VZCZCXYZ0000
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHPO #0157/01 1481837
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 281837Z MAY 09
FM AMEMBASSY PARAMARIBO
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0718

UNCLAS PARAMARIBO 000157 
 
SIPDIS 
 
PM/PPA FOR RSCHAAB, WHA/CAR FOR JROSHOLT 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KTIA PREL MARR MASS NS
SUBJECT: END-USE, RETRANSFER, AND SECURITY ASSURANCES FROM 
THE GOVERNMENT OF SURINAME 
 
REF: SECSTATE 82357 
 
¶1.  (U) Per reftel, Post delivered suggested text for a new 
agreement via diplomatic channel on August 4, 2008, which, 
several days later, elicited a response, conveyed via 
telephone, from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of the 
Government of the Republic of Suriname (GOS) requesting the 
deletion of the last sentence of paragraph E of the 
Agreement, which reads, "It is further proposed that this 
Agreement shall supersede in its entirety the 
above-referenced 1980 Agreement." Post advised the MFA 
contact to put said request in writing. 
 
¶2.  (U) In its August 13, 2008 note to Post, MFA wrote, "In 
order to obtain clarity regarding the status and future 
effect of the present Agreement concerning the International 
Military Education and Training Program, effected by exchange 
of notes at Paramaribo on August 22 and 25, 1980, the defense 
authorities of Suriname deemed it desirable to enter in 
contact with the Military Liaison Office (MLO) at the United 
States Embassy.  The Government of Suriname is awaiting the 
clarification from the MLO, upon which a response to 
abovementioned (sic) note will be formulated." 
 
¶2.  (U) After consultation with the Department, Post 
accommodated the GOS request and delivered, on August 12, 
2008, a revised version of the original text deleting the 
last sentence of paragraph E of the Agreement. 
 
¶3.  (U) On May 5, 2009, after almost nine months of 
consultations among division heads between two ministries of 
the GOS, the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Foreign 
Affairs, and regular follow-up contact from the Military 
Liaison Officer and Embassy officials and staffers to 
ascertain the progress of the GOS towards the forging of a 
new Agreement with the USG, Post received the GOS response, 
which quotes verbatim the U.S-suggested text. 
 
¶4.  (U) The GOS response reads in full, "The Ministry of 
Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Suriname presents its 
compliments to the Embassy of the United States of America 
and has the honor to acknowledge receipt of the Embassy's 
note no. 152-A, dated August 12, 2008, revising note no. 152, 
dated August 4, 2008, which should now read in its entirety 
as thus: 
 
Quote 
 
"The Embassy of the United States of America presents its 
compliments to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the 
Republic of Suriname and has the honor to refer to earlier 
discussions between representatives of the two Governments 
regarding grants under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as 
amended, or successor legislation, and the furnishing of 
defense articles, related training, and other defense 
services, including pursuant to the United States 
International Military Education and Training Program, from 
the United States of America to the Government of the 
Republic of Suriname pursuant to the Foreign Assistance Act 
of 1961, or successor legislation.  In this regard the 
Embassy refers to the Agreement concerning International 
Military Education and Training Program, effected by exchange 
of notes at Paramaribo August 22 and 25, 1980. 
 
In accordance with these discussions, it is proposed that the 
Government of the Republic of Suriname agree: 
 
¶A.  That unless the consent of the Government of the United 
States of America has been first obtained the Government of 
the Republic of Suriname shall not: 
 
(I) Permit any use of such defense articles, related 
training, including training materials, or other defense 
services by anyone not an officer, employee or agent of the 
Government of the Republic of Suriname; 
 
(II) Transfer, or permit any officer, employee, or agent of 
the Government of the Republic of Suriname to transfer, such 
defense articles, related training, including training 
materials, or other defense services by gift, sale or 
otherwise; or; 
 
(III) Use, or permit the use of, such defense articles, 
related training, including training materials, or other 
defense services for purposes other than those for which 
provided; 
 
¶B.  That such defense articles, related training, including 
training materials, or other defense services shall be 
returned to the Government of the United States of America 
when they are no longer needed for the purposes for which 
 
they were furnished, unless the Government of the United 
States of America consents to another disposition; 
 
¶C.  That the net proceeds of sale received by the Government 
of the Republic of Suriname in disposing of, with prior 
consent of the Government of the United States of America, 
any defense article furnished by the Government of the United 
States of America on a grant basis, including scrap from any 
such defense article, shall be paid to the Government of the 
United States of America; 
 
¶D.  That the Government of the Republic of Suriname shall 
maintain the security of such defense articles, related 
training, including training materials, and other defense 
services; that it shall provide substantially the same degree 
of protection afforded to such defense articles, related 
training, including training materials, and other defense 
services by the Government of the United States of America; 
that it shall, as the Government of the United States of 
America may require, permit continuous observation and review 
by, and furnish necessary information to, representatives of 
the Government of the United States of America with regard to 
the use thereof by the Government of the Republic of Suriname; 
 
¶E.  That the Government of the United States of America may 
also, from time to time, make the provision of articles and 
services furnished under other authority (except the United 
States Arms Export Control Act) subject to the terms and 
conditions of the agreement proposed herein.  (Transfers 
under the United States Arms Export Control Act shall 
continue to be governed by the requirements of that Act and 
United States regulations applicable to such transfers.)" 
 
Unquote 
 
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Suriname 
has the honor to confirm that the proposals set forth in the 
Embassy's note and this note in reply shall constitute an 
Agreement between the two Governments which shall enter into 
force on this date. 
 
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Suriname 
avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Embassy of 
the United States of America the assurances of its highest 
consideration." 
 
¶5.  (U) The GOS response, dated and signed on April 30, 2009, 
was received at Post on May 5, 2009. 
 
 
SCHREIBER  HUGHES