Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BRUSSELS493
2007-02-13 15:45:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
USEU Brussels
Cable title:  

EU FOCUSES ON PAKISTAN, WARY ON AFGHANISTAN,

Tags:  PGOV PREL EUN AF PK 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO6262
RR RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHBS #0493/01 0441545
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 131545Z FEB 07
FM USEU BRUSSELS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC
INFO RUCNAFG/AFGHANISTAN COLLECTIVE
RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BRUSSELS 000493 

SIPDIS

NOFORN
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/12/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL EUN AF PK
SUBJECT: EU FOCUSES ON PAKISTAN, WARY ON AFGHANISTAN,
UNSURE ON CENTRAL EUROPE

Classified By: USEU PolMinCouns Laurence Wohlers for
Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BRUSSELS 000493

SIPDIS

NOFORN
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/12/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL EUN AF PK
SUBJECT: EU FOCUSES ON PAKISTAN, WARY ON AFGHANISTAN,
UNSURE ON CENTRAL EUROPE

Classified By: USEU PolMinCouns Laurence Wohlers for
Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C/NF) SUMMARY: Assistant Secretary of State for South
and Central Asian Affairs Richard Boucher met with senior
officials from the European Commission and Council and with
Representatives of the European Council Political and
Security Committee January 25-26 to discuss Afghanistan,
Pakistan, and Central Asia. European Union interlocutors
recommended highlighting positive achievements in Afghanistan
to counter negative perceptions that the war,s end is not in
sight. While EU representatives expressed concerns about
Pakistan,s commitment to the Global War on Terror and its
actions along the border with Afghanistan, all recognized the
importance of enhanced EU-Pakistan engagement, especially in
the political arena. The need for a well-designed and
well-funded Central Asian strategy and concerns about
Uzbekistan were foremost on EU minds in discussions related
to that region. END SUMMARY.

Afghanistan: Showcasing continued commitment
--------------


2. (C/NF) Assistant Secretary Boucher met European Union
Director General for Foreign and Security Policy Robert
Cooper on January 25 to discuss developments in Afghanistan.
Cooper told Boucher the EU is concerned that &Afghanistan is
not winnable.8 A more forceful positive message of recent
accomplishments achieved in Afghanistan is needed to dispel
the negative perception held by some Europeans, who wonder if
real gains can be made.


3. (C/NF) EU interlocutors appeared impressed with the
financial magnitude of the recent multi-billion U.S. dollar
budget request to support Afghan stabilization. The EU,s
proposed Afghan Police Support Mission, characterized as
&modest8 by Cooper, will likely move forward, but will not
be joined with a judicial sector reform package.


4. (C/NF) In a January 26 address to the twenty seven-member
EU Political and Security Committee, Boucher began by stating
that we need to &win the war and win the peace.8 It is not

&just about money, but about people.8 Political and
Security Committee Representatives listened intently to
Boucher highlight accomplishments in Afghanistan in
education, where girls have achieved a 40 percent enrollment
rate, road network expansion and increased access to health
care. He informed the Committee that the 10.6 billion U.S.
dollar investment, when approved by Congress, would be used
to increase police support, expand and train the Afghan army
and police, develop electrical grids and roads, and expand
governance to outlying areas. Boucher also noted that the
substantial commitment was aimed at countering the Taliban,s
threatened &Spring Offensive.8

Pakistan: EU will expand dialogue
--------------


5. (C/NF) Cooper informed Boucher that the EU is planning to
expand political cooperation with Pakistan and increase
assistance. An EU-Pakistan high-level dialogue planned for
February 8 is intended to elevate EU-Pakistani engagement.
EU Counter-terrorism Coordinator Gijs DeVries,s planned
visit to Pakistan February 7-8 will focus on increased
cooperation in the War on Terror. EU representatives have
expressed separately that Pakistan uses its progress on
counter-terrorism efforts and accommodation of Afghan
refugees as bargaining chips to push for greater EU market
access. Pakistani representatives have communicated to the
EU that EU &trade, not aid8 is what Pakistan desires most.


6. (C/NF) In a separate meeting with European Commission
Director General for Asia Jim Moran, Boucher was told that
Pakistan has prioritized trade as one of its greatest areas
of interest with the EU. Moran said the EU would provide
approximately 200 million euros over a four-year period.
Reconstruction opportunity zones, assistance in rural
development, environmental rehabilitation and resettlement of
Afghan refugees are areas under consideration. Moran added
the Commission would send an election observation mission to
cover the elections planned for the fall.


7. (C/NF) The Italian Political and Security Committee
Representative questioned Boucher whether applying public
pressure on Pakistan makes it more difficult for Musharraf to
act in tribal areas and frontier provinces. He wondered
whether the worsening personal and political relationship
between Afghan President Karzai and President Musharraf

BRUSSELS 00000493 002 OF 003


contributed to Pakistan,s ineffectiveness.


8. (C/NF) There is a general feeling that Pakistan should do
more to counter terrorism, but defining an effective strategy
has been problematic, according to the Dutch Committee
Representative. Pakistan is frustrated by the West,s
demands that it do more, and points to the approximately
80,000 Pakistani troops, who patrol the Afghanistan-Pakistan
border, as well as the mining of the border, as
demonstrations of Pakistani commitment to the War on Terror.
He wondered aloud what the EU could do to assist with
Pakistan,s complaints about the millions of Afghan refugees
who reside in camps.


