ONDCP DIRECTOR DISCUSSES COUNTER-NARCOTICS WITH

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KABUL 001904 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR SCA/FO (DAS GASTRIGHT),SCA/A, S/CT, EUR/RPM, P STAFF (MANUEL) NSC FOR O'SULLIVAN/HARRIMAN/AMEND STATE PASS TO USAID FOR AID/ANE, AID/DCHA/DG CENTCOM FOR POLAD, CG CFC-A, CG CJTF-76 E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/02/2016 TAGS: PGOV OTRA OVIP SNAR AF SUBJECT: ONDCP DIRECTOR DISCUSSES COUNTER-NARCOTICS WITH PRESIDENT KARZAI KABUL 00001904 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: AMBASSADOR RONALD NEUMANN, FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D) 1.(C) SUMMARY: ONDCP Director John Walters and his delegation, accompanied by SCA Assistant Secretary Richard Boucher, and Ambassador Neumann met with President Karzai on April 2. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) Director Walters began by noting this was his third visit to Afghanistan and congratulated President Karzai on the enormous progress he had observed each time, including in counter-narcotics. ¶3. (C) President Karzai expressed pleasure that the structure of government document that he had submitted to the Parliament had passed, clearing the way for hearings on Karzai's new Cabinet. The Afghan leader announced with pride that all of the Cabinet would appear before Parliament the next day and first Vice President Massoud would give a short speech introducing the Cabinet nominees and asking the Parliament to vote for them. President Karzai believed a "yes" vote was adding to the security of the country, so he hoped Parliamentarians would feel free to criticize, but would vote "yes" at the end of the day. President Karzai then said the country would not be without U.S. help. President Karzai said that the visit of President Bush and his meeting with Afghan leaders had been a huge boost for relations. ¶4. (C) Launching into counter-narcotics, President Karzai stated that the GOA had begun a rigorous CN program in Helmand and had replaced a Governor with tribal roots by moving him into the Meshrano Jirga. Walters praised the "astonishing" 95 percent decline in poppy production achieved in Nangahar last year which showed the way Afghans could respond to a leadership plea. Noting that addiction was growing in Afghanistan, Karzai said "we have to speak more about it" and he asked his Chief of Staff to remind him to speak about this in his address to the clergy two days hence. Karzai noted that sometimes people in producing countries think poppy production is not their problem. ¶5. (C) The Afghan President noted that Pakistan had become a net importer of opium even at a time when its production was growing. He added that his Deputy National Security Advisor, who was from Farah said that when he was looking for able people to hire as security guards, he had said that there were no reliable people to hire because of the prevalence of addiction. ¶6. (C) President Karzai recounted his recent trip to Zabol as an example of progress. Zabol had not had any recent incidents of violence. The United Arab Emirates had built a new hospital there with incubators for premature births. The PRT was running computer classes and girls and boys were now going to school. With children going to school all around the country, President Karzai said, people were looking for quality education. He remarked that Kandahar university and the Science College in Herat were both looking at standards to develop education. President Karzai said that now is the time for standards in education and he intended to provide them for the Afghan people. ¶7. (C) Director Walters lauded the fact that Afghanistan now has a criminal code. He said he had met with Nangahar Governor Shirzai that day at the Jalalabad RTC. Director Walters said that as police officials were gradually increasing in numbers, they are looking for improvements in the ability to try cases. President Karzai responded that he had been talking to the Chief Justice about this progress. Shinwari had recalled that a man had kidnapped two beautiful KABUL 00001904 002.2 OF 002 girls from a family three years ago. When the police were dispatched to the man's house, he had released one but not both daughters and the police had been powerless to get the other girl back. Today, Karzai averred, this could not happen. President Karzai pointed out that he had nominated a new slate of Supreme Court justices and was waiting for their confirmation by Parliament. The Afghan leader added that Afghanistan had not trained any new people in the past (thirty years). He said that the Attorney-General's office needed "housekeeping" as did the courts, the MOI and the municipalities. He opined that in a time of war the GOA had got used to operating as if it were "boss", but that it was important that the government learn to see itself as a service organization. ¶8. (C) People have become hopeful as stability has increased, said Karzai. When he ran for President Karzai promised to raise the average per capita GDP to $ 500 per year. Afghanistan reached $ 335 which is good progress from $ 180 two years ago. He said with a twinkle in his eye that Afghanistan should be able to reach this within the next 3 and a half years remaining in his presidency. ¶9. (U) Director Walters has not had a chance to review this cable. NEUMANN