NORTH ATLANTIC COUNCIL READOUT JANUARY 10, 2007

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 04 USNATO 000015 SIPDIS NOFORN SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/10/2017 TAGS: NATO PREL AF SUBJECT: NORTH ATLANTIC COUNCIL READOUT JANUARY 10, 2007 Classified By: DCM RICHARD G. OLSON for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: -- Afghanistan: SYG focuses Allies on upcoming NATO foreign and defense ministerials, agrees to Ambassador Nuland,s suggestion to invite Afghan FM Spanta to meet ISAF Foreign Ministers on January 26, while delaying a decision on inviting the EU, UN, and World Bank to the ministerial. SHAPE J3 MG Stein briefed the NAC, noting that RC-S Allies and a French CIMIC team, (deployed from Kabul),are operating together in Kandahar to dislocate hard core Taliban. MG Stein stated that time is running short to fill HQ billets for General McNeill,s ISAF X. While detailing the investigation into the Zangabad incident where 31 civilians died, the General strongly reiterated ISAF,s commitment to avoid civilian casualties. -- Kosovo: SYG will meet with Kosovo President Sejdiu on January 15, and reported that UN Special Envoy Ahtisaari, in a phone call on January 9, stated to him that it is imperative that there be no further delay in status talks. NATO-EU technical coordination talks to be held on January ¶11. COMKFOR proactively plans for security during and after the January 21 Serb elections. -- Darfur: The SYG observed that it appears that the Sudanese government is softening its stance regarding UN troops in Darfur, and noted that Khartoum is to be added as a third site for African Union capacity building. With Ambassador Nuland,s encouragement, the SYG will again offer NATO,s assistance to the UN mission in Darfur. -- Iraq: SYG to invite Prime Minister Maliki to address the NAC on security and training issues. The Chairman of the Military Committee described the new force protection measures at Ar-Rustimayah which have successfully prevented casualties and damage from continued mortar and rocket attacks. Ambassador Nuland, on another topic, stated that, "Poland sets a strong example by extending its mission in Iraq, focusing its efforts on training Iraqis, and mentoring new NATO partners.8 -- Response to Terrorism: Turkish PermRep announces that Russia will participate in Operation Black Sea Harmony. Ambassador Nuland informs the NAC on the U.S. operations in Somalia which are helping to prevent the establishment of al-Qaeda safe havens. -- Secretary General de Hoop Scheffer to lead NATO into its Seventh Decade as the NAC officially extended the term of the SYG until NATO,s 60th anniversary events in 2009. END SUMMARY. Afghanistan -------------- ¶2. (C) Secretary General de Hoop Scheffer stressed that NATO and the international community needed to consolidate 2006 gains in Afghanistan and do even better in 2007. He welcomed Secretary Rice's initiative for a January 26 ministerial to SIPDIS discuss comprehensive strategy and urged Allies to use this and the defense ministerial February 8-9 in Seville to take clear political and military steps. The SYG confirmed that Pakistani PM Aziz will visit NATO at the end of January, that military advice on NATO training support for the Afghan National Army (ANA) should be expected prior to Seville, and that NATO will send a team to Doha to address Qatari concerns on the legal status of NATO personnel working at the ISAF cell at CENTCOM,s Combined Air Operations Center (CAOC) in al-Udeid. ¶3. (S) In his operational brief, SHAPE J3 MG Stein attributed the decrease in OMF (Opposing Militant Forces) activity since USNATO 00000015 002 OF 004 October 2006 to both ISAF successes and weather, and predicted that by late March, OMF will seek to increase their tempo of operations. He stated that ISAF,s pan-theater Operation Oqab (Eagle) is transitioning to more aggressive Phase 2 disruption operations, and Operation Baaz Tsuka, comprising all Regional Command - South allies plus a French CIMIC team deployed to the south from Kabul, is having success cleaning out pockets of Taliban resistance following reinfiltration in Kandahar province after last year's Operation Medusa. Noting the completion of the joint ISAF/GOA investigation into an October 24-25 ISAF air operation at Zangabad that killed 31 civilians along with OMF targets, MG Stein reiterated ISAF,s commitment to avoid civilian casualties and to ensure that lessons learned from this incident are carried forward. Finally, he urged nations to fill the staffing requirements for the ISAF X composite HQ quickly; at present rates, the HQ will only be 65% staffed when it comes online on February 4. ¶4. (C) Ambassador Nuland,s proposal that NATO proceed with issuing invitations to FM Spanta and non-NATO troop contributors to a meeting with NATO foreign ministers on January 26 met consensus; the SYG will send out the invitations. A Norwegian request to invite the EU, UN, and World Bank will be discussed further by PermReps on January ¶16. Ambassador Nuland noted that the death of senior Taliban commander Osmani has had a considerable effect in disrupting Taliban operations. She conveyed a sense from Kabul that hand-wringing over a Taliban &spring offensive8 was beginning to detract from our PD efforts, and the U.S. view that ISAF and the international community should take the initiative in the spring. She urged NATO PD to produce weekly papers that will help NATO and Allied officials better engage the press, and assured Allies that the U.S. was working to fill our billets at the ISAF X composite HQ. The