NORTH ATLANTIC COUNCIL READOUT JULY 11 2007

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 USNATO 000412 SIPDIS NOFORN SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/11/2017 TAGS: NATO PREL AF SUBJECT: NORTH ATLANTIC COUNCIL READOUT JULY 11 2007 Classified By: CDA Ian Kelly for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (S) SUMMARY: -- Afghanistan: Spring 2007 Periodic Mission Review (PMR) is under NAC silence; Chairman of the Military Committee (CMC) notes that NMAs are working on strategic metrics of ISAF effectiveness; IMS briefs continued high levels of OMF activity in RC-South and RC-East; Ambassadors welcome COMISAF,s active efforts to mitigate civilian casualties in the face of Taliban tactics. Ambassador Nuland urges quick work on turning NATO,s Strategic Communications Action Plan into concrete results. -- Kosovo: SYG to travel to Serbia on July 13; Ambassador Nuland calls on Allies and EU to support new draft minimalist UNSCR. -- Darfur: CMC Gen. Henault notes that two movement planners have been assigned to the NATO cell in Addis Ababa to assist the AU in preliminary lift planning for the AU Mission to Somalia. -- Iraq: The SYG notes Monday,s rocket attacks at Ar-Rustimayah; CMC highlighted that JFC Naples had to deploy some of its own HQ and Component Command personnel to temporarily fill national C2 and J2 posts at Ar-Rustimayah. -- Farewell to Estonian Perm Rep: Outgoing PermRep Tiido comments that narrow national interests too often took precedence over the collective good in NATO decisions, criticizes the &futile8 NATO-Russia Council, and emphasizes the need for NATO to update its &e-government8 technologies for the 21st century. END SUMMARY. Afghanistan -------------- ¶2. (S) SYG de Hoop Scheffer noted that ISAF,s spring 2007 PMR had been sent to the NAC under a short silence procedure for approval following the PCG,s work on it, and urged Ambassadors to read it carefully and base future action on it. The SYG suggested withholding further conversation on civilian casualties until the NAC,s July 17 coffee with SACEUR, but he said it was positive to see recent trends that indicate the media might be starting to acknowledge that the Taliban used civilian casualties as a propaganda tool. ¶3. (C) CMC Henault told the NAC that SHAPE was developing measures of effectiveness for ISAF,s mission at the strategic level, and the MC had asked for SHAPE,s product prior to the fall 2007 PMR. The complexity and anticipated duration of the ISAF mission demands an enduring strategic assessment of the mission's progress towards achieving its objectives and desired end-state outlined in the OPLAN, he briefed. ¶4. (C) In his Ops update, IMS AD for Operations MG Fenton pointed to the first ANA Air Corps operation, a helicopter patrol in RC-Capital. Looking at the RCs, he stated Opposing Militant Forces (OMF) continue to seek increased IED attacks in Kabul. He cited a deteriorating security situation in Badakshan in RC-North. Farah remains the focus of OMF efforts in RC-West, he stated, while OMF kinetic activity was expected to remain high in RC-South, particularly west of Kandahar city and in the Gereshk, Sangin, and Kajaki districts of Helmand. Pakistani military operations on their side of the border with RC-East stood to push militants from Pakistan into Afghan safe havens, as such RC-East,s main effort at present was to disrupt OMF operations in the border region. ISAF,s theater task force would soon move east, as ISAF,s overall main effort will shift from RC-South to RC-East. USNATO 00000412 002 OF 003 ¶5. (C) The Spanish PermRep welcomed SHAPE,s work on strategic measures of effectiveness. He suggested that NATO echo UN SRSG Koenigs, strong July 10 condemnation of a Taliban suicide attack that killed multiple Afghans (including children) and wounded seven Dutch ISAF soldiers. He welcomed COMISAF,s June 28 Tactical Directive on steps ISAF commanders should take to reduce civilian casualties in the face of Taliban tactics, and asked if it could be de-classified for governments to use with their publics. The Dutch PermRep agreed with Spanish comments on COMISAF,s Tactical Directive and Koenigs, statement, but cautioned that NATO should only develop measures of effectiveness of its security role, and leave governance and development indicators to civilian entities. The UK PermRep again suggested having an informal NAC discussion on future strategy in Afghanistan and metrics of success (note: we understand this will take place on July 17 at the PermReps, luncheon, following the SACEUR coffee). ¶6. (C) Ambassador Nuland praised COMISAF,s June 28 Tactical Directive as a superb document, which showed the care and attention to detail with which ISAF approached the issue of civilian casualties. She supported exploring with SACEUR if there are certain elements or themes of the Tactical Directive that could be used helpfully with publics, without declassifying the entire document. She asked if the substance of the document had been briefed to President Karzai, who, she speculated, would probably like it very much. Supported subsequently by the UK, she also commended NATO Spokesman Appathurai,s recent Action Plan on NATO,s Strategic Communications, and urged the SYG to act immediately to fund actions that did not need NAC approval, and Committees to carry forward their work on other elements of the plan quickly. Kosovo -------------- ¶7. (C) The SYG noted that he will travel to Belgrade on Friday, July 13 to discuss Serbia,s progress in PfP and to emphasize the need for the resolution of Kosovo,s status. CMC briefed that the situation in Kosovo remains stable and that KFOR is returning to a normal operating tempo following the Kosovo Polje commemorations and demonstration by the Kosovo Movement for Self-Determination. He stressed that despite the potential for violence, both events remained relatively peaceful owing to the good coordination between UNMIK, Kosovo Police Service, and KFOR. Ambassador Nuland informed the NAC that we expect the minimalist draft version of a UN Security Council Resolution to be discussed this week in New York and called on all Allies and EU members to support the ongoing efforts in the UN as well as to encourage Russia to show flexibility on the issue. Darfur -------------- ¶8. (SBU) CMC Gen. Henault noted that two movement planners have been assigned to the NATO cell in Addis Ababa to assist the AU in preliminary lift planning for the AU Mission to Somalia. Iraq -------------- ¶9. (C) The SYG noted Monday,s rocket attacks at Ar-Rustimayah and said that while NTM-I has not received much attention lately; Allies needed to remember not to be complacent. CMC highlighted that JFC Naples had to deploy some of its own HQ and Component Command personnel to temporarily fill national C2 and J2 posts at Ar-Rustimayah. J2 billets are the priority, and both SHAPE and the NMAs have been notified of the open positions. He reminded nations that filling these billets is important to the training operations in Iraq. USNATO 00000412 003 OF 003 Farewell to Estonian PermRep -------------- ¶10. (SBU) In his farewell address to the NAC, Harri Tiido, the first Estonian PermRep to NATO, acknowledged &frustrations8 with the NAC over the years, commenting that narrow national interests too often took precedence over the collective good. He noted some nations often take different positions at NATO and the EU on the same issue. He offered blunt criticism of the &futile8 NATO-Russia Council, and expressed concern regarding the Russian government,s &proto-fascism8 while expressing confidence the Russian people were fully capable of democracy. Finally, he emphasized the need for NATO to update its &e-government8 technologies for the 21st century. NULAND