NORTH ATLANTIC COUNCIL READOUT JUNE 6 2007

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 04 USNATO 000357 SIPDIS NOFORN SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/06/2017 TAGS: NATO PREL AF SUBJECT: NORTH ATLANTIC COUNCIL READOUT JUNE 6 2007 Classified By: DCM Richard G. Olson for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (S) SUMMARY: -- Afghanistan: SYG stated that force generation is a top priority for the Alliance in the run-up to the Defense Ministerial. Chairman of the Military Committee (CMC) briefed on: next steps in long-term Afghan National Army (ANA) training; support to ESDP police mission in Afghanistan and fielding Operational Mentoring and Liaison Teams, (OMLTs); counter-IED shortfalls at ISAF HQ; Operation Adalat; Danish troop increase; and additional Bulgarian forces deploying to Kandahar. -- Balkans: SYG noted that Kosovo independence would be a key topic at the Defense Ministerial. Norway, supported by several delegations, proposed inviting the new Serbian government to meet with the NAC regarding PfP. SYG reported that he will meet Serbian Defense and Foreign Ministers in June, and shared that Serbs have already proposed a NAC plus one meeting for September. -- Somalia: SYG outlined Military Committee advice on NATO airlift support for the African Union (AU) mission in Somalia. SYG agreed to issue an SG under a short silence for NAC approval. -- Iraq: SYG detailed the recommendation of the Senior Resource Board on NTM-I; SG for NAC approval expected soon. -- NATO Special Committee: Chairman of the NATO Special Committee presented a briefing on &Developments in Iraq Affecting NATO and Its Member States, Security.8 -- Energy Security: SYG presented draft language on a modified tasking to be put under silence until June 8. Note: The June 6 NAC included an exchange of views with Croatia,s Prime Minister Sanader, Defense Minister Roncevic, and State Secretary Biscevic on Croatia,s progress in the context of the Membership Action Plan (MAP). Reporting on this session will be by septel. End Note. END SUMMARY. Afghanistan -------------- ¶2. (C) Looking ahead to the June 12-13 force generation conference at SHAPE, and the meeting of NATO Defense Ministers in Brussels June 14-15, Secretary General de Hoop Scheffer stated that ISAF force generation remained a top priority, and that he expected concrete results over the coming week. He stated his expectation that Ministers will discuss the need for greater coordination between ISAF and OEF, as well as civilian casualties. ¶3. (C) The CMC, General Henault, briefed that the Military Committee (MC) had provisionally agreed advice on potential NATO long-term training initiatives for the ANA, and non-NATO troop contributors were in the process of associating themselves with the advice, after which it would be passed to Council. The MC is currently deliberating on draft advice concerning possible NATO support to the planned EU police mission in Afghanistan. CMC also stated that he had distributed to the MC a proposal by D/SACEUR to streamline requirements for fielding NATO embedded trainers, OMLTs, with USNATO 00000357 002 OF 004 the ANA, by establishing a &lead nation8 system whereby ISAF Regional Commands would help coordinate logistics and provide other services to help smaller nations establish multinational OMLTs. ¶4. (C) IMS AD for Operations Maj Gen Fenton provided the operational brief, and attributed a recent spike in &troops in contact8 incidents to aggressive ISAF operations, rather than any organized Taliban offensive. He highlighted the continuing shortfalls in counter-IED capabilities in ISAF HQ, stressing the imperative to fill these slots as the number of IED incidents and their lethality continue to rise. In RC-South, he noted that Operation Adalat, aimed at helping to establish the Afghan Development Zone in northern Kandahar, will replace Operation Achilles (in the Sangin area of RC-S) as ISAF,s main operational effort; timing for the transition will be conditions-based, at COMISAF,s discretion. ¶5. (C) The Danish PermRep informed the NAC of the Danish Parliament,s recent decision to beef up the Danish presence in Afghanistan by 200 (to a total of 640),which will deploy in the fourth quarter of 2007 with the UK,s Task Force Helmand. The Bulgarian PermRep stated that the Bulgarian mechanized infantry company had arrived in Kabul, along with 5 additional staff officers for ISAF HQ. The 200-soldier Bulgarian force protection unit for Kandahar airfield is set to deploy in the coming week, per the availability of strategic airlift. Norway noted its Defense Minister was in Afghanistan, and would commemorate the opening of a 10-million Euro Norwegian-built camp for an ANA Kandak in Meymana. Balkans -------------- ¶6. (C) The SYG noted that this would be an important topic at next week,s Defense Ministerial. He welcomed the May 31 tabling of a new UNSCR draft that expresses support for the provisions in Special Envoy Ahtisaari's proposal. He stated that the current text meets NATO,s future requirements for a post-status presence. The SYG also noted this issue will be discussed at the G-8 meeting in Heiligendamm, Germany, and cautioned that the longer it takes to find an agreement on this, the higher the risks ) a quick settlement was in everyone,s interest. ¶7. (C) CMC reported that the security situation is relatively calm, but the potential for violence continues. Violence currently is limited to criminal and inter-ethnic disputes. CMC also noted that the operational reserve force