Spain
to provide helicopter (number 1 priority) or transport
support for the United Nation-African Union Mission in Darfur
(UNAMID). The details of the support requirements are listed
below.
The equipment critically required is as follows:
-- 6 Attack helicopters for the heavy support package
-- 6 Utility helicopters for the heavy support package
-- 12 Utility helicopters for UNAMID deployment
-- 2 Transport companies for UNAMID deployment
2. Background: Timely deployment of the United
Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) is one the
Department of State,s top priorities. UNAMID currently
lacks critical aviation and transportation assets. UNAMID
will be a predominantly African force and has received
generous offers of contributions from many African infantry
units (including Rwanda, Nigeria, Senegal, Ghana, Burkina
Faso, Mali, and Malawi). Nevertheless, UNAMID still lacks
commitments for critical force multipliers/enablers, which
will likely come from non-African troop contributors,
including units to provide adequate aviation and
transportation support assets. The Department wishes to
assist the UN as much as possible in the successful and rapid
deployment of UNAMID. Aviation and heavy transportation
assets are essential to UNAMID,s success given the need for
mobility in such a large territory with difficult terrain.
Deployment of a robust, effective hybrid force is a critical
part of our strategy for sustainable peace in Darfur. If
Spain is able to respond positively to this request, Spanish
officials should be asked to bring its capabilities to the
urgent attention of the UN's Department of Peacekeeping
Operations (DPKO) in New York and to engage DPKO in direct
discussions of the UN's precise requirements.
UN SYG Ban recently reported Spain,s willingness to consider
providing helicopter assets to UNAMID during a meeting with
Ambassador Khalilzad in New York.
3. Action Request: Embassy Madrid is requested to demarche
FM Moratinos requesting Spanish aircraft support for UNAMID.
UNAMID,s aircraft needs are great and we urge Spain to
provide helicopter or transport aircraft to support this
mission.
4. Point of Contact: LTC James D. Thomas or Grace M. Kang
in IO/PSC, 202 736-7733. The email addresses for the POCs is
thomasjd@state.sgov.gov and kanggm@state.sgov.gov; please
include IO-PSC-DL (PSCusers@state.sgov.gov) from the GAL on
the CC line.
RICE