Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BERLIN38
2007-01-09 09:41:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Berlin
Cable title:  

GASTRIGHT DELEGATION DISCUSSIONS IN BERLIN ON

Tags:  PINS PREL SNAR PTER PNAT PGOV EAID ECON ECIN 
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ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 090941Z JAN 07
FM AMEMBASSY BERLIN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6595
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC IMMEDIATE
INFO RUCNAFG/AFGHANISTAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUCNMEU/EU INTEREST PRIORITY
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 0377
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 0427
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RUCNFRG/FRG COLLECTIVE
RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI 0030
RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE 0001
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 05 BERLIN 000038 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/FO (DAS GASTRIGHT),SCA/A, INL/FO (PDAS
SCHWEICH),EUR, EUR/AGS, EB, S/CT, S/CRS, STATE PLEASE PASS
TO USAID, ADMINISTRATOR'S OFFICE (FOR SR DEPUTY ASSISTANT
ADMINISTRATOR MARK WARD),JOINT STAFF FOR J5/COL CICCHINELLI

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/08/2017
TAGS: PINS PREL SNAR PTER PNAT PGOV EAID ECON ECIN
MOPS, MCAP, KCRS EUN, G-8, AF, PK, GM, XD
SUBJECT: GASTRIGHT DELEGATION DISCUSSIONS IN BERLIN ON
AFGHANISTAN(U)


BERLIN 00000038 001.2 OF 005


Classified By: POL M-C JOHN BAUMAN, FOR REASONS 1.4 (b) AND (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 05 BERLIN 000038

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/FO (DAS GASTRIGHT),SCA/A, INL/FO (PDAS
SCHWEICH),EUR, EUR/AGS, EB, S/CT, S/CRS, STATE PLEASE PASS
TO USAID, ADMINISTRATOR'S OFFICE (FOR SR DEPUTY ASSISTANT
ADMINISTRATOR MARK WARD),JOINT STAFF FOR J5/COL CICCHINELLI

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/08/2017
TAGS: PINS PREL SNAR PTER PNAT PGOV EAID ECON ECIN
MOPS, MCAP, KCRS EUN, G-8, AF, PK, GM, XD
SUBJECT: GASTRIGHT DELEGATION DISCUSSIONS IN BERLIN ON
AFGHANISTAN(U)


BERLIN 00000038 001.2 OF 005


Classified By: POL M-C JOHN BAUMAN, FOR REASONS 1.4 (b) AND (d)


1. (C) (Summary) In an productive and timely visit, South and
Central Asian Affairs Deputy Assistant Secretary John
Gastright, International Narcotics and Law Enforcement
Affairs Bureau Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Tom
Schweich, USAID Senior Deputy Assistant Administrator Mark
Ward, and Joint Staff Central Asia Division Chief Col.
Matthew Cicchinelli visited Berlin December 13-14 2006 to
discuss a wide range of issues relating to Afghanistan with
German counterparts and members of Parliament. With the
upcoming dual EU and G8 Presidencies, all eyes will be on
Berlin to increase its profile in Afghanistan. The visit
helped give their German interlocutors a greater appreciation
for the comprehensive U.S. strategy: reconstruction and
infrastructure development; counter-narcotics; security and
justice sector reform; and good governance. End Summary.

MFA Lays Out Presidency Goals
--------------


2. (C) In a private meeting with Ambassador Michael Koch, the

MFA's Afghanistan Special Director, DAS Gastright briefed on
the recent completion of an interagency Strategic Review of
U.S. efforts in Afghanistan. While violence this past
summer's violence was expected, its intensity was not. More
time, more money, and more manpower are needed. The report
finds that a comprehensive approach integrating security,
governance, and development programs has been most effective
in stabilizing provinces.


3. (C) Gastright noted that we hope to employ this strategy
in more parts of the country and plan to ask for a major
infusion of funds from Congress to do so. Gastright stressed
the U.S. and EU need to raise the profile of civilian
activities in Afghanistan, particularly through the Joint
Coordination and Monitoring Board (JCMB). The US team
welcomed the EU's plans to commit long-term to Afghanistan in
the Commission's 2007-2013 budgets, at around 150 million
euros per year. The U.S. wants EU member states to consider
significant bilateral pledges, as well, and hopes are high in
Washington that Germany will emerge a strong leader on this
front during its EU Presidency.

