Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BUDAPEST1722
2007-10-15 10:50:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Budapest
Cable title:  

DASD CAGAN'S TALKS WITH THE HUNGARIANS

Tags:  MARR MASS PGOV PREL NATO NL HU 
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VZCZCXYZ0004
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHUP #1722/01 2881050
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 151050Z OCT 07
FM AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2083
INFO RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEAHQA/OSAF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY
RHMFISS/HQ USAFE RAMSTEIN AB GE PRIORITY
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHMFISS/AMC SCOTT AFB IL PRIORITY
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 0423
RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L BUDAPEST 001722 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/FO, EUR/NCE MARC NORDBERG

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/10/2017
TAGS: MARR MASS PGOV PREL NATO NL HU
SUBJECT: DASD CAGAN'S TALKS WITH THE HUNGARIANS

Classified By: P/E Counselor Eric Gaudiosi; Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L BUDAPEST 001722

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/FO, EUR/NCE MARC NORDBERG

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/10/2017
TAGS: MARR MASS PGOV PREL NATO NL HU
SUBJECT: DASD CAGAN'S TALKS WITH THE HUNGARIANS

Classified By: P/E Counselor Eric Gaudiosi; Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) Summary. DASD Cagan discussed the upcoming Iraqi
Coalition Conference and the potential Hungarian Operational,
Mentoring and Liaison Team (OMLT) contribution to the Dutch
PRT in meetings with senior Hungarian MOD, MFA and
Parliamentary Defense Committee representatives. Stressing
the importance of having Hungarian "decision-makers" at the
Iraqi Coalition Conference, Cagan urged MOD State Secretary
Vadai to attend. Underlining the importance of continued
Dutch presence in Afghanistan, Cagan urged the Hungarian
interlocutors to quickly move forward with a "agreement in
principle" in response to the Dutch request to send an OMLT
to Uruzgan Province in August 2008. She also asked the
Hungarian MOD to consider deploying a small contingent of
their Special Operations unit to Uruzgan with the OMLT. In a
follow-up meeting with the Ambassador and Karoly Banai, the
Prime Minister's Security and Foreign Policy advisor,the
Hungarians were persuaded as Banai said he is preparing a
memo to the Prime Minister recommending approval,
specifically citing the upcoming EU meetings October 18-19 as
his deadline for giving the GoNL an indication of Hungary's
agreement. All three Hungarian representatives requested
support for Hungary's offer to base the Strategic Airlift
Capability (SAC) C-17s at Papa Airbase. DASD Cagan stated,
that although not in her portfolio, she would convey the
message to Washington. End summary.


2. (C) In a meeting with MOD State Secretary Agnes Vadai and
Deputy CHOD, General Mikita, DASD Cagan, joined by the
Ambassador, stressed the importance of the Iraqi Coalition
Conference scheduled for October29-31 in Bahrain. Outlining
the theme of the Conference to transition to the next stage
in Iraq, Cagan noted, that with senior-level NATO, EU and UN
representation, Hungary needed "decision-makers" at the

conference. Commenting that this is less about operations
and more about policy, Cagan urged Vadai to attend. (Note.
The Hungarian MOD plans to send the Operations Center
Director, Brigadier General Szucs; Post views Szucs as an
inappropriate representative for this conference. In an
October 10 follow-on meeting with the Prime Minister's
Security and Foreign Policy advisor, Karoly Banai, the
Ambassador encouraged that both Banai and Vadai represent
Hungary at the Conference. Banai expressed interest and
undertook to check his calendar for conflicts and to
coordinate with Vadai. End note.) Praising Hungary's role
in NATO's Iraqi training mission, Cagan asked Hungary to
consider expanding their role, sending trainers to help
establish professional military development. Briefly
providing an overview of Hungarian deployments outside the
country, as well as comments on the personnel and resource
constraints faced by the military, Vadai informed the
Ambassador and the DASD that Hungary will officially announce
a six-month extension of their Iraqi training commitment at
the upcoming NATO ministerial on October 24. She stated that
additional commitments would require some regrouping to
remain close to the five-party agreement on a 1000 troop
force deployment ceiling outside of Hungary. While she
appreciated the offer to attend the Coalition Conference,
Vadai did not commit to attending.


