NORTH ATLANTIC COUNCIL READOUT - DECEMBER 06, 2006

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 USNATO 000701 SIPDIS NOFORN SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/06/2016 TAGS: NATO PREL SUBJECT: NORTH ATLANTIC COUNCIL READOUT - DECEMBER 06, 2006 Classified By: DCM Richard G. Olson for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: -- Afghanistan: SYG conveyed the strong political convictions expressed by NATO Allies at the Summit in support of NATO's Afghanistan operations. He also cited the recent reduction in the overall level of violence in Afghanistan and the Hungarian donation of 20,000 rifles to the ANA as very encouraging developments. Although SACEUR highlighted the progress at Riga in reducing the number of Allies, caveats, the CMC stated that major shortfalls remain in Operational Mentor Liaison Teams. Ambassador Nuland urged better public diplomacy efforts especially in telling "NATO's many success stories." -- Balkans/Kosovo: Deputy Assistant SYG stressed the need for enhanced NATO-EU coordination regarding the way forward on post-status Kosovo, as the SYG noted the strong NATO support at Riga for President Ahtisaari. PermReps welcomed the PfP decision at Riga, acknowledging its positive effects on Serbia's accession talks with the EU in particular, and on the region as a whole, but also highlighting the obligation of Serbia and Bosnia to live up to their ICTY commitments. -- Darfur: SYG described a "deteriorating security situation," noting that the AU has approved a six-month extension of the AMIS mission, and that NATO awaits an AU request to extend assistance into 2007. -- Iraq: Force generation for 30-man internal security platoon fails; contract guard service extended for six months. -- Strategic Resource Board (SRB): NAC endorsed the SRB 2006 Annual Report and agreed on Policy Guidance for military common funding for 2008-2012. -- Farewell to SACEUR: On behalf of the NAC, the SYG bid a heartfelt farewell to SACEUR General Jones. END SUMMARY. Afghanistan -------------- ¶2. (C) SYG de Hoop Scheffer told the NAC that he left the Riga Summit with renewed optimism following the strong expressions of political commitment by Allied leaders to succeed in Afghanistan. The challenge now, according to the SYG, is to turn the statements into action on resources, caveats and operational flexibility. The SYG thanked Hungary for its recent donation of 20,000 assault rifles to the ANA. He also welcomed the EU rule of law assessment mission currently in Afghanistan, and hoped it would result in more EU involvement. The SYG encouraged NATO's Policy Coordination Group to conclude work on the ISAF Periodic Mission Review (PMR) quickly. Per Ambassador Nuland,s suggestion at the PermReps December 5 lunch, the SYG stated that he intends to organize a Reinforced NAC in January at the Political Directors level on Afghanistan and Kosovo. ¶3. (C) SACEUR told the NAC that SHAPE would issue a revised caveats matrix to reflect progress made at Riga. Overall, he stated, Riga had resulted in a 15% reduction in the 50 operationally significant caveats affecting ISAF. Chairman of the Military Committee General Henault stated that Operational Mentor Liaison Teams (OMLT) formed the most important element of NATO's training assistance to the ANA, and despite some new commitments at Riga, major shortfalls remained. Of the requirement for 46 NATO OMLTs, only 19 are filled, with 5 more being partially filled, augmented by U.S. Embedded Training Teams. ¶4. (C) SHAPE J3 MG Stein briefed decreases in insurgent attacks, Operation "Oqab" (Eagle),flood relief in the northwest, the ANP, and the status of the composite HQ being USNATO 00000701 002 OF 004 established for ISAF X. MG Stein stated that aggressive action by ISAF and the ANSF in RC-Capital resulted in a decrease in IED attacks from eight in September to only one in November. Violent incidents had decreased by 63% from August-November in RC-South, and by 47% from September-November in RC-East. He attributed this to successful ISAF operations, political changes in-country, helpful Pakistani actions on the border, and seasonal factors. Noting a high potential for renewed violence in the spring, he told the NAC that Phase One of Operation Oqab was ongoing to secure freedom of movement along Highway 1 and to help the Afghan government extend its reach throughout the country. Phase Two would seek to disrupt planning and execution of insurgent operations against ISAF and GOA, and be timed to head off a spring resurgence. On ANP, MG Stein highlighted a dysfunctional Ministry of Interior, and stressed the need for more investment and direct mentor support of the ANP. Finally, 128 posts remain to be filled by nations in the ISAF X HQ. ¶5. (C) Ambassador Nuland noted that while the USG was pleased with the many positive statements on Afghanistan by Heads of State and Government behind closed doors at Riga, we were disappointed that some leaders returned home publicly describing how they had "resisted pressure" at the Summit. All Allies need to be openly defending the strategic importance of NATO's mission in Afghanistan, said Nuland. She highlighted President Bush's pledge to seek approval from Congress of a 20% increase in our already substantial financial commitment to Afghanistan to strengthen the ANA and ANP, build roads, fight drugs, and aid good governance. The Ambassador asked that the International Staff compile a list of Allies, additional contributions, as many offers occurred during the closed Heads of State dinner. She encouraged NATO to work to get the word out on successes like Operation Oqab, and asked that NATO's public diplomacy office provide the NAC a weekly fact sheet. She also highlighted the Afghanistan portion of SecDef-designate Gates, Congressional testimony, noting his support for ISAF, concern about Allied caveats, and intent to travel soon to Kabul should he be confirmed. ¶6. (C) Italy's