GOF: ISAF U.N. MANDATE STRONG ENOUGH AS IS;

C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 005608 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/19/2015 TAGS: AF MARR PREL FR NATO UNSC SUBJECT: GOF: ISAF U.N. MANDATE STRONG ENOUGH AS IS; PREPARING FOR KABUL REF: SECSTATE 146276 Classified By: Political Minister-Counselor Josiah Rosenblatt for Reaso ns 1.4(b) and (d). ¶1. (C) On August 9 poloff spoke with MFA Afghanistan Desk Officer, Cyril Gerardon, who said that the MFA was still studying the mandate in conjunction with MOD officials to determine what changes, if any, would need to be made. On August 18 poloff met with Alexandra Novosseloff of the MOD office for Peacekeeping Operations and Crisis Management. Novosseloff said that the MOD had looked at the mandate in the context of CFC-A and ISAF integration envisioned by SHAPE and concluded that the mandate would not need to be changed. She said that the mandate, in allowing ISAF to create a "secure environment," is sufficiently broad to cover integration. Furthermore, she added, counter-terrorism activities, while not mentioned in the mandate itself, are explicitly addressed in UNSCR 1368. ¶2. (C) Novosseloff, adding historical context, explained that the GoF had been reluctant to support the integration of ISAF and OEF, mostly due to its fear that the U.S. would use the merger to draw down its forces in Afghanistan. She said that while the French have since recognized the utility of integration, they still harbor concerns that the U.S. could one day make the determination that ISAF is sufficient to deal with hostilities and radically downsize its troop strength in the country. The GoF would not feel comfortable with ISAF being forced to expand to fill that void. Preparing for New Responsibilities in Kabul -------------- ¶3. (U) Novosseloff said that the French are examining all of the elements involved in taking responsibility for Kabul and will be ready to assume command of that area as scheduled next summer. She said that France would be asking other countries to provide support for the mission (a medical services unit, for example). Also, the French continue to talk with the Turks who, she said, have proved themselves a reliable and competent partner in Afghanistan. She said that the French envision that they will need to augment their forces to approximately 1,000 in advance of taking responsibility for Kabul, which they are prepared to do. Hofmann