VZCZCXYZ0025
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHDG #0248/01 0481814
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O R 171812Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY SANTO DOMINGO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0757
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
INFO RHMFISS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC
RHMFIUU/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
RUEHDG/AMEMBASSY SANTO DOMINGO

UNCLAS SANTO DOMINGO 000248 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: MARR PREL SNAR DR
SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR AUTHORIZATION TO SIGN MOU ON RADAR SHARING WITH 
THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 
 
(U)  Sensitive but Unclassified.  Please protect accordingly. 
 
 
 
¶1.  (SBU)  ACTION REQUEST:  SOUTHCOM, Dominican Air Force and 
Dominican Aviation Institute (IDAC) officials have developed the 
enclosed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on radar sharing.  This 
MOU is designed to be an extension of the Cooperating Nations 
Information Exchange System (CNIES) that would formalize existing 
practice and facilitate the incorporation of newly acquired 
Dominican military radar systems once these come on line in the 
next few months.  The Embassy has received formal notice from IDAC 
Director Jose Tomas Perez that he is prepared to sign the MOU on 
behalf of the Dominican Government.  Embassy requests SECSTATE and 
SECDEF approval to sign the MOU or guidance regarding any revisions 
that may be required in its terms.  END ACTION REQUEST. 
 
 
 
¶2.  (SBU)  Begin text of MOU: 
 
 
 
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED 
STATES OF AMERICA AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC FOR 
RADAR DATA SHARING 
 
 
 
The Government of the United States of America and the Government 
of the Dominican Republic desiring to increase their mutual 
cooperation for the suppression of arms and narcotics trafficking, 
and for the enhancement of regional cooperation and aviation safety 
and sovereignty, agree to the following: 
 
 
 
¶1.  The Government of the United States of America will obtain 
integration/networking equipment to be installed in the Dominican 
Republic for the purpose to share radar data from the Dominican 
Republic Institute of Civil Aviation (El Instituto Dominicano de 
Aviaci????n Civil - IDAC) and the Dominican Air Force (Fuerza 
A????rea 
Dominicana - FAD) radar systems with the United States Federal 
Aviation Administration and those United States  agencies charged 
with counter narcotics and air or sea domain sovereignty 
responsibilities, to include,  Joint Interagency Task Force-South 
(JIATF-S), Key West, Florida. 
 
 
 
¶2.  The Government of the United States of America hereby agrees 
that the integration/networking equipment shall be primarily used 
as part of a network designed to detect, monitor, track, and 
interdict and apprehend suspicious narco-traffickers, both airborne 
and maritime, as part of and under Dominican Republic Law 50-88 
(Law of the Dominican Republic on Drugs and Controlled Substances). 
The integration/networking equipment may also be used for 
detection, monitoring and tracking, and interdiction and 
apprehension of suspicious or other illicit activities such as arms 
smuggling or narco-terrorism.  Initial technical specifications for 
all integration/networking equipment shall be based solely on its 
ability to interoperate within the counterdrug surveillance 
architecture in direct support of JIATF-S counter narcotic 
activities.  However, future modifications may be installed to 
provide integration into partner nation command centers, as 
desired. 
 
 
 
¶3.  The principal intent of this agreement is to integrate existing 
Dominican Republic Civil Aviation Authorities (CAA) radars into the 
JIATF-S Common Operating Picture, fuse the radar data with United 
States developed data, and transmit this information, total air 
picture or special interest tracks to Dominican Republic agencies 
responsible for countering narcotics/arm trafficking and to other 
regional partners via the Cooperating Nations Information Exchange 
System (CNIES) or as separately agreed to by other means.  United 
States developed data may include track information from the 
Re-locatable Over the Horizon Radar (ROTHR) system, 
airborne/shipborne platforms, ground based radars, and potentially 
other partner nation surveillance systems.  This integration effort 
should enhance Dominican Republic air traffic safety, air 
surveillance capability, and public safety. 
 
 
¶4.  This agreement is intended to integrate the Air Traffic Control 
Radar at Santo Domingo, Puerto Plata and Punta Cana, and may be 
extended to other (future) available radars in the Dominican 
Republic.  The integration/networking equipment may be installed at 
the radar sites or other locations with access to the data, for 
example, IDAC or telecom facility. 
 
 
 
¶5.  The Government of the United States of America through the 
United States Air Force (USAF) will pay all the expenses related to 
the installation,  maintenance, and removal of the integration 
equipment that is property of the United States and will retain 
ownership and maintain all specialized equipment required for this 
integration.  The United States will ensure that United States 
installed integration equipment will not impact Dominican Republic 
IDAC systems.  Maintenance may include the replacement or upgrade 
of equipment to improve supportability and capability. 
 
 
 
¶6.  The Government of Dominican Republic shall provide secure 
facilities/space where United States integration/networking 
equipment is to be installed; access to, and cost for, commercial 
electrical power; and allow access to the integration equipment by 
United States Government sponsored personnel for maintenance 
purposes.  In addition, the Government of Dominican Republic will 
continue to be responsible for the operation and maintenance of its 
radars and integration into their system centers for tracking and 
control.    The Government of the Dominican Republic agrees not to 
transfer this equipment to third parties who are not signatories to 
this MOU. 
 
 
 
¶7.  The U.S. Military Advisor and Assistance Group (MAAG) 
representative shall coordinate equipment access requirements with 
the IDAC or other agency prior to gaining access. 
 
 
 
¶8.  The Government of Dominican Republic shall accord duty-free 
treatment and exemption for internal taxation upon importation or 
exportation of products, property, materials, or equipment imported 
into Dominican Republic by or on behalf of the Government of the 
United States of America in connection with this project. 
 
 
 
¶9.  The Governments of the Dominican Republic and the United States 
of America shall have complete access to the radar data transmitted 
by the integration and networking equipment whose nature is 
strictly for illicit air/maritime traffic surveillance; access to 
said data shall be provided to the Dominican Republic in accordance 
with the existing CNIES data sharing agreement.  Neither party to 
this agreement will charge the other for use of radar data. 
 
 
 
¶10.  The financial obligations of the parties under this Memorandum 
of Understanding shall be subject to the availability of authorized 
and appropriated funds in accordance with the respective national 
laws of both countries. 
 
 
 
¶11.  Nothing in this MOU is intended to conflict with United States 
or Dominican Republic laws, regulations, directives, or policy. 
Terms should be interpreted in a manner to ensure consistency with 
existing authority including CNIES.  If a term cannot be 
interpreted in a manner consistent with existing authorities, that 
term shall be invalid but the remaining terms shall remain in full 
force and effect. 
 
 
 
¶12.  This Memorandum shall enter into effect upon signature by both 
parties and shall remain in force for a period of ten years which 
may be extended by mutual consent of the parties. This Memorandum 
may be terminated by either party any time with a one year prior 
written notice to the other party at which time 
integration/networking equipment may be removed.  This agreement 
shall terminate if the basic CNIES agreement no longer remains in 
 
 
effect (unless the basic CNIES agreement is replaced by another 
agreement). 
 
 
 
Signed in the city of Santo Domingo, in English and Spanish, both 
texts being equally valid and authentic. 
 
 
 
End text. 
Lambert