S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 USNATO 000659

SIPDIS

NOFORN
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/02/2016
TAGS: NATO PREL
SUBJECT: NORTH ATLANTIC COUNCIL READOUT NOVEMBER 2, 2006

Classified By: DCM Richard G. Olson for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) SUMMARY:

-- Afghanistan: SACEUR blasts France, Turkey and Italy for
not fulfilling their security responsibility in areas around
Kabul; NAC with EU, UN, World Bank Representatives seeks
better coordination on reconstruction and development; NATO
Senior Civilian Representative (SCR) asks Allied nations to
urge the Afghan government to follow through on its reforms
and anti-corruption drive.

-- Balkans: KFOR says no security incidents during Serb
referendum vote; PermReps, Western Balkans discussion teed
up for Nov. 15.

-- Darfur: UN anticipates need for continued NATO assistance
at moderate levels.

-- Iraq: Slovenia extends NTM-I instructors for six months.

END SUMMARY

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Afghanistan
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2. (S/NF) Daan Everts, NATO's Senior Civilian Representative
in Afghanistan, met twice with the NAC - once during its
normal Wednesday meeting and later in the day with the
participation of ISAF's non-NATO troop contributors. During
the first NAC, SACEUR (who had just returned from
Afghanistan) highlighted security operations shortcomings in
Regional Command-Capital (RC-C) where French, Turkish, and
Italian troops are deployed (France holds the regional
command). SACEUR noted that national restrictions on forces
and an unfilled CJSOR in RC-C had resulted in too much
passivity generally and no patrolling of the Musayi Valley
south of Kabul, which had allowed it to become a safe haven
for insurgents. This passive presence, plus no medevac
capability, no attack helos, insufficient forces, and
shortcomings in radar, HUMINT, and SIGINT, he warned, would
result in unnecessary deaths of ISAF soldiers. SACEUR stated
he had spoken with the CHODs of each nation in RC-C. SACEUR
also recommended more pro-active NATO strategic
communications and urged the NAC to consider broader
political engagement with Pakistan.


3. (C) SCR Everts painted a picture of a deteriorating
situation in Afghanistan. He said a window of opportunity

for international corrective action remained open, but was
closing. He was unsparing in his criticism of the Government
of Afghanistan,s (GOA) inability to provide security,
services, and "freedom from fear" to its people, noting that
a culture of impunity existed. He pointed to the narcotics
problem, stressing it needed urgent international attention,
but was more a symptom resulting from governance problems,
rather than a cause. Everts stressed the need for the
international community to present a united message to the
GOA to keep the pressure on to continue reform efforts and to
address the serious problem of corruption. He praised the
courageous efforts of two key justice reformers - Chief
Justice Azimi and Attorney General Sabbit - who risked their
lives and needed strong international backing. Everts
praised U.S. police training efforts, welcomed EU interest
while urging it to do more, and stated he would try to use
his nascent "NATO Caucus" group in Kabul to better develop
joint positions among nations. Everts floated the idea of
seeking a means to involve more police from the Muslim world
in Afghan National Police (ANP) training and mentoring.


4. (C) Ambassador Nuland reiterated themes that she had
pushed strongly in a separate meeting with Everts before the
NAC. She agreed fully on the need for a unified
international position, and encouraged the SCR to play a
strong role bringing together NATO ambassadors in Kabul to
develop concrete positions and requests for President Karzai,
and to work problematic issues back through NATO to capitals.

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She urged him to play a stronger role coordinating civilian
reporting from ISAF PRTs to the NAC, and reminded Allies of
the urgency of investing more heavily in the ANA and ANP.
The SYG reminded Allies that international coordination
starts first "in our own house," and that Allies must fill
the CJSOR and lift caveats. He urged nations to pursue a
mutually reinforcing Afghan policy at NATO, the EU, and the
UN, noting that in his recent discussion with UK PM Blair,
Blair could not remember the last time that the EU discussed
Afghanistan at Heads level. The SYG also stated he intends
to invite Speaker of the Afghan Parliament Yanus Qanuni to
address the NAC, in response to Qanuni,s letter.


