WikiLeaks cable: Somalia and piracy: New Zealand response

February 28, 2008
Somalia and piracy: New Zealand response

date:2008-02-28T18:33:00
source:Embassy Wellington
origin:08WELLINGTON76
destination:VZCZCXYZ0007 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHWL #0076 0591833 ZNY CCCCC
ZZH O 281833Z FEB 08 FM AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC
IMMEDIATE 5105 INFO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0122
RUEKJCS/OSD WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI
PRIORITY
classification:CONFIDENTIAL
reference:08STATE18101
?C O N F I D E N T I A L WELLINGTON 000076

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP/ANP, AF/E, AF/RSA, IO/UNP, EEB/TRA/OTP,
OES/OA, L/OES
E.O. ...
?C O N F I D E N T I A L WELLINGTON 000076

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP/ANP, AF/E, AF/RSA, IO/UNP, EEB/TRA/OTP,
OES/OA, L/OES
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/28/2018
TAGS: PREL, PBTS, KCRM, EWWT, NZ
SUBJECT: SOMALIA AND PIRACY: NEW ZEALAND RESPONSE
REF: STATE 18101

Classified By: A/DCM Margaret McKean; Reason: 1.4 (b) and (d)

1. (C) On February 28, Andrew Robinson, a Middle East and Africa policy officer from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) contacted the Embassy to report on his initial feedback from the Ministry of Defense regarding possible GNZ assistance on addressing piracy off the Somalian coast. Robinson contacted Lt. Colonel Justin Emerson in the MOD's legal division, who indicated that the GNZ would be interested in maintaining a dialogue with the USG on the types of specific requirements that might be requested from the UN. Robinson indicated that the GNZ was aware of the UNSC discussion surrounding Somalia. The New Zealand Navy, he continued, has specialized skills in addressing piracy/maritime thuggery, such as nighttime boarding of suspect vessels. He also noted that the New Zealand Navy will be sending a frigate to the Gulf region in June. While not making any commitments at this stage, Robinson said that the MOD will continue to explore and discuss how New Zealand might assist in addressing this issue, and asked that the GNZ be kept in the information loop.

MCCORMICK