NORTH ATLANTIC COUNCIL READOUT NOVEMBER 2, 2006

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 -------------- Afghanistan -------------- ¶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. USNATO 00000659 002 OF 003 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. -------------- Balkans -------------- ¶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. -------------- Darfur -------------- ¶8. (SBU): The SYG noted DASG Jochems, report on his October 26-27 meetings with UN officials in New York. The SYG said USNATO 00000659 003 OF 003 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. -------------- Iraq -------------- ¶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