GERMANS DISCUSS BORDER MANAGEMENT WITH

UNCLAS KABUL 003486 SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/FO, SCA/A, S/CR, EUR/ERA, EUR/RPM, NEA/IR STATE PASS USAID FOR AID/ANE, AID/DCHA/DG NSC FOR HARRIMAN OSD FOR BREZINSKI REL NATO/AUST/NZ/ISAF CENTCOM FOR CG CFC-A, CG CJTF-76 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958 N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV ECON ETRD EFIN SNAR ASEC IR AF SUBJECT: GERMANS DISCUSS BORDER MANAGEMENT WITH IRANIANS ¶1. (SBU) German Ambassador for Police Reform Helmut Frick told us that he and Deputy Head of the German Police Project Office (GPPO) Gerald Stoeter met on July 26 with Iranian Ambassador Mohammad R. Bahrami and Iranian Drugs Liaison Officer Hashem Zayyem, the Iranian Embassys expert on police issues, to discuss border management, and in particular a possible Iranian police contribution to provide security at the Zaranj, Nimroz Province, border crossing. Ambassador Frick briefed the Iranians on the DOHA II concept of border management and the regional cooperation approach fundamental to BMI planning; the increase in Border Management Initiative (BMI) activity on the Western border with Iran; and the close cooperation between the GOA and the U.S. Embassys Afghan Reconstruction Group (ARG) on BMI, particularly at the Islam Qalah, Herat Province, border crossing. ¶2. (SBU) Bahrami responded by saying he did not wish to get involved deeply in police matters, but recommended that Frick and the GPPO meet separately with Zayyem to exchange information on activities on both sides of the border. He raised the possibility y of a delegation from Teheran coming to Kabul if necessary. Yet, he complained that Iran had offered several times to cooperate more intensively with Afghanistan in the field of police matters, especially training, but there had never been a substantial response from the Afghan side. ¶3. (SBU) Comment: We anticipate that under new Deputy Minister of Finance, Customs and Revenue Sharifullah Ibrahimi, the Iranian government will be invited by the GOA to participate in the BMI Working Group meetings. Iranian representation could improve cooperation with a key neighbor, making BMI more effective in trying to achieve its goals of enhancing government revenues. We would have to keep a watchful eye to make sure that such participation also served to enhance BMI goals with respect to border security, counter-terrorism and counter-narcotics and does not provide an entry for Iran into other police activities.