Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07KABUL672
2007-03-01 07:12:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kabul
Cable title:
RUSSIAN FM SAYS NATO MUST LEAVE AFGHANISTAN
how-toVZCZCXRO1162 PP RUEHDBU DE RUEHBUL #0672/01 0600712 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 010712Z MAR 07 FM AMEMBASSY KABUL TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6461 INFO RUCNAFG/AFGHANISTAN COLLECTIVE RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 2885 RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC RUEKJCS/OSD WASHINGTON DC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 3497 RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 3698 RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KABUL 000672
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SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SA/FO, SCA/A, S/CT, S/CR, SCA/PAB, EUR/RPM
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR AID/ANE, AID/DCHA/DG
NSC FOR AHARRIMAN
OSD FOR KIMMITT
CENTCOM FOR CG CFC-A, CG CJTF-76 POLAD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/18/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER NATO RU IR AF
SUBJECT: RUSSIAN FM SAYS NATO MUST LEAVE AFGHANISTAN
Classified By: Ambassador Ronald Neumann for Reasons 1.4 (b) & (d)
------
SUMMARY
-------
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KABUL 000672
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SA/FO, SCA/A, S/CT, S/CR, SCA/PAB, EUR/RPM
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR AID/ANE, AID/DCHA/DG
NSC FOR AHARRIMAN
OSD FOR KIMMITT
CENTCOM FOR CG CFC-A, CG CJTF-76 POLAD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/18/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER NATO RU IR AF
SUBJECT: RUSSIAN FM SAYS NATO MUST LEAVE AFGHANISTAN
Classified By: Ambassador Ronald Neumann for Reasons 1.4 (b) & (d)
--------------
SUMMARY
--------------
1. (C) Drawing on Cold War rhetoric, Russian FM Lavrov told
FM Spanta on February 23 that NATO must leave Afghanistan as
it was an enduring presence against Russia (according to
Spanta's debrief). The GOR is also worried about Iran's
nuclear program and does not trust its regional intentions.
Lavrov was non-committal toward a request for wide-ranging
assistance. Separately, Spanta expressed anguish over
Karzai's instructions not to speak out publicly against the
draft amnesty bill. END SUMMARY.
--------------
Russian FM Wants NATO Out of Afghanistan
--------------
2. (C) On February 24, Foreign Minister Spanta briefed the
Ambassador on Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov's February 23
visit to Kabul, noting that Lavrov's tone was markedly
different from their last meeting when Spanta was in Moscow
approximately a month ago. In Moscow, Lavrov was friendly
and supportive of the war against terrorism in Afghanistan.
This time Lavrov used "cold war tones," and tersely commented
that NATO's presence in Afghanistan was "an enduring presence
against Russia" that "denied Russia its proper role in
Central Asia." Lavrov reportedly insisted that NATO "must
leave" Afghanistan and said that NATO "denied Russian
business interests" in Afghanistan. Spanta said that he told
Lavrov that NATO's relationship with Afghanistan is "key"
because Afghanistan cannot be secure without NATO. Spanta
added that NATO was not against Russian interests.
--------------
FM Asks for Russian Assistance
--------------
3. (C) Spanta informed the Ambassador that he had asked
Lavrov for assistance in providing larger stipends for Afghan
students wishing to study in Russia; help with rebuilding the
Foreign Ministry's archives; settling Afghanistan's debt with
Russia; and support in combating Afghanistan's enemies.
Lavrov did not make any definitive commitments in response to
Spanta's requests.
--------------
GOR Concerned About Iran
--------------
4. (C) Spanta said that Lavrov expressed concern about
Iran's intentions, specifically its nuclear program, as well
as in general. Lavrov characterized the GOI as "not
honorable," and told Spanta that Iran was "not proceeding
openly" with its agenda and was intentionally "hiding its
purpose." He added that this bothered the GOR a great deal.
-------------- --
Nothing to Indicate Russian Support for Taliban
-------------- --
5. (C) Changing topics, Spanta asked the Ambassador about
reports that the Russian government was providing weapons to
the Taliban. Spanta explained that the late Turkmenistan
President Niyazov told Spanta after a trip to Pakistan that
he had information indicating this. Spanta was unsure
whether the information was credible, or whether it was
perhaps misinformation disseminated to him by the GOP. The
Ambassador replied that he had never seen any report
indicating any GOR support for the Taliban.
--------------
FM Anguished Over Draft Amnesty Bill
--------------
6. (C) Following the conversation on Russia Spanta
expressed angst over how to handle the draft amnesty bill
that has made its way through Parliament and is on its way to
the President. (Note: Spanta requested a private meeting
KABUL 00000672 002 OF 002
with the Ambassador, and it was clear that something was
weighing heavily on his mind. End Note.). Spanta said that
Karzai had instructed him not to make any public statements
about the draft legislation, which went strongly against
Spanta's desire to speak out publicly in strong opposition to
the bill. The Ambassador counseled Spanta to remain patient
with the process and said he had faith the President would do
the right thing and not sign the bill into law.
