US embassy cable - 05OTTAWA1697

C O N F I D E N T I A L OTTAWA 001697 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/06/2015 
TAGS: MARR, SU, CA, NATO 
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE REQUEST: NATO: AIRLIFT TO THE AFRICAN 
UNION IN DARFUR 
 
REF: SECSTATE 103310 
 
Classified By: POL M/C Brian Flora.  Reason 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1. (C) Post delivered reftel demarche points on Friday, June 
3, to Foreign Affairs Canada (FAC) Sudan Task Force Director 
Wendy Gilmour and NATO Deputy Director Isabelle Poupart.  FAC 
forwarded the points to the NATO policy office  at National 
Defence.  Promising us a "more definitive answer" later this 
week, on June 6 Gilmour stated that Canada agrees in 
principle that AU "partners" should coordinate contributions 
through SHAPE; however, the principal coordination effort 
should take place in Addis (led by the AU) to the greatest 
extent possible. Canada believes that NATO's presence in 
Addis must be more than "just an L.O. (liaison officer)." 
 
2. (C) Re-affirming Canada's pledge of CAD 20 million 
(approx. USD 16 million) for contract airlift to the AU, 
Gilmour said that Canada's ability to "kick-in stratlift" 
early on is severely constrained by Canadian contracting 
regulations, which would stretch out the process over a long 
period of time.  Consequently, the GOC might be looking at 
providing intra-theater tactical lift, which could be made 
available by mid-Fall (October/November timeframe).  "Cutting 
a cheque" to NATO (vice a bilateral contribution) would 
expedite the process, she said, and the GOC was waiting to 
hear whether NATO is in a position to accept 
grants/contributions from member governments.  Gilmour 
acknowledged the point that strategic lift must precede 
tactical lift, but said the GOC was encouraged by the various 
offers for strategic lift made in Addis.  The GOC hoped these 
offers would cover the need, enabling Canada to address the 
longer-term tactical lift shortfall. 
 
Visit Canada's Classified Web Site at 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/ottawa 
 
GALLAGHER