NORTH ATLANTIC COUNCIL READOUT OCTOBER 25, 2006

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 04 USNATO 000641 SIPDIS NOFORN SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/26/2016 TAGS: NATO PREL SUBJECT: NORTH ATLANTIC COUNCIL READOUT OCTOBER 25, 2006 Classified By: DCM Richard G. Olson for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: -- Belgian FM De Gucht, addressing the NAC in his capacity as the OSCE Chairman-in-Office (CIO),highlighted the OSCE,s intermediary role between Russia and Georgia, saying that there was "almost open conflict" between the two countries over South Ossetia, and argued for "addressing this issue at the highest levels." He added that the Russia "doesn't like" the OSCE and is using South Ossetia and the other frozen conflicts for their "nuisance value." -- Afghanistan: Secretary General elaborated upon the November 2 informal NAC to discuss the possible development of an international mechanism a monitor the progress of reconstruction and development efforts. He also encouraged quick NAC approval enabling ISAF to replace Combined Forces Command-Afghanistan (CFC-A) in its Tripartite Commission. Canadians deplore the UNHCR decision to end repatriation. -- Kosovo: Chairman of the Military Committee (CMC) reports on Military Committee's visit to Kosovo, reporting that KFOR is working closely with UNMIK and Kosovo police to provide security during the referendum period. -- Darfur: Deputy Assistant Secretary General (DASG) Jochems will travel to New York this week to discuss NATO-UN cooperation in Darfur. NAC also discussed expulsion of SRSG Pronk. -- Iraq: CMC details upcoming Force Protection Exercise, while also noting the Force Protection report to be issued in December. END SUMMARY. -------------- OSCE -------------- ¶2. (SBU) De Gucht said his year as C-I-O has not been "clear sailing along well-known coasts." He was particularly frustrated with frozen conflicts in Nagorno-Karabakh, South Ossetia, and Transnistria, and said OSCE had tried to resolve these conflicts, but had not made much progress. As a result, OSCE had been "taken hostage" by issues beyond its control. Regarding Nagorno-Karabakh, he said Azerbaijani and Armenian leaders are not compromising for fear of being perceived as weak, and that both countries have been "limiting their options," making the conflict even more difficult to resolve. On South Ossetia, he urged all nations to return to the negotiating table, and noted that he had made the OSCE,s good offices available to both the Georgians and the Russians. Tensions between Moscow and Tiblisi were "sky-high and explosive." He reported that the conflict in Transnistria is "at a standstill," but that he foresees a political agreement supported by an international military force, which in turn would be complemented by a non-military component. ¶3. (SBU) De Gucht said that Russia doesn't like the OSCE and seeks limits on what the OSCE can do. The west needs to be aware of this and to be firm with the Russians, while also being flexible, so as not to provide easy excuses for Russia to try to block OSCE field missions. The key was to preserve the OSCE "for better times." At the same time, Russia at times finds the OSCE useful; for example, Russia asked the OSCE for help in gaining the release from Georgia of its arrested military officers. De Gucht noted Russia is using the frozen conflicts for their "nuisance value," in order to affect other issues such as Kosovo, although comparisons with Kosovo were "dangerous and ludicrous." He said there was "almost open conflict" between the Russians and the Georgians over South Ossetia, and that Russia had taken the recent USNATO 00000641 002 OF 004 apprehension of its alleged spies personally. These issues needed to be addressed "at the highest levels." ¶4. (SBU) Amb. Nuland thanked De Gucht for his efforts in resolving frozen conflicts, including encouraging the parties to talk, and for playing the role of honest broker between the Russians and the Georgians. She suggested a third "pillar" for the OSCE, that of democracy support and transparency. The Spanish PermRep said that Spain, taking over as Chairman-in-Office in 2007, will strive to increase the political dialogue between NATO and the OSCE, as well as coordination at the operational level. ¶5. (SBU) In response to a question from Nuland, De Gucht noted that the OSCE and NATO were working together well in Kosovo and that the OSCE, which currently has 1,000 personnel in Kosovo, would have a major role post-status. He also said the OSCE could contribute to increased border security in Afghanistan in cooperation with others, but would need funding. -------------- Afghanistan -------------- ¶6. (S/NF) The SYG said he saw a need for an international mechanism in Afghanistan that would provide a consolidated overview of reconstruction and development progress since 2001 and guide future efforts. He intends to discuss this idea in the informal November 2 NAC with Senior Civilian Representative (SCR) Everts, which will include reps from the UN, World Bank, and EU. He encouraged quick NAC approval of military advice that would enable ISAF to replace CFC-A in its Tripartite Commission coordinating, noting that the next TPC meeting was scheduled for November 11. Chairman of the Military Committee (CMC) Henault informed the NAC on progress in standing up ISAF X,s Composite HQ, which will come fully on-line in February 2007 when U.S. General McNeill takes over as COMISAF. The HQ was making steady progress in training, although nations had yet to fill 15% of the HQ,s authorized 963 military slots. CMC again noted the problems that national caveats and the unfilled Stage III CJSOR presented to COMISAF. IMS BG Fenton