Subsequently, President Karzai confirmed that he would not
sign the bill. When the Ambassador saw Spanta on February 27
the latter said he had held more talks with Karzai, and
Spanta seemed more relaxed about his position and relations
with Karzai.
NEUMANN
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SA/FO, SCA/A, S/CT, S/CR, SCA/PAB, EUR/RPM
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR AID/ANE, AID/DCHA/DG
NSC FOR AHARRIMAN
OSD FOR KIMMITT
CENTCOM FOR CG CFC-A, CG CJTF-76 POLAD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/18/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER NATO RU IR AF
SUBJECT: RUSSIAN FM SAYS NATO MUST LEAVE AFGHANISTAN
Classified By: Ambassador Ronald Neumann for Reasons 1.4 (b) & (d)
--------------
SUMMARY
--------------
1. (C) Drawing on Cold War rhetoric, Russian FM Lavrov told
FM Spanta on February 23 that NATO must leave Afghanistan as
it was an enduring presence against Russia (according to
Spanta's debrief). The GOR is also worried about Iran's
nuclear program and does not trust its regional intentions.
Lavrov was non-committal toward a request for wide-ranging
assistance. Separately, Spanta expressed anguish over
Karzai's instructions not to speak out publicly against the
draft amnesty bill. END SUMMARY.
--------------
Russian FM Wants NATO Out of Afghanistan
--------------
2. (C) On February 24, Foreign Minister Spanta briefed the
Ambassador on Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov's February 23
visit to Kabul, noting that Lavrov's tone was markedly
different from their last meeting when Spanta was in Moscow
approximately a month ago. In Moscow, Lavrov was friendly
and supportive of the war against terrorism in Afghanistan.
This time Lavrov used "cold war tones," and tersely commented
that NATO's presence in Afghanistan was "an enduring presence
against Russia" that "denied Russia its proper role in
Central Asia." Lavrov reportedly insisted that NATO "must
leave" Afghanistan and said that NATO "denied Russian
business interests" in Afghanistan. Spanta said that he told
Lavrov that NATO's relationship with Afghanistan is "key"
because Afghanistan cannot be secure without NATO. Spanta
added that NATO was not against Russian interests.
--------------
FM Asks for Russian Assistance
--------------
3. (C) Spanta informed the Ambassador that he had asked
Lavrov for assistance in providing larger stipends for Afghan
students wishing to study in Russia; help with rebuilding the
Foreign Ministry's archives; settling Afghanistan's debt with
Russia; and support in combating Afghanistan's enemies.
Lavrov did not make any definitive commitments in response to
Spanta's requests.
--------------
GOR Concerned About Iran
--------------
4. (C) Spanta said that Lavrov expressed concern about
Iran's intentions, specifically its nuclear program, as well
as in general. Lavrov characterized the GOI as "not
honorable," and told Spanta that Iran was "not proceeding
openly" with its agenda and was intentionally "hiding its
purpose." He added that this bothered the GOR a great deal.
-------------- --
Nothing to Indicate Russian Support for Taliban
-------------- --
5. (C) Changing topics, Spanta asked the Ambassador about
reports that the Russian government was providing weapons to
the Taliban. Spanta explained that the late Turkmenistan
President Niyazov told Spanta after a trip to Pakistan that
he had information indicating this. Spanta was unsure
whether the information was credible, or whether it was
perhaps misinformation disseminated to him by the GOP. The
Ambassador replied that he had never seen any report
indicating any GOR support for the Taliban.
--------------
FM Anguished Over Draft Amnesty Bill
--------------
6. (C) Following the conversation on Russia Spanta
expressed angst over how to handle the draft amnesty bill
that has made its way through Parliament and is on its way to
the President. (Note: Spanta requested a private meeting
KABUL 00000672 002 OF 002
with the Ambassador, and it was clear that something was
weighing heavily on his mind. End Note.). Spanta said that
Karzai had instructed him not to make any public statements
about the draft legislation, which went strongly against
Spanta's desire to speak out publicly in strong opposition to
the bill. The Ambassador counseled Spanta to remain patient
with the process and said he had faith the President would do
the right thing and not sign the bill into law.
Subsequently, President Karzai confirmed that he would not
sign the bill. When the Ambassador saw Spanta on February 27
the latter said he had held more talks with Karzai, and
Spanta seemed more relaxed about his position and relations
with Karzai.
NEUMANN