3. (C) Expressing gratitude for Hungary's PRT efforts in
Baghlan Province, Cagan encouraged the Hungarians to consider
a plus-up to their civilian, MFA staff to help with more
Provincial development projects. Continuing, Cagan outlined
current political efforts to help the Dutch Government
maintain their presence in Afghanistan beyond August 2008.
Stating "we need your help and the Dutch need your help,"
Cagan urged a Hungarian "agreement in principle" within the
week to provide a 20-person OMLT next August. Such a
decision would provide essential support to the Dutch in
their upcoming political decision process on their own Afghan
mission. Cagan noted that the Dutch have committed to
provide training and equipment for the OMLT, whose focus
would be mentoring the Afghan National Army in Uruzgan. As a
further incentive, Cagan said she understood that the Dutch
had discussed waiving the debt (approximately 3 million
Euros) related to Dutch equipment and infrastructure
remaining in Baghlan Province, now used by the Hungarian PRT.
She also understood that the Dutch would support Hungary's
proposal to bed-down the SAC C-17s at Papa Airbase. The DASD
also suggested that the Hungarians send a small, 5-10 person
Special Operations contingent to provide force protection for
the OMLT. Cagan said the U.S. would look at financial
assistance for the special forces, as well as equipment
loans, if the Hungarians deploy SF personnel to either
Afghanistan or Iraq.


4. (C) Vadai began her response by commenting on the
complementary relationship between "America's dynamism and
Europe's patience," and stating that Hungary wants to be a
good member of NATO, sharing the "burden of security."
Acknowledging the DASD's comment that "success in Afghanistan
is very important for NATO," Vadai stated she would discuss
the request with her military leadership over the next two
days to assess the military capabilities. Vadai commented
that "there are supporters and non-supporters of an OMLT
deployment and we have to be very careful as to expectations
and risks." Additionally, recognizing the timing issue
related to the Dutch Government's decision, she noted that
the OMLT deployment would require a discussion with the Prime
Minister and a five-party agreement through an open, and
democratic process. On the SF deployment recommendation,
Vadai said they need more time to understand the issue and to
talk to the Dutch concerning operational aspects. She
reiterated that the planned SF deployment, now scheduled for
the October-November 2008 time frame is without caveats.
Such a deployment will be more dangerous and "we need to make
our citizens understand that this is a different world."
(Comment: Post believes the Hungarians are more likely to
address OMLT force protection requirements with other, non-SF
units. End comment.)


5. (C) In both meetings with the MFA Security Policy and
Non-Proliferation Department Deputy Director, Gabor Horvath,
and Parliamentary Defense Committee Chairman, Janos Lazar,
the DASD again thanked the Hungarians for their support in
Afghanistan and Iraq. Noting the urgent decision timeline,
she outlined the request for a Hungarian OMLT with the Dutch.
Horvath noted that the Dutch Foreign Minister was in
Budapest last week and one discussion topic concerned the
proposed deployment. He believes there is little hesitance
at the political level, stating "Hungary is a committed ally,
even with its modest capabilities." Referencing the
Coalition conference, Horvath stated the MFA had not yet
decided on a representative. (Note. In a follow-on meeting
with PolOff, Horvath stated that the MFA would find it
difficult to send a representative, as the estimated 10,000
dollar cost was an issue with constrained Ministry finances.
End Note.)


6. (C) Lazar thanked the DASD for the trust and honesty to
share information on the Afghan issue. He reconfirmed that a
Parliamentary vote is not required for the OMLT deployment,
but noted the practice of every government since 1990 to
obtain parliamentary party consensus on such proposals.
Speaking in his role as an opposition FIDESZ member, as well
as Defense Committee Chairman, Lazar foresees no obstacles,
stating "such consensus would take only 10 minutes." Lazar
stated Hungary takes their military and civil
responsibilities seriously and words and deeds are important,
"either we are a NATO member, or not." He believes that
Hungarian soldiers are up to the proposed tasks, and Hungary
is committed to the West and trans-atlantic cooperation.


7. (SBU) Not surprisingly, the Hungarians raised the C-17
basing issue at each of the three meetings. The consistent
message - "This decision is good for NATO, which has a
strategic airlift shortfall. Our offer provides a robust
NATO footprint in the region that is currently missing. We
want to do more than participate, we want to contribute. We
don't 'want to be there, but not be there.'" DASD Cagan
noted the Hungarian views and acknowledged the importance to
the Alliance and Hungary. Although outside her portfolio,
she agreed to carry the message back to Washington,
underlining again U.S. thanks for Hungarian contributions in
Iraq and Afghanistan.


8. (C) Comment. The Hungarians are moving closer to a
decision on the OMLT deployment in a fairly quick manner.
They understand the connection with the Dutch decision. Banai
told the Ambassador he hopes the Prime Minister will be able
to deliver a positive response to his Dutch counterpart
during the EU Ministerial on October 19. Although the
Hungarians held discussions about a possible OMLT with the
Germans in the north, a decision to support the Dutch would
be a positive step - both politically to help the Dutch, and
operationally for coalition operations in Afghanistan.
Although they have not linked the issue to our decision on
Papa, senior officials across the political spectrum continue
to look forward to our favorable decision.


9. (U) DASD Cagan has cleared on this cable.
FOLEY