MFA FULLY ENGAGED ON AFGHANISTAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BUDAPEST 002462 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT PLEASE PASS TO NSC FOR ADAM STERLING E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/06/2016 TAGS: PREL PGOV MOPS CVIS HU SUBJECT: MFA FULLY ENGAGED ON AFGHANISTAN REF: BUDAPEST 2383 Classified By: POL/C ERIC V. GAUDIOSI; REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D) ¶1. (C) MFA Assistant Secretary Varkonyi reviewed the state of play on Afghanistan, Cuba, and the Visa Waiver Program in an informal conversation with Ambassador Foley December 6. The MFA is increasingly taking on the leadership role in coordinating interagency efforts on the reconstruction and development aspects of Hungary's PRT and is actively pursuing funding from various international sources. They are also mapping out next steps on Cuba, including the assignment of a new Chief of Mission in Havana. Varkonyi warmly welcomed the President's recent remarks on the Visa Waiver Program, and assured us the GoH is hard at work to address the technical questions raised by President Solyom regarding the US-EU passenger data sharing arrangments in order to move forward as quickly as possible. End Summary. AFGHANISTAN: MOVING TOWARD IMPLEMENTATION ¶2. (C) A/S Varkonyi reviewed the current status of GoH reconstruction and development projects, confirming the GoH's intention to focus on priorities including police training and employment generation. Specifically, the GoH plans to construct a brick factory and pasta factory, with the latter directed at returnees to Baghlan province. They will also implement a project for the production of rugs intended to support women's empowerment. They have established contacts with Afghan President Karzai's brother, who has "interests in the province," in order to coordinate their efforts. The MFA has also identified year-end funds to help Pashtu returnees to the province raise chickens, and will be donating medical equipment in addition to its humanitarian donation for flood relief. ¶3. (C) Although the 500 million forint (approximately USD 2.6 million) for police training will not be available until January 1, the MFA has funded the visit of an advance team from the Ministry of Justice and Law Enforcement so they will be "ready to go." The GoH is working hard to access EU funds for police training, and believes the Union will focus on the issue given their sensitivity to "the perception of problems." ¶4. (C) This is part of a broader GoH campaign to identify international funding sources. Varkonyi noted FM Goncze's personal outreach to her counterparts from Greece, Iceland, and Luxembourg on the margins of the Riga Summit, expressing particular optimism regarding the prospect of "funding or personnel" from Athens but underscoring their intention to remain in touch with capitals. He is personally in contact with Qatari officials re potential cooperation on educational projects, and assured us that Hungary puts the PRT "on the agenda of every bilateral meeting." Although the MFA will lose Laszlo Vizi, who will depart as the MFA's senior coordinator on assistance and development for an overseas post, Varkonyi noted that Vizi will be replaced by a "very senior official" with "35 years' experience in development." THE MFA AUDITIONS FOR A LEADING ROLE ¶5. (C) Varkonyi candidly noted "friction" among GoH agencies over the PRT but emphasized that he is increasingly optimistic. The MFA already controls one-third of the funds allocated for the PRT and is taking the lead in fact if not in name. Other agencies are "willing if not well-staffed or well-funded," and he believes "rationale is prevailing: in other words, the MFA will be in charge." ¶6. (C) Varkonyi and his colleagues from the MFA made clear that they share our reservations regarding State Secretary Gemesi in the Prime Minister's Office, referring to the GoH's coordination problems as "less about structure than personality." He added that "this problem is being felt everywhere," and commented that "a solution is underway." The MFA is already quietly moving an ambitious - and expensive - "distance learning" proposal from the PM's Office to the back burner, explaining that they will apply for EU funding support but see little logic in putting "50% of our PRT funding" into the project. ¶7. (C) Varkonyi also noted that a Hungarian delegation including International Center for Democratic Transition (ICDT) Director Istvan Gyarmati will be in Afghanistan on December 16. They look forward to their meetings with Embassy Kabul and would welcome additional suggestions for contacts with IC and Afghan officials. CUBA: NEW AMBASSADOR; NEW INITIATIVES BUDAPEST 00002462 002 OF 002 ¶8. (C) Turning to Cuba, Varkonyi conveyed his sense that the GoH's actions to date, particularly FM Goncz's remarks in Coral Gables, had gone created Cuban frustration. He noted that a summary of a draft proposal by the International Center on Demcratic Transition (ICDT) had found its way to the Cuban Ambassador in Budapest, prompting an official diplomatic protest and raising the question of "how far and how fast" the GoH can move forward without risking their access in Cuba. ¶9. (C) They are using that access now to do "whatever is possible," including: Undertaking visits to the families of political prisoners; Working with EU partners to establish an internet cafe in Havana; Making available literature on Hungary's democratic transition; Planning a film festival featuring classic Hungarian films (including "The Witness," a scathing parody of the communist system); and, Continuing preparations to host Cuban alumni of student exchange programs. ¶10. (C) Varkonyi also highlighted the GoH's nomination of well-known journalist Janos Horvat to be Hungary's new Ambassador in Havana. He emphasized that the activist, creative, and media-savvy Horvat would be "very different" from the incumbent and commented that "the change is the right thing to do," but expressed concern that Horvat will confront a long agrement process from the Cuban regime. ¶11. (C) Finally, Varkonyi indicated that he is considering a trip to Mexico and Brazil to discuss other ways to engage in international efforts to effect a democratic transition in Cuba. VISA WAIVER PROGRAM: "SO HAPPY WE DON'T WANT ANYTHING TO SPOIL IT" ¶12. (SBU) Varkonyi closed by expressing the GoH's great happiness over the President's recent remarks re the Visa Waiver Program. "We are," he remarked, "so happy we don't want anything to spoil it." That's why the GoH is hard at work to address President Solyom's technical concers regarding the US-EU Passenger Data Sharing Agreement and to move forward on formal ratification as quickly as possible. Minimize Considered. FOLEY