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