Cablegate: Montenegro's Minister of Defense Wants to Move Forward On

VZCZCXRO3865
PP RUEHPOD
DE RUEHPOD #0021 0311633
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P R 311652Z JAN 07
FM AMEMBASSY PODGORICA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO
RUEHPOD/AMEMBASSY PODGORICA

UNCLAS PODGORICA 000021

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

SECDEF FOR OSD/POLICY (STRAUSS/BEIN), STATE FOR PM, EUR/SCE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: MASS MARR PREL MW AF
SUBJECT: MONTENEGRO'S MINISTER OF DEFENSE WANTS TO MOVE FORWARD ON
SOFA

REF: STATE 9488

1. (U) SUMMARY: THE DRAFT STATUS OF FORCES AGREEMENT (SOFA)
(REF) WAS PRESENTED BY CHARGE BARNES TO MINISTER OF DEFENSE BORO
VUCINIC ON JANUARY 30; THE DRAFT SOFA WAS FORMALLY DELIVERED TO
THE GOM BY A DIPLOMATIC NOTE ON JANUARY 26. MINDEF VUCINIC
STATED THAT HE HOPED TO OPEN DISCUSSIONS ON THE AGREEMENT IN
"THE VERY NEAR FUTURE." MINDEF VUCINIC ALSO FORMALLY CONVEYED
THE GOM'S INTENTION TO CONTRIBUTE WEAPONS AND AMMUNITION TO
NATO'S ISAF IN AFGHANISTAN; SEE ACTION REQUEST PARA 4. END
SUMMARY.

STATUS OF FORCES AGREEMENT

--------------------------

2. (U) THE DRAFT STATUS OF FORCES AGREEMENT (SOFA) (REF) WAS
FORMALLY DELIVERED TO THE GOM UNDER COVER OF A DIPLOMATIC NOTE
TO THE MFA ON JANUARY 26. CHARGE ADDITIONALLY PRESENTED THE
DRAFT SOFA TO MINISTER OF DEFENSE BORO VUCINIC ON JANUARY 30.
MINDEF VUCINIC CONFIRMED THAT HE HOPED TO OPEN DISCUSSIONS ON
THE AGREEMENT IN "THE VERY NEAR FUTURE."

DONATION TO NATO ISAF PROPOSED

------------------------------

3. (U) MINDEF VUCINIC ALSO PROVIDED CHARGE WITH AN UNDATED COPY
OF HIS LETTER TO NATO SECGEN DE HOOP SCHEFFER, CONVEYING THE
GOM'S INTENTION TO DONATE A QUANTITY OF SERVICEABLE ARMS AND
AMMUNITION TO NATOS ISAF MISSION TO TRAIN AND EQUIP THE AFGHAN
NATIONAL ARMY. THE GOM WILL PREPARE FOR SHIPMENT 1,500 AK-47
RIFLES; 100 PMN-72 MACHINE GUNS; AND 250,000 ROUNDS OF 7.62MM
AMMUNITION.

ACTION REQUEST IN RESPECT OF DONATION

-------------------------------------

4. (U) THE MONTENEGRIN ARMED FORCES HAVE REQUESTED THAT "NATO
FORCES PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION ASSETS TO DELIVER THE DONATION TO
AFGHANISTAN." ADDITIONALLY, THE MOD HAS REQUESTED A "NATO
INSPECTION TEAM" TO ASSESS WHETHER ISAF COULD UTILIZE FURTHER
SURPLUS MUNITIONS FROM MONTENEGRO'S EXCESS INVENTORY. POST
REQUESTS THAT THE DEPARTMENT FOLLOW UP WITH NATO TO ENSURE THE
PROMPT ACCEPTANCE AND FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF CURRENT AND
POTENTIAL GOM DONATIONS TO ISAF.

BARNES

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