VZCZCXYZ0192
OO RUEHWEB
DE RUEHKH #0459 0871408
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 271408Z MAR 08
FM AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0328
RHMFISS/CJTF HOA
UNCLAS KHARTOUM 000459
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/SPG, A/S FRAZER
DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR AFR/SUDAN
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV AMGT KSEC EAID SU
SUBJECT: MFA APPROVES USE OF NON-DIPLOMATIC LICENSE PLATES
REF: KHARTOUM 435
1. (SBU) MFA Protocol Director Ambassador Ali Yusuf called in CDA
Fernandez and the UK Ambassador March 27, 2008 to advise us that
both the US Embassy and the UK Embassy had been approved by the
Sudanese Government to use non-diplomatic license plates for both
official vehicles and personal vehicles in Sudan "in order to help
protect our staff." The measure will go into effect immediately and
will remain in effect for a period of three months, though
Ambassador Yusuf said it could be extended if the embassies felt
that it is required. Ambassador Yusuf said the embassies could
request non-diplomatic plates for any number of our vehicles. The
plates will be produced next week and the numbers assigned will be
closely held by the MFA. There is a 50 dollar charge per license
plate and the diplomatic plate must be exchanged for the regular
plate (there was no flexibility on this point) but each vehicle will
retain its diplomatic registration to show to police if stopped.
2. (SBU) Post will work out the logistics of the transfer of plates
over the next week.
FERNANDEZ