Multi-faceted Approach Lauded
--------------


4. (C) In an interagency meeting with high-level Afghan
experts from the German Ministries of Foreign Affairs,
Interior, Defense, and Economic Development, the delegation
highlighted the full range of U.S. support offered the region
and went in depth on the role of Pakistan in improving cross
border problems. Participants on the German side included
the MFA's Ambassador Koch; Dirk Brengelmann, NATO office
director; Christof Weil, ESDP action officer; Maren Richter,
Police Training action officer. From the MoD, the Division
Chief for J5, Col. Jobst Schoenfeld, attended. The MoI sent
Deputy Officer Director Michael Jansen and action officer
Jonny Sommerfeld. Finally, the Ministry for Economic
Cooperation sent its Afghanistan Director, Ralf-Matthias Mohs
and two additional colleagues.


5. (C) Koch began by outlining upcoming meetings on
Afghanistan to take place in Berlin, including an
EU-Afghanistan Troika meeting January 29, a Political
Directors JCMB meeting January 30, and possibly a regular
JCMB meeting January 31. It was agreed that strengthening
coordination in Kabul, rather than developing a new
mechanism, is preferable. Koch was interested in Ward's idea
of showcasing at the JCMB the work of the more successful
sub-groups, in hopes this could reinvigorate those parts of
the JCMB process that have less progress to show.


6. (C) The bottom line in Afghanistan remains our
determination to help Afghanistan build a safe, economically
viable and well governed country, stated DAS Gastright.
Getting there is a long process and the U.S. side highlighted

BERLIN 00000038 002.2 OF 005


areas where we are focusing our efforts. Those include:

(A) The role of Pakistan (and its plan for regional
development in the tribal areas);
(B) The role of good governance (a make-or-break factor
in AFG's future);
(C) Increasing infrastructure development (which puts
money in the pockets of workers and is essential for those
trying to get their goods to market);
(D) Security (getting the Afghanistan security forces
up to speed and ready to take on insurgents, terrorists and
narco-traffickers);
(E) Justice Sector Reform (removing corrupt officials
and supporting the new Attorney General); and
(F) Counter Narcotics (keeping the 85% of those not
involved in the drug trade on our side while moving toward
eradication of crops as part of the Afghan Government's
comprehensive plan).


7. (C) German reactions were generally positive. Koch agreed
that Pakistan's latest efforts were an improvement but hoped
they could do more. Koch said Germany would use its G8
Presidency to urge Pakistan and Afghanistan to develop
initiatives for the tribal areas along their border.


8. (C) The German side highlighted its "country-wide" efforts
in areas like water supply, capacity building, energy sector
development, education, and private sector initiatives.
While many German projects continue to be focused in the
north, Germany is open to assisting elsewhere, starting with
a four-to-five million Euro fund for emergency development
aid projects throughout the belt south of Kabul. Senior USAID
DAA Ward said that power is a new focus for major
infrastructure projects in Afghanistan, and Germany's
expertise and support in this area is particularly timely.


9. (C) Col. Cicchinelli reviewed Afghan National Army
reforms, stating that the deficiencies in size, capabilities
and equipment severely hinder the ANA's ability to fight
insurgents and terrorists. U.S. thinking on Afghan security
forces has evolved over the last five years, he said. Afghan
armor, commando capabilities, vehicles and medevac support
were severely limited. The U.S. supports increasing the ANA
from 50,000 to 70,000 troops, which the Germans present
supported. Col. Cicchinelli continued that Afghanistan needs
"fully participating partners" in its effort to improve its
security apparatus.


10. (C) In discussing police training, Germans raised
concerns about a public "blame game" for continued problems
in this area. Sensitive in their role as lead nation for
police training, MOI representatives stated that Germany had
trained 17,000 police to date, and is studying plans to
increase the presence of EU trainers in Afghanistan threefold
during its upcoming Presidency. Germany views its presence
as a long term engagement and has focused on quality of
trainees at times to the detriment of quantity. The MOI is
now considering constabulary units and other multi-pillared
approaches to create a force able to ensure the security of
Afghan citizens.