5. (C) Themes in PermReps, questions included support for a
stronger SCR role coordinating PRTs (DK, IT, NL, UK), more
political engagement with Pakistan (CA, GR, IT, NL), and a
stronger UN role coordinating international efforts (CA, DK,
NL, NO). The Norwegian ambassador announced he would
circulate a letter from FM Store to FM counterparts proposing
steps to improve international coordination and GOA capacity
building, to include the appointment of a Special Envoy for
Afghanistan tasked to conduct "a continuous dialogue with
countries engaged in the stabilization of Afghanistan, with
countries in the region, and with relevant international
organizations" (note: letter emailed to EUR/RPM).


6. (C/NF) The second, informal NAC with non-NATO ISAF troop
contributors also included UN Deputy SRSG in Kabul Chris
Alexander, World Bank Afghanistan Country Director Alastair
McKechnie, and EU Council Pol-Mil Chief Claude-France
Arnould. Most PermReps repeated their interventions made
earlier in the day. SCR Everts, in remarks later repeated to
the press, urged greater EU aid to the Afghan judiciary and
police. UNAMA,s Alexander expressed the UN,s gratitude for
the sacrifices of NATO soldiers. Citing both real progress
in Afghanistan and real problems to give cause for concern,
he expressed interest in working together to set joint
priorities and joint sequencing of actions. He described
support for the Taliban by a "party of war" in Pakistan
comprised of former military and intelligence officers,
Islamists, jihadi groups, and elements in Waziristan. He
complained about the lack of a "straight answer" from the
Pakistani government on this, while stressing the need to
stay engaged with Islamabad. World Bank Director McKechnie
stressed the need to build institutions, citing the value of
long-term development and capacity building projects. The
GOA must stay in the lead, he asserted, stating that the IC
can help build a viable state, but cannot impose it. He said
that while the drug trade accounted for one-third of
Afghanistan,s GDP and we risked seeing a narco-state
develop, the problem was not impossible to solve, as only
five per cent of irrigated land was involved in poppy
cultivation and the vast majority of the population was not
involved. Ms. Arnould observed that the analyses and
approaches identified by NATO and other participants were
identical. She stressed the need to support the Joint
Coordination and Monitoring Board in Kabul, noted that the EU
was considering in what form to field an ESDP rule of law
mission, and pointed to a recent EU decision to provide 10
million euros to member-state PRTs.

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Balkans
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7. (SBU) : The SYG told the NAC that Belgrade had announced
passage of the referendum approving the new constitution,
which Parliament is scheduled to ratifiy on November 8. KFOR
closely monitored the voting in Kosovo and there were no
security-related incidents. PermReps will discuss the
Western Balkans on November 15; the SYG said Kosovo also
would be included.

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Darfur
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8. (SBU): The SYG noted DASG Jochems, report on his October
26-27 meetings with UN officials in New York. The SYG said

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prospects for a UN mission in Darfur do not look good due to
continued opposition by the Government of Sudan. The UN is
now developing alternative plans; options include reinforcing
AMIS (with "heavy" UN support), a joint AU-UN operation, or a
Chapter 8 operation. UN support to AMIS could increase its
effectiveness, depending on the ability of AMIS to absorb
assistance. The UN views a continued NATO assistance role as
complementary to a UN support package or future UN operation.

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Iraq
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9. (U) The SYG noted the Military Committee has
provisionally agreed input for the Fall Periodic Mission
Review (PMR). The next step is consultation with Ukraine,
the only non-NATO troop contributing country in NTM-I, then
the PMR will move to the Council for approval. Slovenia
announced its decision to extend its instructors at NTM-I for
six months, with the possibility of future extensions.


NULAND