Cablegate: Russia Still Undecided On Helicopters for Unamid

VZCZCXRO9848
OO RUEHBZ RUEHGI RUEHLN RUEHMA RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHMO #0060 0111338
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 111338Z JAN 08
FM AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6094
INFO RUCNFUR/DARFUR COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEHXD/MOSCOW POLITICAL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 0398

UNCLAS MOSCOW 000060

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL MOPS PGOV UNSC SU RS
SUBJECT: RUSSIA STILL UNDECIDED ON HELICOPTERS FOR UNAMID

REF: STATE 02736

We requested information from MFA International Organizations
Directorate Counsellor Albert Sitnikov on the status of the
proposals for Russia to provide helicopters to the UN-AU
Mission in Darfur (reftel). Sitnikov told us January 11 that
the MOD was still considering two options: A "dry lease," to
provide the helicopters to the UN, with the UN finding pilots
and logistics support from another source; and a "wet lease,"
in which Russia would also provide the technical maintenance
teams. Sitnikov said he expected the MOD would have an
answer by January 15 or 16, but he could not say whether they
would agree to provide the helicopters under either scenario.
We urged the MFA to weigh in with the MOD to support the
provision of helicopters to UNAMID.
RUSSELL

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