NORTH ATLANTIC COUNCIL READOUT MARCH 28, 2007

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 USNATO 000209 SIPDIS NOFORN SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/27/2017 TAGS: NATO PREL AF SUBJECT: NORTH ATLANTIC COUNCIL READOUT MARCH 28, 2007 Classified By: DCM Richard G. Olson for Reason 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: A NAC-Reinforced at Political Directors, level on Afghanistan and Kosovo took place March 27, and a U.S./UK counternarcotics briefing to the NAC in ISAF format occurred just prior to the March 28 regular NAC meeting, (both NACs reported septels). As a result, the regular March 28 NAC, covered below, was unusually brief. -- Afghanistan: The Secretary General and PermReps discussed preparations for the NAC,s visit to Afghanistan on April 16-18, including pre-coordinating messages for President Karzai. Ambassador Nuland encouraged increased coordination with international organizations to strengthen the comprehensive approach. UK PermRep suggested examining how PRTs can contribute to counternarcotics efforts. -- Kosovo: The NAC will travel to Kosovo on April 2. ASYG Pardew participates in Expanded Contact Group Meeting in London. -- Darfur: &Lessons Learned8 training completed in Khartoum and El Fashir. African Union (AU) requests medical supplies. -- Iraq: Committee work is underway on the NATO Training Mission-Iraq, (NTM-I),Periodic Mission Review. -- UK-Iran: The UK PermRep stated his appreciation of Allies, efforts in seeking to resolve the &extremely difficult8 situation of Iran,s detention of British sailors. UK Parliament statement expected today; UK may publicly release further details on the incident. END SUMMARY. Afghanistan -------------- ¶2. (C) The SYG said the March 27 NAC-R on Afghanistan was a useful initiative, and had provided a good introduction for the upcoming Oslo Ministerial. UK PermRep Eldon, referring to the earlier briefing on counternarcotics efforts in Afghanistan, said the briefing was useful preparation for the planned NAC trip to Afghanistan in April, and suggested examining how PRTs can contribute to counternarcotics efforts. He also spoke about the importance of Afghan governors in delivering our strategy, pointing to uncertainty surrounding whether some governors in southern Afghanistan will remain in their posts. He asked whether NATO needs to send a message to President Karzai on governors; specifically, that they need to have a strategy for their province, but also need to be in their posts long enough to deliver. �A;¶3. (C) The Spanish PermRep said the NAC, during its April trip, should be briefed on how the &comprehensive approach8 is working on the ground. Ambassador Nuland said it would be useful, prior to the NAC,s trip, if each country could find out what their national PRTs are doing in counternarcotics, and how well the governors are doing in provinces where they are stationed. She encouraged following up on U/S Burns, point (made at the March 27 NAC-R) of increasing NATO,s coordination with international organizations in order to strengthen the comprehensive approach. Ambassador Nuland proposed having the NATO Ambassadors, group in Kabul confer and send to the NAC a &consolidated message8 prior to the NAC,s trip to Afghanistan. ¶4. (C) The Norwegian PermRep said the NAC needs to go beyond briefings by holding strategic debates on issues to reach &operational conclusions.8 The SYG called for more information sharing on what each PRT is doing, including pooling information on counternarcotics efforts. He described previous conversations between the NAC and President Karzai as &unfocused8 and suggested PermReps USNATO 00000209 002 OF 002 arrive in Kabul with prepared messages. Kosovo -------------- ¶5. (C) The SYG welcomed the Russian presence at the London meeting of the Expanded Contact Group as an indication of Moscow,s continued engagement in Contact Group efforts. ASYG Pardew is representing NATO at the meeting. The NAC will visit to Kosovo on April 2. Darfur -------------- ¶6. (U) The SYG said that while Sudanese President Bashir persists in opposing international demands to allow UN peacekeepers into Darfur, discussions on next steps continue. However, he added, it seems unlikely that sanctions would receive support from all UNSC permanent members. De Hoop Scheffer noted UNSYG Ban Ki Moon will meet with Bashir on the margins of the Arab League Summit. The UNSYG has sent his Special Envoy to Khartoum to revitalize the Darfur Peace Process. Chairman of the Military Committee Henault reported that a combined Darfur Integrated Task Force and NATO team had completed &lessons learned8 training in Khartoum, where 20 officers received training, and in El Fashir, where 14 were trained. Henault reported the AU had sent a Note Verbale to the European Commission on March 8 for distribution to partners, requesting an urgent donation of medical supplies for AMIS. SHAPE will circulate this to NMRs, in case nations wish to contribute bilaterally. Iraq -------------- ¶7. (C) The SYG noted that the Policy Coordination Group has begun work on the Spring 2007 NTM-I Periodic Mission Review. Political Subjects -------------- ¶8. (U) UNSC: French PermRep Duque reported weekly UNSC actions relevant for NATO: renewal of UNAMA,s mandate and passage of UNSCR 1747, imposing additional sanctions on Iran following its refusal to suspend nuclear activities. He also noted that UN Special Envoy Ahtisaari,s report was transmitted to the UNSC on March 26, which contains his proposal for settlement of Kosovo. He noted that the report was accompanied by a letter from UNSYG Ban Ki Moon endorsing the Ahtisaari,s proposal. AOB: UK sailors held by Iran -------------- ¶9. (C) The UK PermRep reported that there had not been much progress on the situation of the British naval personnel detained by Iran. There still had been no consular access and the British government does not know where they are being held. He said that there would be a statement issued by the UK Parliament on March 27, which might necessitate the release by the government of some information surrounding the circumstances of the detention. The UK PermRep said he was moved by efforts by a large number of countries, including NATO Allies, to help resolve &this extremely difficult situation.8 NULAND