VZCZCXYZ0019
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHPE #1226 2332234
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 212234Z AUG 09
FM AMEMBASSY LIMA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 1094

UNCLAS LIMA 001226 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SNAR KCRM PREL PE
SUBJECT: REVIEW OF NAS ASSISTANCE WITH VICE MINISTER OF INTERIOR 
 
¶1.  (SBU)  Summary:  In a meeting August 6 with Vice Minister 
of Interior Wilson Hernandez, NAS Director reiterated USG 
desire that in 2010 the GOP assume costs of fuel currently 
paid by NAS.  The Vice Minister promised to raise the issue 
with the new minister, and inquired about several assistance 
issues.  End summary. 
 
¶2.  (SBU) The main point the NAS Director stressed in the 
meeting was that the U.S. Congress is seeking for the 
countries to which INL provides assistance, such as Peru, to 
assume the costs of fuel that the USG currently pays  for 
with assistance funds.  The Director reminded Hernandez that 
he had raised this issue with the former Minister of Interior 
Mercedes Cabanillas, who had instructed the Ministry planning 
office chief to work on including provisions for covering 
program fuel costs in the Ministry's 2010 budget. Asked 
whether the new minister had been briefed,  Hernandez 
responded that he would bring it to the attention of the 
minister.  Director reiterated that it was a very important 
point for us. 
 
¶3.  (SBU) Also in relation to the fuel question, the Director 
brought the situation at the PNP base at Palmapampa to 
Hernandez's attention.  The base, not connected to the 
electricity grid, runs on generators with the NAS paying for 
the fuel.  The Director noted that while the need to 
incorporate the base into the local grid had been discussed 
with the commander of the base months earlier, and he had 
agreed work on the matter, nothing has happened.  The 
Director emphasized that the status quo was untenable, and 
added that as one possible consequence we would have to look 
at moving the helicopters at Palmapampa to Mazamari if this 
situation continues.  Hernandez promised to look into the 
issue right away. 
 
¶4.  (SBU) Hernandez inquired about the status of NAS 
assistance for two forensics laboratories for the Peruvian 
National Police (PNP) of continuing interest to the PNP and 
the Ministry.  The Director responded that the planned 
assessment  trip to Peru in July was postponed because of a 
scheduling conflict.  Director noted that our expert 
nonetheless  had begun to review the information provided by 
the Ministry and had offered some preliminary observations. 
Hernandez agreed that direct communication between our expert 
and the chiefs of the forensic s laboratories in the meantime 
would make the eventual assessment more productive. 
 
¶5.  (SBU) Hernandez also asked about the status of vehicles 
NAS would provide to the Peruvian National Police.  He asked 
whether they would be restricted to counternarcotics use 
only.  The Director responded that there is some flexibility 
in the numbers and types of vehicles we could provide, noting 
that more than 50 are in the procurement process, and that we 
envisioned the vehicles could be used for various law 
enforcement activities, not solely counternarcotics.  In 
considering the possible procurement of additional vehicles, 
the Director said, it would be helpful to have information 
from the Ministry of Interior about the current PNP fleet and 
its condition, the number and types of vehicles needed 
(patrol cars, ambulances, trucks, etc.), how they will be 
used, and certifying the GOP will budget for fuel and 
maintenance of the vehicles. 
 
¶6.  (SBU) The Director noted that earlier this week he had 
met with the Mayor of Santa Maria del Valle in the province 
of Hu nuco to discuss the plan to build a police training 
school in his town.  He had asked the mayor to set up a 
meeting for us with the regional president to coordinate the 
regional government's agreed contribution to the project. 
The Director noted to Hernandez that we would like something 
in writing from the regional president committing to using 
funds for the project at its initiation rather than upon 
completion of construction.  Using the Peruvian funds at the 
beginning would be helpful, the Director explained, as the 
NAS proceeds with required steps that would take some months 
to complete. 
NEALON