NETHERLANDS/AFGHANISTAN: DUTCH TO CO-FINANCE CNPA

UNCLAS THE HAGUE 003142 SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR, INL, AND SA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AF XD SNAR XG KPAO NL EUN SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/AFGHANISTAN: DUTCH TO CO-FINANCE CNPA IN BADAKHSHAN REF: STATE 248010 Poloff delivered reftel points November 22 to MFA Security Policy Deputy Office Director for Operations Joost Flamand and on November 23 to Wilfred Mohr, Head of MFA Southern Asia Division. Mohr welcomed the strong U.S. commitment to tackling opium production and trafficking in and from Afghanistan, and agreed that the counternarcotics effort in Afghanistan is essential to maintaining international work toward long term peace and reconstruction. Mohr said the Netherlands welcomes the activities of the UK as lead, and intends to continue supporting these efforts both within the EU framework and bilaterally. With regard to the specific pillars of U.S. activity, Mohr believed an integrated approach is essential, cautioning that "eradication without alternative livelihoods" could lead to farmers falling into a "debt trap." Mohr also voiced "strong hesitation" regarding aerial spraying, believing that it does not have the support of the Afghan government and also citing environmental and social risks. Toward the objective of strengthening the capacity and regional presence of the Counter Narcotics Policy, Mohr revealed that the Netherlands has decided to contribute five million euros to co-finance the construction of a regional Counter Narcotics Provincial Authority (CNPA) capacity in Badakhshan; the UK is the primary partner in the project. RUSSEL