US embassy cable - 05SANSALVADOR2033

UNCLAS SAN SALVADOR 002033 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR: WHA/PPC (JEFF BISCHOFF), PM/PPA (MATTHEW 
HARDIMAN) 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KPKO, MARR, MASS, PREL, ES, UNGA 
SUBJECT: EL SALVADOR: WILLING GLOBAL PEACE OPS INITIATIVE 
(GPOI) PARTNER 
 
REF: A. STATE 127981 
     B. 2004 SAN SALVADOR 3247 
 
1. (SBU) Reftel demarche was delivered to Foreign Minister by 
Ambassador and to Minister of Defense (MOD) by MILGP 
Commander on July 13.  On July 14, Ambassador also hand 
delivered to FM, who is in Washington with Ambassador for the 
Saca/Bush meeting, a non-paper summarizing Ref B background 
on GPOI and Ref A demarche information.  During July 13 
conversation, MOD informed MILGP Commander that the GOES 
fully agrees with the CFAC plan and supports a GPOI 
partnership.  Additionally, the Salvadoran Chief of Defense 
(CHOD) reported to MILGP Commander that on July 13 CFAC CHODs 
met in Guatemala and agreed that each country would provide 
an independent and self-sufficient company size unit (150 
troops) to form the 600-person CFAC PSO battalion, and that 
the unit would train at the Coban Regional Peacekeeping 
Training Center in Guatemala. 
 
2. (SBU) Embassy considers El Salvador to be an ideal partner 
for the GPOI due to a well-organized and professional 
military that has recent battalion-sized deployment and 
operations experience in Iraq and familiarity with PSOs 
gained from the deployment of UN-Accredited Military 
Observers in Liberia, Western Sahara, the Ivory Coast, and 
Sudan, and GOES Salvadoran Military support of WARMINCA in 
Guatemala.  During the past two years El Salvador has 
deployed four consecutive rotations of 360-380 personnel in 
support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.  These battalions have 
provided humanitarian support and reconstruction assistance 
and have contributed significantly to stability and security 
within their area of operations.  Additionally, the GOES 
expressed a willingness to deploy a company size unit in 
support of MINUSTAH in Haiti (Ref B) and has expressed a 
willingness to deploy military personnel in support of UN 
peacekeeping operations worldwide. 
 
3. (SBU) As further evidence of El Salvador's commitment to 
global peacekeeping, the Salvadoran Military has actively 
worked to provide peacekeeping training at the national 
level.  The Salvadoran Military is building a curriculum to 
provide observer and basic peacekeeping operations training 
at their National Peacekeeping Operations School.  The School 
is also developing stand-alone courses to fulfill UN DPKO 
deployment requirements.  Embassy is currently working with 
the Center for Civil Military Relations (CCMR) on the 
execution of Phase 1 of the Enhanced International 
Peacekeeping Capabilities Fund.  A team from CCMR will 
accomplish an assessment this fall to help determine training 
and equipment needs based on existing capabilities at the 
National PKO School. 
 
4. (SBU) El Salvador has submitted the individual equipment 
list to the Embassy and CFAC officials.  The Armed Forces 
will be able to competently use any funds that become 
available either through the FMS system or any other option 
State/DoD makes available.  In order to execute GPOI funds 
expeditiously, Embassy recommends that State PM facilitate 
pertinent authorizations to allow Embassy GSO procurement 
offices to execute funds without normal ICASS procedural 
restrictions. 
Silverman