Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07RIGA61
2007-01-23 10:27:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Riga
Cable title:
HELPING LATVIA DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGY
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHRA #0061 0231027 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 231027Z JAN 07 FM AMEMBASSY RIGA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3718 INFO RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 2148 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L RIGA 000061
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/23/2012
TAGS: MOPS PREL EAID NATO AF LG
SUBJECT: HELPING LATVIA DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGY
FOR AFGHANISTAN
REF: A) STATE 7434 B) RIGA 55 C) RIGA 56
Classified By: Ambassador Catherine Todd Bailey. Reason: 1.4 (D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L RIGA 000061
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/23/2012
TAGS: MOPS PREL EAID NATO AF LG
SUBJECT: HELPING LATVIA DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGY
FOR AFGHANISTAN
REF: A) STATE 7434 B) RIGA 55 C) RIGA 56
Classified By: Ambassador Catherine Todd Bailey. Reason: 1.4 (D)
1. (U) This is an action request. See para 4.
2. (C) Ref A requests a full court press for Allied
contributions to Afghanistan in advance of the January 26
ministerial. We are concerned that providing the Latvians a
laundry list of initiatives where they might help will simply
overwhelm them and not result in an effective contribution to
the mission. As reported ref b, the Latvian government is
developing a comprehensive strategy for Afghanistan. It will
be drafted by the MOD, although the responsible officer is an
MFA employee on detail. We believe that the GOL would
benefit from a short (two - three day) mentoring session from
a USG official who could help the Latvians develop a true
comprehensive strategy for Afghanistan that fully surveys the
Latvian interagency community to see what capabilities are
available and learn how to match those with needs on the
ground in Afghanistan.
3. (C) We have previewed this idea with both MFA and MOD
officials and it was warmly received. As noted ref c, Latvia
is still trying to find its place as a member of the EU and
NATO and is often not sure how to bring contributions to the
table beyond simply sending troops. Providing them
assistance in developing this plan for the most pressing
need, Afghanistan, will help them develop the institutional
capability to do similar projects in future.
4. (U) Action request: Embassy requests that Washington
agencies identify an appropriate person who could be sent to
Latvia for a period of two - three full working days to
assist GOL officials in developing a comprehensive strategy
for Afghanistan. The person should have both strong
substantive knowledge of the situation in Afghanistan as well
as experience at interagency policy development.
BAILEY
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/23/2012
TAGS: MOPS PREL EAID NATO AF LG
SUBJECT: HELPING LATVIA DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGY
FOR AFGHANISTAN
REF: A) STATE 7434 B) RIGA 55 C) RIGA 56
Classified By: Ambassador Catherine Todd Bailey. Reason: 1.4 (D)
1. (U) This is an action request. See para 4.
2. (C) Ref A requests a full court press for Allied
contributions to Afghanistan in advance of the January 26
ministerial. We are concerned that providing the Latvians a
laundry list of initiatives where they might help will simply
overwhelm them and not result in an effective contribution to
the mission. As reported ref b, the Latvian government is
developing a comprehensive strategy for Afghanistan. It will
be drafted by the MOD, although the responsible officer is an
MFA employee on detail. We believe that the GOL would
benefit from a short (two - three day) mentoring session from
a USG official who could help the Latvians develop a true
comprehensive strategy for Afghanistan that fully surveys the
Latvian interagency community to see what capabilities are
available and learn how to match those with needs on the
ground in Afghanistan.
3. (C) We have previewed this idea with both MFA and MOD
officials and it was warmly received. As noted ref c, Latvia
is still trying to find its place as a member of the EU and
NATO and is often not sure how to bring contributions to the
table beyond simply sending troops. Providing them
assistance in developing this plan for the most pressing
need, Afghanistan, will help them develop the institutional
capability to do similar projects in future.
4. (U) Action request: Embassy requests that Washington
agencies identify an appropriate person who could be sent to
Latvia for a period of two - three full working days to
assist GOL officials in developing a comprehensive strategy
for Afghanistan. The person should have both strong
substantive knowledge of the situation in Afghanistan as well
as experience at interagency policy development.
BAILEY