NAC-PSC DISCUSSES EU-NATO COORDINATION IN KOSOVO

C O N F I D E N T I A L USNATO 000138 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/27/2017 TAGS: KCRM NATO PGOV PHUM PREL SR SUBJECT: NAC-PSC DISCUSSES EU-NATO COORDINATION IN KOSOVO Classified By: Ambassador Victoria Nuland, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Summary: Immediately following the February 26 NAC-PSC on Bosnia, NAC and PSC Ambassadors (with Cypriot and Maltese representatives present) met "informally" to discuss NATO/EU coordination in Kosovo. Both NATO SYG De Hoop Scheffer and EU High Representative/SYG Solana called for close coordination between the two organizations during the transition from UNMIK to an EU Rule of Law mission. De Hoop Scheffer reported that staff talks between NATO and the EU regarding technical arrangements on six areas of common concern are going well. Solana stressed that the ESDP could not deploy until a UNSCR endorsing the Ahtisaari plan was adopted. Solana cautioned that it was not clear how long the Security Council would deliberate, and the period leading up to adoption of the SCR would be the most risky for Kosovo. Several PermReps urged de Hoop Scheffer and Solana to consult with the UN to assure UNMIK's strength is maintained until the ESDP mission is in place. Ambassador Nuland said that the EU had invited the U.S. to participate in its ESDP mission, and that the USG was looking very carefully at this possibility. The Turkish Ambassador said that his government would permit informal NAC-PSC meetings only as warranted and according to circumstances, noting that the EU and NATO already have an existing framework for consultations. During the formal NAC-PSC the Ambassadors discussed defense reform and political developments in Bosnia. End Summary. Kosovo: NATO and the EU Agree Close Cooperation Needed -------------- -------------- ¶2. (C) The SYG reported that he and Solana (who had met for 45 minutes beforehand) agreed that the EU and NATO needed to be a "united team" in Kosovo. De Hoop Scheffer said NATO needs to work closely with the pending EU ESDP rule-of-law mission, and that cooperation between the two organizations in Bosnia should be used as a model for Kosovo. Staff talks between NATO and the EU on preliminary technical arrangements on six areas of common concern were going well. Options for higher level political endorsement of these arrangements would need to be considered at the appropriate time, fully respecting each organization's prerogatives. The SYG added he is confident of KFOR's ability to support UNMIK and Kosovar forces. ¶3. (C) HR Solana confirmed that the EU fully supports Ahtisaari's mission, and pointed out the need for the international community's "coherence" regarding Kosovo. At the same time, the international community needs to treat Serbia with "generosity, and with a constructive approach." Solana stressed and revealed at several other points, that it is "fundamental" that an additional UNSCR be adopted prior to any EU ESDP mission deploying to Kosovo. He reemphasized the need for an "appropriate, well-defined" resolution, saying the EU mission would be "impossible" without it. He pointed out that, once Ahtisaari has forwarded his proposals to the UN, it is not clear how long the Security Council might deliberate. This period of deliberation will be the most risky for Kosovo. During this complex time, KFOR and UNMIK will be the international forces responsible for security. Solana also stressed the need for the ESDP mission to work closely with NATO, both in the field and in Brussels. He noted that a large percentage of police in UNMIK are Europeans, and will stay in their positions for the ESDP mission. Solana added that Kosovo was a "unique case," and not a "precedent" for other conflicts, alluding to frozen conflicts in other regions. ¶4. (C) Several PermReps (Estonia, Czech Republic, Hungary, the Netherlands, UK, Bulgaria, Portugal, and Sweden) supported further NAC-PSC discussions on Kosovo, and called for close EU-NATO relations. Ambassador Nuland also welcomed the informal session, noting that when Allies and the two SYGs confer and reach agreement it sends a strong message. She urged Allies to repeat these common positions in Moscow, Pristina, the UN and in Belgrade. The U.S. is doing its part in Kosovo, she added, and encouraged flexibility on the part of the EU and Allies. Ambassador Nuland emphasized the need for UNMIK to remain in Kosovo until an ESDP mission is in place (a view echoed by several other PermReps),adding this will have the benefit of providing a "surge" during a time of transition. She said that the EU had invited the U.S. to participate in its ESDP mission and that the USG was looking very carefully at this possibility. ¶5. (C) The UK PermRep described progress on NATO-EU technical planning as "encouraging," adding that transparency of plans will encourage countries to participate more fully. The Czech Ambassador noted the need for full coverage of crowd control capabilities, as well as sufficient border control. The Swedish Ambassador emphasized the need to define responsibilities for crowd and riot control. The Belgian Ambassador asked that protection of religious and cultural sites be a priority. Both the Dutch and Swedish Ambassadors called for the SYGs to stress to the UN the need to maintain UNMIK police levels until the ESDP mission was in place. In response, Solana said that he was in contact with the UNSYG and his team towards this end. ¶6. (C) The Turkish PSC Ambassador told PermReps not to "get carried away" with coordination through informal meetings of the NAC-PSCs. He argued that informal meetings warrant themselves only according to circumstances, saying that the EU and NATO already have existing frameworks for exchanges. Bosnia: Slow Progress on Defense Reforms -------------- ¶7. (C) During the formal session de Hoop Scheffer noted that the NATO Senior Civilian Representative has been engaging senior Bosnian leaders to move defense reforms forward. While the effort has been somewhat successful, the identification of redundant military officers and the slow transfer rate of military assets has hindered progress. The formation of a new Bosnian government may pressure the military to speed reforms. The SYG noted the process of assigning general officers should not be politicized. He underscored the importance of implementing a new force structure, as well as the demilitarization process, noting there are 8 million euros available in a trust fund. ¶8. (C) Solana said that, four months after elections, there is still no Bosnian government at the federal level, which is "not good news." He described the security situation as "stable," adding that the political developments of the last year were "disappointing." EUFOR is being reconfigured for the situation on the ground, with one battalion based in Sarajevo, but maintaining a presence throughout Bosnia. This force has the capacity to react immediately, he said, including using "over the horizon" forces. ¶9. (C) Comment: Due to long-standing theological issues the agenda for formal meetings of the NAC/PSC is limited to generally sterile discussions of Bosnia. This means that member states of the EU and NATO cannot discuss any other issue, no matter how pressing. We have sought to get around this conundrum by holding "informal meetings." This mechanism has been used for the NAC and PSC to discuss Darfur and the February 26 discussion of Kosovo. While future "informal" discussions of Kosovo are possible, arranging them will be cumbersome as each one will require agreement of all member states of both organizations, most notably France and Turkey. Missile Defense: We've Consulted the Russians -------------- ¶10. (C) Under AOB during the formal NAC-PSC, Ambassador Nuland circulated an information sheet listing U.S. approaches to Russia on missile defense. She pointed out that recent Russian complaints about not having been consulted are not true; the U.S. has consulted with Russia ten times in the last year, and had been discussing the issue with Moscow for fifteen years. NULAND