Cablegate: Resumption of German Training of Iraqi Forces in the Uae

VZCZCXRO5312
RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHBC RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDE RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIHL
RUEHIK RUEHKUK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR
RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHRL #1994 3051146
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 011146Z NOV 07
FM AMEMBASSY BERLIN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9657
INFO RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO BRUSSELS BE
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS BE
RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD 0201
RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUCNFRG/FRG COLLECTIVE
RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS BERLIN 001994

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: MOPS PREL MARR NATO EUN GM AF SU KV BK LE GG ET
SUBJECT: Resumption of German training of Iraqi forces in the UAE

REF: A) Berlin 2634, B) Berlin 1428

1. (SBU) Summary: After a two-year disruption, Germany will resume
training of the Iraqi armed forces in cooperation with the United
Arab Emirates in early 2008. From January through April, the
Bundeswehr will train an Iraqi logistics and support battalion of
800 soldiers in the UAE and provide equipment worth 7.5 million
Euro. This is a continuation of the effort started in 2004/2005,
which was disrupted by an Iraqi reluctance to pay a share of the
transportation costs. End Summary

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Schedule and Equipment provided
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2. (U) While visiting the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on October 30,
German Defense Minister Jung signed a trilateral agreement with the
UAE and Iraq to train an Iraqi logistics and support battalion of
800 military personnel in the UAE, providing 70 training instructors
and 15 interpreters.

3. (SBU) Training will begin in January 2008 with a two-month course
for the battalion's staff officers, followed by seven weeks of
training at company and battalion levels. The Bundeswehr will
provide 250 trucks and 100 ambulances, worth 7.5 million Euro total.
The UAE will provide the training facilities.

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Controversial Transport Expenditure Resolved
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4. (SBU) German efforts to train the Iraqi military in 2006 and 2007
were derailed by Baghdad's reluctance to cover 600,000 Euros in
transportation costs, as previously agreed to for the 2005 training.
The German MOD confirms that the controversial transport
expenditure issue has now been resolved. Iraq has agreed to cover
30 percent of the transportation costs (mainly to re-locate
equipment from the UAE to Iraq), while Germany will cover the
remaining 70 percent.

KOENIG

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