NORWAY NONCOMMITTAL ON DEPLOYMENT WITH DUTCH,

C O N F I D E N T I A L KABUL 002987

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA/FO DAS GASTRIGHT, SCA/A, S/CRS, S/CT, EUR
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR AID/ANE, AID/DCHA/DG,
NSC FOR HARRIMAN
OSD FOR SHIVERS
CENTCOM FOR CFC-A, CG CJTF-76, POLAD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/25/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL AF
SUBJECT: NORWAY NONCOMMITTAL ON DEPLOYMENT WITH DUTCH,
COMMITTED TO FOLLOW THROUGH ON DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS IN THE
NORTH AND ON ENERGY PROJECTS

Classified By: CDA Chris Dell, reasons 1.4 B and D.


1. (C) SUMMARY: Norwegian MFA Political Director Kai Eide,
in an August 30 office call on DCM, was noncommittal about
how Norway would respond to a Dutch request that Norwegian
troops be deployed alongside the Dutch in Uruzgan province.
Eide indicated that the GON would remain engaged in the North
even as some troops were withdrawn. Other topics discussed
included the outlook for the September 23 meeting of the
Joint Coordination and Monitoring Board (JCMB) in New York,
the Afghan National Police, counternarcotics and Norwegian
energy projects. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) Dutch Troop Request: Noting press reports, Dell asked
Eide whether the Dutch have approached Oslo to join the Dutch
contigent in Uruzgan and thus help diffuse a growing domestic
Dutch debate on whether to extend its commitment to keep
troops in Afghanistan. Eide confirmed the Dutch had made the
request, and he deplored press leaks on the issue that only
complicate the GON's ability to think through the issue in a
measured way. He noted that Norway does not have a presence
in the South, that it has been considering consolidating its
presence in the North, and that "continuity is important."
The Norwegians are now familiar with their area in the North
and they have ongoing projects (e.g., 82 schools) that need
to be maintained. The Norwegian QRF in Mazar-i-Sharif will
have to be rotated out at some point, and Norwegian Special
Forces in Kabul are scheduled to depart on September 30.
Eide said the Dutch request presented difficult political
issues that the GON will have to consider carefully. The
Foreign Minister went to Uruzgan to visit the Dutch contigent
and to see how they operate.


3. (C) UNGA/Joint Coordination and Monitoring Board (JCMB):
Eide inquired about U.S. views on what the September 23
meeting in NY with the SYG, Karzai and others attending in
"the JCMB format" can accomplish. Dell anticipated that,
given the UN's preferred format, the meeting will largely by
symbolic, with no tour d'table and very likely a pre-agreed
statement. U.S. would like the meeting to focus on
counternarcotics and security, and to lay the foundation for
a substantive JCMB in Kabul on economic integration. Eide
said this would be acceptable to Norway if there is a balance
between security and development issues. In response to
Eide's inquiry, Dell said the USG position regarding a new
Special Envoy remained under discussion in Washington.


4. (C) Afghan National Police (ANP): Eide and Dell concurred
that the ANP is currently ineffective and needs serious
reorganization. Eide noted that Norway supports the EU
Police Mission but it is a modest effort; the EU needs to
move significantly beyond current projected numbers of
trainers, to a number equal to that of the U.S. He added
that the ANP should be trained as a paramilitary force.
responding to Dell's questions, Eide said that Norway will be
able to contribute 18-20 police trainers for all
international police missions. It was his view that they
should be concentrated on the highest priority (Afghanistan)
for maximum effect (including with the EU),but political
considerations may lead to their being parceled out among
several different missions (Kosovo, Darfur). He suggested
that serious efforts needs to be made at the UN and at NATO
to get more trainers on the ground.


5. (C) Energy Sector: Eide said the GON Energy Ministry is
formulating proposals to develop one oil field and two gas
fields in Afghanistan.
DELL