VISITING GERMAN DELEGATION ASKS FOR MORE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KABUL 001015 SIPDIS SIPDIS DOD FOR USDP EDELMAN STATE FOR SCA/FO A/S BOUCHER AND SAS GASTRIGHT, SCA/A, S/CRS, SCA/PB, S/CT, EUR/RPM STATE PASS TO USAID FOR AID/ANE, AID/DCHA/DG NSC PASS TO AHARRIMAN OSD FOR SHIVERS CG CJTF-76, POLAD, JICCENT E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/24/2017 TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER ASEC MARR AF SUBJECT: VISITING GERMAN DELEGATION ASKS FOR MORE COOPERATION ON POLICE Classified By: Ambassador Ronald Neumann for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY. A German government delegation, visiting to inaugurate the newly completed German Police Program Office facility in Kabul, discussed Afghan National Police (ANP) training and reform with Ambassador Neumann, emphasizing the need for more intensive U.S.-EU cooperation. The Germans assessed that the recently established Internatioanl Police Coordination Board, supported by a four-times larger EU Secretariat together with U.S. man-power would provide a good SIPDIS chance for success, but there was rooom for improved civil-military cooperation on police. The Ambassador assured them of our commitment to close cooperation and emphasized the need for the EU mission to be staffed to sustain the pace required by close cooperation. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) On March 24, Ambassador Neumann met with a German government delegation led by Deputy Federal Minister of Interior responsible for police matters Dr. August Hanning (also former head of the German intelligence service),and Minister of Interior of the State of Berlin Dr. Erhart Korting, and accompanied by German Special Representative for Police Reform Ambassador Helmut Frick. The discussion touched on donor coordination, governance, and poppy eradication, and focussed on U.S.-EU cooperation in Afghan National Police (ANP) training. ¶3. (C) Hanning praised the cooperation achieved thus far. He called for better cooperation between the U.S. and EU on ANP training under the auspices of the recently established International Police Coordination Board (ICPB). Korting clarified that this meant more intensive cooperation on a daily basis. Hanning briefed that the EU Secretariat was that will support the ICPB "shaping up" and should arrive in two months. It would be staffed ideally 45 percent by the EU, 45 percent by the U.S., and 10 percent by others. He said U.S. man-power combined with a four-times larger EU mission would have a very good chance of success, but that they were experiencing difficulties. U.S. input was coming from the military side, while EU input focused on the civilian police side. He called for merging these approaches. ¶4. (C) Ambassador Neumann emphasized that most of what we did in Afghanistan was implementation, not policy, and that cooperation in implementation among international partners was therefore most important. He said there could be no question about our willingness to cooperate, including by participating in the IPCB, and that civil-military relations always required work, including within U.S. forces. We needed to focus on solving specific problems, not on theory, the Ambassador explained. Hanning agreed that Ministry of Interior reform was also an important priority. Ambassador Neumann emphasized that the needs of war have required substantial alteration of the police program over the last year. Often this has to be done quickly. We want to expand cooperation. But when a decision is needed it cannot wait for the EU team to turn from one issue to another. Therefore, while we have every desire to cooperate, the EU must staff their team sufficiently to maintain the work pace. ¶5. (C) Ambassador Neumann asked whether his assumption was correct that larger EU involvement with the ANP implied a reduced likelihood of folding the program into ISAF. Hanning said this was a difficult question because there is always tension within the EU over NATO. Berlin's impression was that more should be done through NATO, but that more also needed to be done on the civilian side. Ambassador Neumann emphasized that we did not need the same approach throughout Afghanistan. He said the north was "quiet, but not stable," and that we should be using the opportunity to build governance there. He was aware of the view in Berlin that KABUL 00001015 002 OF 002 the U.S. "only wanted to fight" while we should be building things, but he said that we are doing well on both fronts in the East. ¶6. (C) Hanning said that it appeared the Taliban had established its own system in Helmand. Ambassador Neumann described the situation as having many layers and actors, including ISAF. Ultimately, the Afghan Government had to be credible and prevent corruption, especially in the justice sector. Ambassador Neumann said we have no choice but to do eradication. Good governance was the goal, but you cannot grow good governance on a foundation of rot. He quoted Minister of Interior Zarar who once told him, "Where there is poppy there is no government, no justice, no police, and no development." NEUMANN