from Italy is scheduled to reach full operational capability on June 9 and will be in Kosovo until month,s end, primarily in support of the task force in the north. ¶8. (C) The Norwegian PermRep (supported by IT, GR, HU, SI, SP, NL, RO and BU) argued that we should expect progress on PfP initiatives from the new government and that the NAC should consider inviting a high ranking delegation from Serbia. The purpose of such a meeting would be to present Serbia,s plans regarding PfP and to remind the Serbs of their ICTY obligations. He additionally noted the positive news of the arrest of General Tolimir. The Italian PermRep said that Italy, as the Contact Point Embassy in Belgrade, had observed much interest from Belgrade in PfP and that the timing would be right to send a signal by extending such an invitation. The SYG reported that he will meet with the Serbian Defense Minister next week on the margins of the EAPC USNATO 00000357 003 OF 004 meeting, that the Serbian Foreign Minister has requested a meeting on June 27, and that the Serbs have proposed a NAC plus one meeting for September. The SYG also noted that he might travel to Belgrade after the Defense Ministerial to continue this positive momentum. Somalia -------------- ¶9. (C) The SYG outlined the quickly delivered military advice stating that NATO can support the AU,s request for airlift for the AU mission in Somalia using procedures established in Darfur. The only additional piece will be to establish a temporary liaison cell in Addis Ababa for the AU. He noted that it will depend on nations to provide this airlift and suggested that the NAC approve airlift support for an initial period of six months. The German PermRep said that while they can agree to this in principle, they cannot agree to it without a written SG for their government,s approval. He also stated that Germany would not be in a position to contribute airlift for this mission. Ambassador Nuland commended the MC,s quick work and noted this allows nations to contribute to AMISOM under a NATO umbrella, giving NATO credit for working with the AU. She urged the SYG to issue a quick SG under a short silence procedure; he agreed to do so. Iraq -------------- ¶10. (SBU) The SYG said that the Senior Resource Board (SRB) was working on a recommendation regarding NTM-I eligibility for common funding, which should be forwarded shortly for NAC approval. (Note: The SRB actually issued this recommendation on June 1; the International Staff is working to rectify this and we expect to see an SG issued soon. End note.) CMC said that the autumn 2007 PMR would include more details on the content of the gendarmerie training and that a start date of September is planned, pending mission approval. Report on the Activities of the NATO Special Committee -------------- -------------- ¶11. (S) Ambassador Ioannis Corantis, Director-General of the Greek National Intelligence Service and Chairman of the NATO Special Committee and Frank Jensen, Danish Security Intelligence Service presented a briefing on Developments in Iraq Affecting NATO and Its Member States, Security. The report posited that NATO itself is not a specific target for terrorists operating from Iraq. However, NATO member states involved in Coalition operations are at increased risk because terrorists use Iraq as a pretext for attacks. If nations involved in Iraq withdraw, the long term terrorist threat will diminish, but not disappear. Grece, Turkey, Germany, Slovakia, The Netherlands ad Poland all commented on aspects of the report,putting emphasis on the complex nature of radicaization and observing that terrorist are using other pretexts than just Iraq are used to "legitimize their actions. Ambassador Nuland registered diagreement with the analysis that the withdrawal f member states from Iraq would make NATO memberstates safer. In fact, if withdrawal occurs without leaving peace and stability, she said, then trrorism from Iraq will become an even greater theat. Energy Security -------------- ¶12. (C The SYG presented draft language for a tasking to NMAs on energy security stating he was aware of differences USNATO 00000357 004 OF 004 in opinions among delegations on the subject, but hoped that the new language would be enough to bridge gaps. Ambassador Nuland commended the text, but noted disappointment at its lateness; she suggested editorial fixes, which the SYG and Allies took on board. The Netherlands foreshadowed difficulties with the text if, as currently drafted, the tasking asked NMAs to look at only military risks to critical infrastructure, yet ignored other, likely more pertinent risks, such as terrorism. France objected to any language in the tasking which potentially prejudged the Alliance,s response to eventual military advice, such as assigning a lead committee to carry work further, or asking NMAs to identify possible avenues for addressing threats. Rather, the French PermRep stated a desire to wait for advice on potential risks to be produced, and proceed in a step-by-step manner after the NAC evaluated that advice. GM supported the French objections on new oversight instructions. The SYG expressed &utter disappointment8 at the NAC,s inability to agree a tasking since the Riga tasking in November 2006. He intends to circulate a new draft (which will reflect the U.S. editorial amendments) under a silence period that would end June 8. The SYG noted the NAC was close to putting him a position where he would have to tell Ministers that Heads of State and Government &got it wrong8 at Riga. NULAND