9. (C/NF) Boucher told the Political and Security Committee
that Pakistan has become critical to the War on Terror and
said he believed President Musharraf was personally
committed. Stabilization of Pakistan remains important, and
it is critical that the international community support
Pakistani moves toward democracy, he said. The U.S. plans to
increase assistance to Pakistan, especially in border areas.


10. (C/NF) Increased high-level meetings between Afghan and
Pakistani representatives were also a positive development.
Boucher added that while we should be frank in communicating
our concerns about effectiveness with Pakistan, we should not
lose sight of the need to strongly support Pakistan,s move
towards a moderate Muslim state.


11. (C/NF) Boucher stated that Pakistan was cooperating with
Canada to address concerns related to proposed landmines to
prevent illegal movements along the border with Afghanistan.
Refugee camps are a legitimate concern, he said, and the
international community should design incentives for
resettlement. He added the EU should consider possible trade
opportunities within a discrete geographic area, such as the
border. The U.S. is considering assistance to facilitate
movement of duty-free goods, linked to industry
diversification (such as marble extraction). Boucher noted
that this more narrow type of EU intervention might be more
marketable to EU Member States who are wary of a broad trade
agreement with Pakistan.


12. (U) An EU-Pakistan Ministerial was held in Berlin on
February 8 and resulted in a Joint Declaration. Both parties
agreed to hold the first EC-Pakistan Joint Commission in 2007
and to address trade as a part of that dialogue. The
Declaration noted further that both parties agreed to:
- development of a broad, formal political dialogue;
- political and regional director-level meetings in
between ministerial meetings; and
- expert-level meetings in several policy areas,
including: interfaith dialogue, counter-terrorism,
counter-narcotics, non-proliferation, human rights and good
governance.

European Commission on Central Asia: Working on a Strategy
-------------- --------------


13. (C/NF) European Commission Director General for Eastern
Europe and Central Asia Hugues Mingarelli informed Assistant
Secretary Boucher that a new strategy for Central Asia is

SIPDIS
under preparation and will be presented in June by the EU
German Presidency. The intent is to elevate Central Asia in
the view of EU Member States. In response to Boucher,s
question on how to sustain the German presidency,s focus on
Central Asia after the presidency ends, Mingarelli
acknowledged there was no guarantee they could.
Recommendations made to Portuguese representatives stressed
the importance of launching concrete initiatives, with
financial backing, by June, to ensure continuity.


14. (C/NF) Mingarelli confirmed the budget for Central Asia
would increase, but told Boucher the exact amount remained
unconfirmed. He estimated an increase from 50 million Euros
per year to between 80 to 100 million Euros per year for the
five Central Asian countries. He emphasized there was not
yet a clear plan on how the funds would be expended, but
believed expenditures for energy, transport, good governance,
and environment appeared most likely.


15. (C/NF) On transportation links within Central Asia,
Mingarelli said the European Commission has been helping
countries regularize their framework, with some success.
They have ministerial level meetings each year to ensure
there is a political &blessing8 of the experts, work,
which is primarily focused on technical norms and the
regulatory environment, he added. Mingarelli added that

BRUSSELS 00000493 003 OF 003


Turkmenistan expressed an interest in EU assistance with
education outreach, including exchanges, scholarships, and
regional programs.


16. (C/NF) A European Commission trip to Uzbekistan to
discuss problems in the Andijon region went better than
expected, according to Mingarelli,s staff. The Uzbeks were,
however, reluctant to discuss details of civilian deaths. The
EU considered it &an opening,8 nonetheless, and a second
informal discussion is planned. In response to Boucher,s
comments on the problems facing U.S.-funded non-governmental
organizations that work in Uzbekistan, Mingarelli said
EU-sponsored NGOs complained about difficulties, particularly
in the area of NGO registration. He was optimistic, though,
that the EU could continue effective engagement, despite
difficulties.


17. (C/NF) Boucher concluded his comments by recommending the
EU express appreciation to Kyrgyzstan for the use of Manas
Air Base. It is a contribution to the War on Terror and such
acknowledgment would be welcomed, he added.


18. (C/NF) In remarks to the Political and Security Committee
on Central Asia, Boucher characterized the region as
constituting struggling democracies with modest economic and
educational opportunities. He said there was great potential
given the young population and the apparent desire for
democracy. He offered education, technology and the rule of
law as possible areas of engagement. Boucher reminded the
Committee that countries of the region were particularly
concerned about drug smuggling and terrorism.


19. (C/NF) The German Representative asked how the U.S. dealt
with Uzbekistan and the pace of democratization in
Kazakhstan. Boucher said the U.S. continues to pursue
effective relations with Uzbekistan in the areas of
exchanges, border control and anti-smuggling. On Kazakhstan,
Boucher said the U.S. continues to look for greater
commitment by Kazakhstan and said Kazakhstan must be pressed
to identify how its actions will exemplify the ideals of the
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.


20. (U) This cable has been cleared by the Bureau of South
and Central Asian Affairs.

GRAY
.