INDEPENDENT NEWS

Cablegate: Uk Ambassador to Chad Should Visit Chad Regularly To

Published: Fri 20 Jun 2008 08:59 AM
VZCZCXRO3971
RR RUEHGI
DE RUEHNJ #0259 1720859
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 200859Z JUN 08
FM AMEMBASSY NDJAMENA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6290
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1767
INFO RUEHYD/AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE 1698
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1013
RUEHGI/AMEMBASSY BANGUI 1510
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 2318
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
UNCLAS NDJAMENA 000259
SIPDIS
PARIS AND LONDON FOR AFRICA WATCHERS, STATE FOR AF - DAS SWAN AND
AF/RSA, USUN FOR POLCOUNS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PREF PHUM UK EU UN CD
SUBJECT: UK AMBASSADOR TO CHAD SHOULD VISIT CHAD REGULARLY TO
REINFORCE MINURCAT AND EUFOR POLITICALLY
1. (U) THIS IS AN ACTION MESSAGE: SEE PARA 6.
2. (SBU) THE UK AMBASSADOR TO CHAD, WHO IS RESIDENT AS HIGH
COMMISSIONER IN YAOUNDE, SHOULD VISIT CHAD REGULARLY TO REINFORCE
BOTH THE UN AND EU PKO MISSIONS HERE. A REGULAR VISIT BY UK
AMBASSADOR WOULD SERVE USG INTERESTS BY DEMONSTRATING BROAD SUPPORT
FOR THESE PKO MISSIONS, WHICH AIM TO ACHIEVE KEY USG OBJECTIVES IN
CHAD. THE UK AMBASSADOR HAS NOT VISITED HERE IN THE PAST SEVENTEEN
MONTHS, TO OUR KNOWLEDGE, ALTHOUGH OTHER UK DIPLOMATS HAVE BEEN
HERE. RECENT CONTROVERSIAL EUFOR ACTION IN EASTERN CHAD AND PUBLIC
CRITICISM OF THAT ACTION BY GOC AND UN AGENCIES UNDERLINES URGENCY
OF NEED FOR MAXIMIMUM POLITICAL SUPPORT FOR EUFOR AND ITS PARTNER,
MINURCAT, AT THIS TIME.
3. (SBU) THE SRSG AND AMBASSADORS OF UNSC MEMBER NATIONS MEET
BI-WEEKLY. ADDITION OF THE UK AMBASSADOR TO AT LEAST SOME OF THESE
MEETINGS WOULD UNDERLINE UNSC SUPPORT FOR MINURCAT GOALS AND
OBJECTIVES. THE SRSG HAS INDICATED THAT HE COULD PROVIDE
TRANSPORTATION TO UK AMBASSADOR TO AND FROM N'DJAMENA. OTHER PERM
FIVE AMBASSADORS WOULD BE HAPPY TO HOST AND PARTICIPATE IN USEFUL
EVENTS FOR HIM. SRSG WOULD BE HAPPY TO ARRANGE FOR HIS MEETINGS
WITH SENIOR GOC OFFICIALS.
4. (SBU) UK AMBASSADOR SHOULD VISIT EUFOR AND MINURCAT
INSTALLATIONS AND ACTIVITIES IN N'DJAMENA AND EASTERN CHAD. THE EU
MISSION OR SRSG COULD ARRANGE FOR TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM THE
EAST AND ACCOMMODATIONS AND A USEFUL SCHEDULE THERE.
5. (SBU) THE UK AMBASSADOR'S FIRST VISIT HERE IDEALLY WOULD BE
DURING THE WEEK OF 23-27 JUNE. THIS WOULD PUT HIM HERE DURING PART
OF THE JOINT UN/EU MID-TERM EVALUATION (OF MINURCAT AND EUFOR) TEAM
VISIT AND PERMIT HIM TO PARTICIPATE IN THE UNSC MEMBERS MEETING 26
JUNE, IN WHICH THE SRSG LIKELY WILL BRIEF ON THE PERFORMANCE AND
FUTURE PROSPECTS OF MINURCAT AND EUFOR IN CHAD. IF THAT TIMING IS
NOT POSSIBLE, HE SHOULD TRY TO ARRIVE HERE THE WEEK OF 7-11 JULY.
6. (SBU) ACTION REQUEST: THAT THE DEPARTMENT CONSIDER DEMARCHING
HMG IN LONDON, NY, BRUSSELS, AND YAOUNDE TO RECOMMEND THAT THE UK
AMBASSADOR VISIT HERE REGULARLY, AND THAT HIS FIRST VISIT BE THE
WEEK OF 23-27 JUNE, TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SIGNIFICANT EVENTS HERE.
NIGRO
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