PRT/BAMYAN: DONORS NONCOMMITAL IN MEETING FOR

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KABUL 003251 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/FO, SCA/A, S/CR, EUR/ERA, EUR/RPM STATE PASS USAID FOR AID/ANE, AID/DCHA/DG NSC FOR HARRIMAN OSD FOR BREZEZINSKI REL NATO/AUST/NZ/ISAF CENTCOM FOR CG CFC-A, CG CJTF-76 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958 N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM EAID SOCI AF SUBJECT: PRT/BAMYAN: DONORS NONCOMMITAL IN MEETING FOR BAMYAN RECONSTRUCTION Summary -------------- ¶1. (U) Afghan Minister of Urban Development Pashtun and Provincial Governor Sarabi hosted a donors meeting on Bamyan reconstruction July 12. The government defined its preference for the way ahead in broad terms, and made a pitch for international assistance. Donors outlined their current assistance programs, but did not commit to future funding. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs plans to coordinate a follow-on conference in Kabul to provide greater specifics, possibly in the early fall. End Summary. Participants -------------- ¶2. (U) The July 12 Donors Meeting on Bamyan Reconstruction was hosted by Minister of Urban Development Yusuf Pashtun, and Provincial Governor Habiba Sarabi, with participation by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Saiqal, Deputy Minister of Urban Development Djallazada, and Deputy Minister of Public Works Dr. Safari. The donor community included Dutch Ambassador Martin de la Bey, French Ambassador Regis Koetschet, Japanese Charge Motohiko Koto, USAID Chief of Staff Philip Gary and Indian representative Sandeep Kumar as well as representatives from NZ PRT, JICA, UNAMA, and UNESCO. GOA Outlines Aim, But Not How to Get There -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Governor Sarabi stressed that Bamyan, unlike other parts of the country, has the necessary prerequisites (stability and peace) for development and reconstruction to flourish. She emphasized that the way ahead for Bamyan is the tourism sector (domestic and international),and she noted the importance of improving roads within the province. The Governor did not pass up the opportunity to criticize what she perceived were lower levels of international assistance for Bamyan than other provinces. She took particular aim at USAID, reminding the audience that the Afghan National Police (ANP) need a permanent center for training. (Note: The ANP in Bamyan are currently being trained in a Regional Police Center adjacent to the PRT funded by INL and managed by the New Zealand police. USAID is uninvolved in police training activities. End Note.) ¶4. (U) Minister Pashtun reiterated the Governors comments on the prominence tourism must play in the reconstruction of Bamyan. He also praised the work of the PRT, and indicated that he wanted comprehensive urban development for Bamyan and not just home construction. Ironically, his Ministrys funds (half a million dollars) have been pledged for exactly this. Bamyan Urban Plan - Assistance Requested -------------- ¶5. (U) In a nutshell, the Bamyan Urban Plan is the GOAs vision for moving many of the buildings in Bamyan to a site (Dashte-Esse-Khan) approximately two kilometers south of the NZ PRT. The idea is to bring together government offices, residences, school buildings and parks in one location, helping to preserve the cultural heritage of Bamyan by restricting expansion in areas close to the World Heritage Sites. ¶6. (U) The GOA acknowledged that a great deal of work is required in order to turn the Bamyan Urban Plan, which is currently just a blueprint, into a reality. The governments first priority related to this KABUL 00003251 002 OF 002 this project is to detail the associated costs. Second, Governor Sarabi requested individual donors address discrete elements of the plan, such as water, energy and sanitation assistance. Third, she indicated that the provincial government wished to establish a Bamyan Trust Fund for the development of the province, which would require technical expertise as well as an Administrator, preferably the World Bank. Finally, she welcomed international participation on the Board of Directors, once a trust is established. Donors Reference Current Programs - No New Commitments Yet -------------- -------------- -------------- ¶7. (U) Following this pitch by the government, Japanese Charge Koto, Indian Representative Sandeep Kumar, and Dutch Ambassador de la Bey outlined some of their governments programs within Afghanistan, and Bamyan province specifically. USAID Chief of Staff Philip Gary stated that this fall, USAID will commence a nationwide capacity building project worth 200 million dollars over the next four to five years. Donors, however, did not commit to a timeline for future funding of the Bamyan Urban Plan. ¶8. (SBU) Prior to departing Bamyan July 12, the donors met independently to discuss the GOAs presentations. The most frequently expressed refrain was concern about unaddressed issues by the government, many of which could be costly, such as site preparation of a scree slope, a lack of water points requiring piping water from a nearby village, and the relocation of the present airfield to a site 25 kilometers away. ¶9. (SBU) Many of the donors accepted the argument that attention/assistance should be provided for Bamyan along the lines of a peace dividend for good behavior, but did not appear convinced that this particular project deserved support. As the French Ambassador commented, the plan seems far removed from reality. UNAMA Acting Head of Office Christine Kuhn requested that donors express their concerns about the he Bamyan Plan directly to the relevant ministries, especially Urban Development, if they hoped to modify the current plan into something more realistic. Donor Community Remains Hesitant -------------- ¶10. (SBU) Comment: Governor Sarabi expressed high hopes to PRToff on July 17 that the donors conference would be a big break in the ice with donors, enabling them to begin supporting the Urban Plan. The GOAs vague outline of the Urban Plan, especially costs, appears unlikely to break that ice. Donors may be more receptive to the plan, however, should the GOA provide a more realistic, detail-oriented discussion in a follow-on conference scheduled tentatively for as early as this fall. The GOA will also have an opportunity to make its case to donors at an upcoming UNESCO conference August 2-3 outlining plans for the cultural protection of the Bamyan World Heritage Sites. NORLAND AND