PermRep informed Council that Italian forces were now patrolling the Musayi Valley area of RC-C, which had previously been identified by SACEUR as an insurgent safehaven due to the refusal of RC-C forces to patrol. The Czech Republic announced a contribution of 175,000 euros to the ISAF Post-Operations Humanitarian Relief Fund, which was recently established by COMISAF. Kosovo -------------- ¶7. (SBU) The SYG told the NAC that at Riga, Allies had reaffirmed their support for President Ahtisaari and confirmed NATO's readiness to play its part in the implementation of post status security provisions. Deputy Assistant SYG Pardew briefed the NAC on the NATO-EU planning process for post-status Kosovo, updating PermReps on the current status of technical talks between NATO and the EU Planning Team (EUPT). Pardew noted information sharing between the two organizations had been taking place since July and stressed that closer coordination was essential going forward. Areas of common concern have been identified and discussions are moving forward to resolve any operational gaps that could develop following UNMIK,s withdrawal. Pardew noted that the EU,s concept of operations for the Kosovo mission would provide more information on the ESDP mission, but would not be finished until January 2007. He said another working level meeting on technical issues was scheduled for 11 January. Both the SYG and the PermReps deplored the lack of NATO-EU planning on Kosovo at the political level and the SYG said he would work for closer consultation with the EU. The CMC noted that the German ORF battalion has completed its mission at Camp Nothing Hill in northern Kosovo and is being replaced by two maneuver companies from Multi-National Task Force South. USNATO 00000701 003 OF 004 Balkans/PfP -------------- ¶8. (SBU) The Italian PermRep provided a readout of his Foreign Minister's recent trip to Belgrade, where he met with the Serbian Prime Minister and FM. All Serbian officials welcomed Serbia's invitation into PfP and the positive effects this will have on resuming accession talks with the EU. PM Kostunica reiterated Kosovo,s status as part of Serbia and the potential for unrest in the region. The Italian PermRep stated the importance of not losing sight of the political differences in Kosovo and said that Italy is convinced that a compromised solution is the only way forward. PermReps from Norway, Hungary, Spain, and Greece thanked Allies for their flexibility on reaching a decision at Riga to invite Bosnia, Serbia, and Montenegro into PfP and noted that the decision will have a positive influence in the region, particularly as Serbian elections draw closer. PermReps from the Netherlands and UK stated that NATO needs to ensure through PfP instruments that Serbia and Bosnia live up to their commitments on ICTY. Ambassador Nuland said the decision was an investment of confidence in Serbian reformers, particularly President Tadic, and noted the positive influence that the Riga Summit was already having on Tadic,s electoral campaign. She called on EU colleagues to push for NATO-EU discussion on Kosovo during the upcoming EU Summit. Darfur -------------- ¶9. (SBU) The SYG described a "deteriorating security situation" in Darfur and noted the November 30 PSC meeting at which the AU approved a six-month extension of the AMIS mission. He said the PSC had also approved the three-phased approach to AU/UN cooperation in Darfur (as originally agreed November 16 in Addis Ababa),but added that the extent to which the Sudanese government would support the agreement was unclear. Remaining questions over force levels and who would command the force would give the Bashir an opportunity to obstruct implementation of the agreement. The SYG said he expects to receive a request from the AU to continue support for AMIS into 2007. Once this request is received, he expects rapid agreement among Allies. Iraq -------------- ¶10. (C) CMC Henault reported the extension of contract guard service for six months at Ar-Rustimayah because SHAPE was unable to generate the 30-man internal security platoon as outlined in the new CJSOR. He also reported that Ar-Rustimayah continues to be regularly targeted by rockets, but that training at Ar-Rustimayah has not been affected. The security situation has, however, slowed the Iraqi bureaucratic approval process for participants in out-of-country training, resulting in the cancellation of one course at Oberammergau. SRB Annual Report -------------- ¶11. (SBU) The NAC agreed to the proposed policy guidance for NATO military common funding for the 2008-2012 planning period and noted and endorsed the conclusions of the SRB,s 2006 Annual Report. The NAC noted with concern that manning of military posts remains a problem that increases outsourcing costs and that the implementation of some ISAF projects has been too slow. Efforts are underway to increase implementation rates. ¶12. (SBU) DK, UK, NL, CZ, NO and the SYG stressed the need to reach early agreement on the formulation of the proposed NATO Office of Resources (NOR). (Comment: Italy is currently blocking SRB agreement. If the blockage is not removed by December 14, there will likely be a SRB Chairman's report to the Council on the issue. End comment.) USNATO 00000701 004 OF 004 NAC Says Farewell to SACEUR -------------- ¶13. (SBU) On behalf of the NAC, the SYG bid a fond farewell to SACEUR General Jones, describing him as "no ordinary General." The SYG noted that General Jones, expeditionary spirit and expertise have been invaluable to the Alliance. General Jones declared that ISAF was the hallmark of what NATO stands for and what it was willing to do. The General emphasized four specific challenges facing the Alliance in the period ahead: energy security, stability and reconstruction operations, terrorism and proliferation. The NAC also bid farewell to ASG Marshall Billingslea and Turkish PermRep Pamir. NULAND