READOUT OF CENTCOM,S IRAQ CONFERENCE IN WARSAW 3-5

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 WARSAW 002323 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/03/2016 TAGS: MARR MOPS IZ PL SUBJECT: READOUT OF CENTCOM,S IRAQ CONFERENCE IN WARSAW 3-5 OCTOBER 2006-10-16 REF: STATE 155973 Classified By: Polcouns Mary T. Curtin for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (U) SUMMARY. CENTCOM,s Coalition conference in Warsaw 3-5 Oct 2006 successfully gathered both military and civilian participants from current and prospective Coalition countries to provide an overview of Coalition planning for the next 12-18 months. All presentations and some keynote speeches from the conference can be viewed or downloaded from CENTOM,s conference website at http://hqs web03.centcom.smil.mil/CCJ5/J5CCC/MNFI Conference/index.asp. (please note there is an underscore character " " between "MNFI" and "Conference" in this URL) The conference provided an opportunity for Senior Advisor to the Secretary and Coordinator for Iraq, Ambassador Satterfield, to hold bilateral meetings with select Coalition partners. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (U) Per reftel, an Iraq Coalition Conference was held in Warsaw, Poland 3-5 October, 2006, sponsored by CDRUSCENTCOM. Invitees included military representatives and civilian political representatives from Coalition partners and prospective partners. The conference theme was Ma'an ila Al-Aman (Together Forward) and was a successful demonstration of Coalition solidarity for success in Iraq; the presence of senior USG leaders such as Generals Casey, Abizaid, and Amb. Satterfield achieved the desired effect of validating the importance of Iraq to our collective security. Coalition partners, civilian representation was less than desired by the organizers. ¶3. (C) The surprisingly few questions that participants asked keynote speakers dealt with security transition responsibilities (from Coalition forces to Iraqi Forces) and general inquiries on current Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) efforts. ¶4. (U) Amb. Satterfield,s bilateral meetings are reported in this cable. (Other bilaterals conducted by the Secretary of Defense's Senior Counselor for Coalition Affairs, Ms. Debra Cagan are being reported septel.) TURKEY: PKK, GOT Engagement of Gulf States ¶5. (C) In reference to recent comments by Iraqi President Jalal Talabani about neighbors, interference in Iraq, Amb. Satterfield reassured Turkey,s Special Envoy for Iraq Amb. Oguz Celikkol that the USG rejects the comparison of Turkey with Iran. Amb. Satterfield reiterated USG positions on PKK and noted that PUK and KDP may be coming to recognize that it is not the right time to force the issue of Kirkuk. Celikkol agreed that postponement of a resolution may be a good step and asked if Barzani,s view of the issue had changed; Amb. Satterfield suggested he would know better Barzani,s latest views in a week or so. ¶6. (C) Amb. Satterfield noted that USG stressed to Tareq al-Hashemi that Sunnis hurt themselves by not speaking with one voice; when they complain they need to follow up with alternative proposals. The USG supports PM Maliki, despite rumors of coups or alternative governance arrangements, and will not allow a coup to take place. Amb. Celikkol offered to lobby Saudi Arabia and the UAE to reinforce these points with Iraqis such as Sadan Mutlaq; Amb. Satterfield welcomed regional engagement to shape Iraqi Sunni views in a constructive fashion. Amb. Cellikol also mentioned that Turkey intends to convoke a meeting of regional intelligence chiefs; Amb. Satterfield agreed to consult Amb. Khalilzad on the best timing for such a move. POLAND: Outlook for 2007 ¶7. (C) Amb. Satterfield thanked Polish MFA,s Witold Waszczykowski for Poland,s assistance to Iraq, and reiterated the USG,s desire for a continued Polish military presence throughout 2007 to accomplish tasks such as assisting the Iraqi 8th Army,s taking the lead. Echoing a theme from his keynote speech and repeated throughout the conference, Amb. Satterfield emphasized that military action in isolation will bring neither security nor stability, and that Iraqis need to take action on political and economic issues. ¶8. (C) Amb. Satterfield noted that the security situation was unlikely to change through Spring 2007, and that security transition to Provincial Iraqi Control (PIC) means lower but not zero Coalition Forces (CF). NEA/I-PM Deputy Director Peter Evans observed that while the transition of Muthanna WARSAW 00002323 002 OF 002 resulted in withdrawal or redeployment of CF, transition of Dhi Qar did not; PIC represents increased capabilities by the Iraqis to make security decisions but the level of CF is still conditions-based. Evans also noted that USG is not seeking international leads for PRTs, though it may make targeted requests for PRT contributions from countries with needed capabilities. Waszczykowski said if Poland gets more contracts, it might have a reason to stay in Iraq longer, but in any case it also needs a renewed UNSC resolution and a request to stay from Iraq. Waszczykowski noted that Poland is beginning a Joint Commission with Iraq this year but did not provide further details. REPUBLIC OF KOREA: Continuing Mission in the North ¶9. (C) Amb. Satterfield met with ROK MG Seungjo Jung (ROK JCS Dir for Civ Affairs) and thanked ROK for its leadership of the Multinational Division Northeast (MND-NE),its service in providing middle-ring security for UN personnel, and its willingness to work with us on the Regional Reconstruction Team (RRT) in Irbil. Amb. Satterfield provided an update on PRTs, and touched on a broad range of security issues including the PKK. MG Jung welcomed further discussion in Seoul on Iraq issues at a strategic level, but also to include operational matters such as how we,ll actually carry out the RRT in Irbil. EL SALVADOR: Staying the Course ¶10. (C) During lunch, Amb. Satterfield pulled aside El Salvadoran BG Eduardo Mendoza (Army Chief of Staff) specifically to thank him for El Salvador,s extension of its mandate through February 2007, and stated we are asking Poles to stay until the end of next year. In light of complaints about MND-CS leadership, Amb. Satterfield noted we are aware of Polish management issues and are working with Warsaw to improve. DENMARK: UNAMI Aircraft Support Status ¶11. (SBU) Evans asked Danish Air Force MG Henrik Dam about the status of its preparation to fly dedicated C-130s for the UN Assistance Mission Iraq. Echoing the frustration Dam expressed on this same issue at the UK Partners meeting in July, Dam said the target start date of mid-November has slipped to at least the beginning of December due to continuing problems in eliciting from UN,s Dept of Peacekeeping Operations the operational information necessary for Denmark to plan and field the mission. Specifically, the UN has not secured agreement from Jordan or Kuwait to base the aircraft. MACEDONIA: Start Together, Finish Together ¶12. (SBU) Macedonian MFA State Secretary Igor Ilievski expressed solidarity with the Coalition to CENTCOM,s Director of Coalition Coordination MG Minetti, MNF-I,s Deputy Chief of Staff, Strategy, Plans and Assessment MG Cichowski, and Evans. Ilievski emphasized that Macedonia will remain deployed as long as the USG needs it there. Ilievski expressed interest in PRTs if it meant Macedonia would receive more contracts. Evans responded that international partners with niche capabilities would be approached on an as-needed basis to contribute to PRTs. CONFERENCE PARTICIPANTS AND LETTERS FROM IRAQ ¶13. (U) Countries which attended the conference were: Albania, Armenia, Australia, Bahrain, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, France, Georgia, Hungary, Iraq, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Mongolia, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Slovak Republic, Turkey, UAE, Ukraine, United Kingdom, and the U.S. ¶14. (U) This cable was reviewed and approved by Amb. Satterfield. ASHE