Counter-Narcotics Efforts Raise Concerns
--------------


11. (C) PDAS Schweich went into detail on implementation of
the Afghan government's counter-narcotics plan, highlighting
the need to eradicate in areas where alternative livelihoods
were available and to provide funds to governments that did
more to eliminate illegal drug trade in their regions.
Schweich highlighted that the GoA probably would pursue a
ground-based spraying approach to eradication in 2007.
Badakhshan, in the north, was the second-largest
poppy-producing province. Amb. Koch made clear Germany has
"grave concerns" about spraying. The German government is
contemplating the things it can do in the north on the
counter-narcotics front, and expects the U.S. (and the UK) to
consult with Berlin on any intended eradication in

BERLIN 00000038 003.2 OF 005


Badakhshan. Schweich reinforced that poppy production is a
crime in Afghanistan and counter-narcotics activities would
be done in a way to limit alienating farmers and local
communities. However, he stated, 85% of Afghans are not
involved in drug trade, and this huge majority is beginning
to tire as their criminal neighbors reap the profits from
illicit activities.


12. (C) The German delegation's Mohs complained that the new
Afghanistan AG arrests those involved in narco-trafficking,
but within hours or days they are released. This sort of
backsliding is counterproductive. Furthermore, Mohs believes
interdiction rather than eradication is the key to slowing
the growth of drug trade in AFG. "If we lose the hearts and
minds of the farmers, we've lost the country" claimed Kohs.
NOTE: In a private conversation, Kohs informed USAID SAA Ward
that Germany's interagency process needs help and he hopes to
open up enhanced lines of communication with the U.S. both in
Afghanistan and in the capitals.

Chancellery Welcomes Information; Urges Coordination
-------------- --------------


13. (C) Meeting next with Deputy National Security Advisor
Rolf Nikel, Gastright outlined the U.S. Government's
Strategic Review of Afghanistan policy. To the review's
conclusions -- that more people, money, and time were needed
-- Nikel added one thing: coherence. This was important not
just between civilian and military authorities active in the
country, but also among international donors and the Afghan
government and population. Nikel noted that about 2 billion
USD is spent annually on aid to Afghanistan. Some argued
that that the real problem was the absorptive capacity of the
Afghan Government (a view Nikel said he did not share).
Greater coordination and Afghan ownership is essential.
Gastright and Ward took note of Nikel's view and outlined
U.S. capacity-building efforts, from the national,
provincial, and district levels.


14. (C) Deputy NSA Nikel asked whether reconstruction and
development were the key factors for the United States. The
delegation agreed, and emphasized the U.S. focus on power
generation and roads. Nikel welcomed this point; Germany is
active in the north and elsewhere, and is interested in
projects that had visibility.


15. (C) Colonel Cicchinelli briefed on security sector reform
in Afghanistan, especially regarding the ANA and ANP. PDAS
Schweich reviewed the contents of the Inspector General
report on police training, which had gotten attention in
recent press articles. Schweich pointed out that the IG
report, on the whole, considered the international training
efforts to be well-conceived and well-executed. Nikel was
particularly grateful for this information.


16. (C) Nikel said there is increasing confidence that an
expanded EU police training mission might be within reach.
It is important to keep the problems in mind at the same time
-- after officials are trained, they return to "Afghan
reality," including a "non-existent" judicial system, and
difficulties paying wages. There was a proposal as well that
the European Commission take a greater role in judicial
sector reform, but this is a slow process. Any ESDP police
mission has to increase the quantity of trainers -- Nikel
reiterated the MOI's statement of increasing by a factor of
"two, three, or more" while also improving the quality of the
training. Some EU countries are already interested.
Gastright said that would be a huge step and said the JCMB
should also address increasing police salaries so that they
are comparable with the army. A ten-year commitment would be
needed.


17. (C) PDAS Schweich outlined counter-narcotics efforts.
Nikel asked if Alternative Livelihoods (AL) programs would be
in place in areas where eradication took place, which
Schweich confirmed. Nikel said the "modalities" of
eradication were important: Afghan authorities had to be on

BERLIN 00000038 004.2 OF 005


board, and they had to be sustainable (i.e., to have public
support). Schweich emphasized the counter-narcotics plan was
and remained an Afghan Government plan, and it was a GoA
decision to carry out a more aggressive eradication program.
He highlighted the role of Badakhshan in producing poppy.
Nikel noted that eradication there could have an affect on
the military situation and said he hoped the U.S. would
consult with Germany on this.