Canadian ambassador noted his FM,s recent travel to Afghanistan and Pakistan, and the UK Charge said that GOA eradication planning is better organized than in past years. Lithuania announced an equipment donation to the ANA of 3.7 million AK-47 rounds. The SYG agreed with Ambassador Nuland that NATO could do better in maintaining a coherent public policy line. Kosovo -------------- ¶5. (SBU) The SYG announced that he will meet with Kosovo President Fatmir Sejdiu on 15 January to discuss NATO,s current and future political and operational commitment to Kosovo. He will stress to President Sejdiu the importance of a constructive, responsible, and fully cooperative role by Kosovo leadership in the next stage of the status process. The SYG also announced that another round of NATO-EU technical coordination talks will take place on 11 January that will focus on the planning for future roles in Kosovo. Lastly, the SYG mentioned that during a telephone discussion on 9 January, UN Special Envoy Ahtisaari reiterated to him that there should be no further delay in the Kosovo status process. ¶6. (C) The Chairman of the Military Committee (CMC) provided an operational and security update to the NAC, stating that while a few low-intensity incidents occurred during the holiday period, overall the security situation remains peaceful. He further said that COMKFOR has developed a proactive plan for maintaining security in Kosovo during and after the Serbian parliamentary elections on 21 January. The plan includes close coordination with UNMIK and maintaining KFOR,s over-the-horizon reserve force readiness. Darfur -------------- ¶7. (SBU) The SYG said it appears the Sudanese government is softening its stance on UN troops in Darfur; however, the &true intent8 of the GoS regarding facilitation of the UN USNATO 00000015 003 OF 004 force is still unclear. He noted a NATO document currently under silence to add Khartoum, (in addition to Addis Ababa and El Fasher),as a site for staff capacity building and lessons learned training. The SYG said African Union PSC Chairman Djinnit is likely to address the NAC in mid-February. ¶8. (SBU) Ambassador Nuland asked whether the SYG had contacted new UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon to offer NATO assistance to the UN mission in Darfur. The SYG replied that in November 2006 he had offered such support to DPKO U/SYG Guehenno as well as the Deputy Secretary General, and that he would reiterate this offer. Iraq -------------- ¶9. (C) The SYG announced he intends to invite Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki to brief the NAC on the security situation in Iraq and training needs for the Iraqi security forces. CMC reported that the Ar-Rustimayah Force Protection Report was released on December 18. The next force protection report will be given in conjunction with SHAPE input to the spring 2007 Periodic Mission Review in mid-February. Further mortar and rocket attacks occurred at Ar-Rustimayah during the second half of December. The fact that no casualties or significant damage had been sustained was attributed to force protection measures. Since the New Year, the number of indirect fire attacks at Ar-Rustimayah has decreased. CMC also noted that an Italian scoping mission for gendarmerie training will be in Iraq from January 11-18. He highlighted that this mission had been coordinated with SHAPE, NTM-I, and the Iraqi Ministry of Interior. ¶10. (U) The Polish PermRep noted his government's decision to extend its mission in Iraq until the end of 2007. Poland also will continue to command the Multi-National Division South, whose main goals are training and mentoring Iraqis comprising the 8th Iraqi Army Division, police, and border guards. He noted that there are 13 nations, seven of which are Allies, participating in this effort. He also made special mention of Bosnia and Herzegovina's contribution of an EOD team that joined the effort in November. Lastly, he confirmed that Poland will assume leadership of the 11-man MALT team in February. ¶11. (U) Ambassador Nuland thanked Poland for its continued strong commitment and courageous political decisions. She applauded Poland's model of focusing on training and putting Iraqis in front. She also lauded Poland's example of mentoring new partners in facing the security challenges of the 21st century. Response to Terrorism -------------- ¶12. (SBU) The Turkish PermRep announced that on December 27, Russia told Turkey that it will begin to formally participate in future Black Sea Harmony operations. ¶13. (C) U.S. Counterterrorism Actions in Somalia: Ambassador Nuland confirmed to the Council that the U.S. was taking action to prevent the establishment of Al-Qaeda safe havens in southern Somalia. Secretary-General to Lead NATO into its Seventh Decade SIPDIS -------------- -------------- ¶14. (SBU) Thanking him for his excellent leadership of the Alliance as it prepares to enter its seventh decade of existence, the NAC officially extended Secretary General de Hoop Scheffer,s term in order for him to prepare and preside over NATO,s 60th anniversary events. Under the terms of the extension, laid out by the Council's Dean, (the Polish PermRep),in 2008 the next Dean will have the responsibility of informing the Secretary General in writing, after informal consultations, the exact date of his departure and presiding over the selection process for his successor. The Secretary USNATO 00000015 004 OF 004 General thanked the Council for its endorsement and noted it was both a privilege and a pleasure to accept the terms of the extension. NULAND