provided the weekly operational update and threat assessment, reiterating that upcoming Operation Eagle (formerly called "Argus Resolve") aimed to enable the establishment of Afghan Development Zones and reconstruction throughout winter, with a focus on enabling freedom of movement nationwide around Highway 1. ¶7. (C) Canadian PermRep briefed the NAC on the recent visit to Afghanistan by Canadian Development Minister Verner, including two new programs focusing on women and girls in society. He deplored the fact that UNHCR had ended its repatriation program of Afghan refugees, despite the fact that nearly 2.5 million refugees remained in Pakistan, and urged governments to work this issue hard at the UN. -------------- Balkans -------------- ¶8. (SBU) The SYG briefed the NAC on the October 21 Contact Group meeting in Vienna and reiterated Special Envoy Ahtisaari,s concern about the impact of the 28-29 October Serbian constitutional referendum vote on the security situation in Kosovo. The CMC briefed that the military committee's visit to Kosovo last week provided a clearer picture of the security situation and its linkage to both the upcoming vote and a possible delay in status resolution. The CMC stated that Serbia is planning for 261 polling stations in Kosovo for an estimated 97,000 Kosovo Serb registered voters. KFOR is working in close coordination with UNMIK and the Kosovo local police to identify potential trouble spots and to provide security during the voting. COMKFOR is also reinforcing Multi-National Task Forces Centre, East, and North during the referendum period with one maneuver company USNATO 00000641 003 OF 004 each drawn from the West and South. COMKFOR requested a further extension of the operational reserve battalion to remain deployed north of the Ibar until December 15. ¶9. (SBU) The D/SYG noted that on 23 October, the Council agreed on an exchange of letters with Montenegro on air transit and lines of communication agreements and mentioned that negotiations would begin soon. The Italian and Spanish PermReps stated their desire for the Balkans to be a focus in the SYG,s meetings this week in Berlin, Moscow, and Washington, and requested that the scheduled PermRep discussion on the Western Balkans be moved up on the calendar from the third week in November. The Italian PermRep said he was not convinced that a delay in Kosovo,s status resolution would be destabilizing and suggested giving a positive message to Serbia on PfP membership. -------------- Darfur -------------- ¶10. (SBU) D/SYG Rizzo noted the recent expulsion of UN Special Representative of the Secretary General (SRSG) Pronk by the Government of Sudan. Rizzo informed PermReps that DASG Jochems will travel this week to New York to discuss UN-NATO cooperation in Darfur. CMC Henault said the AU note verbale on "lessons learned" trainers has been received, and that the first team from NATO will arrive in Addis Ababa later this week. ¶11. (SBU) Ambassador Nuland asked for an update on the NATO Legal Advisor de Vidts, preparation of a draft agreement between NATO and the AU, which had been proposed at the October 18 NAC. D/SYG Rizzo said he had no update, but would inquire. The French PermRep noted that, at the Oct. 18 NAC, the SYG had proposed discussing the idea of a political agreement at a PermRep coffee or lunch. The Dutch PermRep called the expulsion of SRSG Pronk a setback for the international community's efforts in Darfur and said that the timing was not coincidental; rather, it was meant to hamper any attempt to implement UNSCR 1706. -------------- Iraq -------------- ¶12. (U) CMC noted that a Force Protection assessment at Ar-Rustamiyah, including NTM-I, will conclude in mid-November, with the report to be completed by 15 December. He also noted that a Force Protection exercise will be held at NTM-I in November. The Czech and Norwegian PermReps informed the NAC of their respective countries, ongoing contributions to NTM-I training programs. -------------- -- Crisis Management Exercise (CMX-06) -------------- -- ¶13. (SBU) PermReps agreed that CMX-06 was generally successful in providing a mechanism to exercise existing NATO crisis response capabilities, while testing evolving concepts. However, the lack of Generic Contingency Operation Plans (GCOPS),along with exercise debates over whether a UN resolution would be required for NATO to act, slowed the planning process to the point that the NATO Initiating Directive (NID) could not be agreed upon. This meant that the "Fast Track" process to speed-up operational planning was not practiced, which was a major U.S. concern. Several PermReps (SP, IT, FR, GE) spoke of NATO's need to streamline the framework and better coordinate NATO's "Fast Track decision process" using generic operational plans, and to clarify the legal basis and functional role of the NATO Response Force (NRF). -------------- Political Subjects -------------- USNATO 00000641 004 OF 004 ¶14. (SBU) UNSC to Send Delegation to Afghanistan: The Slovak PermRep reported that the Japanese UN PermRep will lead a delegation of 10 UNSC PermReps to Pakistan and Afghanistan November 10-17. -------------- Any Other Business -------------- ¶15. (SBU) - NAC WMD Seminar: The D/SYG announced the NAC annual WMD Seminar is scheduled for November 8. The seminar will focus on the WMD maritime threat. The French PermRep asked the IS to reconsider the timing of the seminar in the busy run-up to Riga and proposed conducting it after the Summit. ¶16. (S) U.S. to Circulate Report on Iran: DCM Olson announced that the U.S. delegation will circulate an intelligence report on the Iranian government's efforts to control internal dissent. (Note: The report is classified releasable to NATO.) OLSON