18. (C) Gerd Bischof, Senior Director for Defense, asked
whether genetically modified poppy could be introduced to
reduce yields. Schweich said that many options had been
considered and he would be glad to discuss them further on a
separate visit, but that in the short term there was no
alternative to spray eradication.

19 (C) Nikel called the discussion "encouraging" and
highlighted the importance for Germany of mutually
reinforcing civilian and military efforts, as well as a
comprehensive strategy that incorporates the Afghan
Government. Germany is in for the long haul.

Parliamentarians Open But Critical
--------------


20. (C) Following a brief for press representatives, the
delegation next met with seven key members of the German
Bundestag: Ruprecht Polenz (CDU-Chairman of the Foreign
Relations Committee),Hans-Ulrich Klose (SPD-Deputy Chairman
of the Foreign Relations Committee),Andreas Schockenhoff
(CDU-Deputy Caucus Chairman),Walther Kolbow (SPD-Deputy
Caucus Chairman),Kerstin Mller (Greens-Caucus Spokeswoman
on Foreign Affairs),Rainer Stinner (FDP-Defense Committee
Member) and Bernd Siebert (CDU-Caucus Spokesman for Defense).
The parliamentarians were open-minded, though somewhat
critical on counter-narcotics.


21. (C) A number of parliamentarians said they could not be
too far in front of their electorate regarding out of area
military operations. They expressed concerns that additional
German casualties could turn already-skeptical public opinion
against German efforts in AFG. The U.S. side clarified its
understanding and discussed ways forward and where the U.S.
and Germany could coordinate efforts, including in
Badakhshan. Fears were raised that without a more concerted
effort to rebuild Afghanistan we could see the "Iraqization"
of the country. DAS Gastright responded that "Afghanistan is
not Iraq" to which several parliamentarians simultaneously
chimed "not yet."

MOI Responds to CT and Police Training Goals
--------------


22. (C) Meeting with Interior Ministry Deputy DG for Police
Affairs, Dr. Hans-Juergen Foerster, he said the progress
report of the German fact-finding commission on the police
training mission is expected the week of December 18. He
added Germany hopes to expand the police training mission
from the current 42 German trainers to 150-160 trainers from
throughout the EU (but with Germany still the lead country).
The end goal is to train 60,000 Afghan police. Foerster
noted the Bundestag needs to approve the mandate for the
German training mission annually, as is the case for the
military deployment.

23. (C) As in the Nikel meeting, PDAS Schweich outlined
counter-narcotics efforts. He also focused on the need to
amend the training curriculum to enhance counter-narcotics
and counter-insurgency capabilities as well as the importance
of pay and rank reform. He cited with concern evidence of
growing ties between narcotics producers/traffickers and the
Taliban, noting that this was a 180-degree departure from the
Taliban's policy of banning opium when in power.

24. (C) Foerster outlined Germany's interest in strengthening
controls along Afghanistan's borders, particularly with
China, since much of the chemicals needed for opium
processing in Afghanistan originate in China. The German
Federal Office of Criminal Investigation (BKA) has been

BERLIN 00000038 005.2 OF 005


tasked with producing a feasibility study for a project
designed to tighten border controls.

25. (C) Colonel Cicchinelli briefed on security sector issues
and listed areas for police-training improvement, including
(1) crowd control, (2) force protection, including IED
removal, (3) counter-insurgency capabilities, (4)
counter-narcotics capabilities, (5) rapid response
capabilities and (6) beefed up border monitoring.


26. (C) Comment: The four U.S. Principals were well-received
and provided a great deal of information to German
counterparts in a short visit, eliciting requests for future
meetings. With Germany wearing the dual EU/G8 Presidency hat
for the coming six months, post would welcome future visits
by one or more of the delegation to hone our message as
Germany attempts to move the ball forward in Afghanistan.
This cable has been cleared by Washington.
TIMKEN JR