NORTH ATLANTIC COUNCIL READOUT AUGUST 29 2007

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 USNATO 000466 SIPDIS NOFORN SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/28/2017 TAGS: NATO PREL AF SUBJECT: NORTH ATLANTIC COUNCIL READOUT AUGUST 29 2007 Classified By: DCM Richard G. Olson for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Summary from the NAC Meeting: -- Afghanistan: D/SYG Rizzo noted the NAC would focus more intensely on key Afghanistan issues prior to the October 24-25 Noordwijk Defense Ministerial including: Afghan Capacity, Long-Term Sustainability, and Counter-Narcotics. He also commented on the UNODC poppy report and noted that UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Executive Director Costa will brief the NAC on September 5. The Chairman of the Military Committee (CMC) emphasized that force generation shortfalls are hurting the ISAF mission, especially in critical areas such as reserve forces, helicopters in RC-South, OMLTs, and PRTs. The Operations briefing highlighted continued high ISAF operations tempo in RC-South, and possible Iranian support for Taliban in Baghdis province. -- Balkans: CMC General Henault outlined KFOR's ongoing operations to maintain security, especially in the north, and to protect Serb patrimonial sites. Ambassador Nuland noted the need to send a strong unified message to Serbian FM Jeremic when he meets with the NAC on September 5. The Dutch, Italian, and UK PermReps expressed concern about provocative statements out of Belgrade and noted the need to warn Jeremic about such statements while still offering encouragement to those in Serbia in favor of integration into Euro-Atlantic institutions. -- Darfur: No discussion. -- Iraq: CMC Henault said no Ally had yet volunteered to take over the Military Advice and Liaison Team (MALT) from Hungary in February and that SHAPE would seek to extend the contract to provide security at Ar-Rustimayah if no Ally offered forces to fill the role. -- NAC To Meet Georgian FM: Under AOB, Ambassador Nuland noted Georgian FM Bezhuashvili would meet with a number of PermReps in Brussels September 4 and had requested an appointment with SYG. She suggested PermReps have a discussion about Georgia at next week,s informal coffee or lunch. END SUMMARY. Afghanistan -------------- ¶2. (C) D/SYG Minuto Rizzo, chairing, greeted new German PermRep Brandenburg. The D/SYG noted the NAC would focus more intensely on key issues in Afghanistan in the run-up to the October 24-25 informal NATO Defense Ministerial in Noordwijk. These issues included: 1) increasing Afghan capacity; 2) ISAF,s long-term sustainability; and 3) counter-narcotics (CN). Regarding CN, the 2007 UNODC World Drug Report had been released showing a dramatic increase in poppy production in southern Afghanistan but an increase from 6 to 13 poppy-free provinces in the central and northern regions. UNODC Executive Director Costa will brief the NAC on September 5. ¶3. (C) Henault stated that COMISAF is concerned that Combined Joint Statement of Requirements (CJSOR) shortfalls in mission essential areas are hurting ISAF,s efforts. He stated that it is &vital to source8 these shortfalls, which include: Strategic and Operational Reserve Forces; helicopters in RC-South (14 lift and 6 attack); 25 Operational Mentoring and Liaison Teams (OMLTs),(SACEUR sent a letter to nations last week in this regard); and PRTs in Nimroz, Dai Kundi, and Logar. ¶4. (C) MG Li Gobbi provided the Operations briefing, noting USNATO 00000466 002 OF 003 that ISAF,s operational tempo remains high. Opposition Military Forces (OMF) activities were likely to remain constant during Ramadan September 13-October 12. In RC-East, OMF are attempting to maintain their lines of communication cross-border into Pakistan. The Aug. 23 Operation Khyber, conducted by the ANA in Paktika, was a success. RC-South continues to have a high threat level. There is an increase in OMF activity, with the ANP the primary target. Maywand district (east of Kandahar) is the site of an ISAF security operation, and there are operations ongoing in the Helmand River Valley. In RC-West, the Taliban shadow governor in Badghis Province is likely seeking Iranian support, which may signal an increase in OMF activity there, but any Iranian Al-Qods force support is likely to be at a level that preserves deniability. In RC-North, there is OMF activity in Faryab and Baghlan. In RC-Capital, OMF appear to be improving their tactics, e.g., they have shown an improved bomb-making technique. Regarding the recent operation in Kandahar, that the press reports resulted in coalition casualties and significant Taliban casualties, the General noted that this was a coalition operation and more information will be forthcoming. Li Gobbi noted that regarding last week,s friendly fire incident in Helmand, there are &national investigations8 ongoing. ¶5. (C) UK PermRep Eldon noted that the UNODC CN report highlights links between the Taliban and the narcotics trade - the Taliban use narco revenues to fund weapons and personnel costs while the narco-dealers use revenues to corrupt local government officials. Amb. Eldon asked PermReps to reflect upon how to respond to this situation when UNODC Exec Director Costa meets the NAC next week. Balkans -------------- ¶6. (C) Responding to the Dutch PermRep,s question from the previous NAC, D/SYG said it was the NATO International Staff,s assessment that Serbia,s August 17 statement suggesting Serbian security forces should return to Kosovo was motivated by the ongoing status negotiations and not by any realistic expectation on behalf of Serbia that security forces would be allowed to return. The acting SYG also stressed that Kosovar and Serbian leaders should refrain from provocative statements, a point that could be made to Serbian FM Jeremic when he meets with the NAC September 5. ¶7. (C) CMC Henault briefed that KFOR had been active in the north, especially over the last several months. Task Force Center units are conducting intel collection operations along the northern boundary. Operation COLUMNS OF HERAKLES is providing security in northern Kosovo at border crossings. KFOR is also conducting anti-smuggling border patrols and increased security operations. KFOR is planning further operations in September, especially around Mitrovica. KFOR and UNMIK police are also supporting fire-fighting efforts which have garnered public goodwill for KFOR. ¶8. (C) Henault noted that polling conducted by KFOR Liaison and Monitoring Team indicates KFOR remains one of the most popular institutions in Kosovo, including among Kosovo Serbs. KFOR is providing protection for 13 patrimonial sites. The process of handing over protection responsibilities for patrimonial sites to the Kosovo Police Service had been frozen and KFOR does not intend to restart it during the negotiating period. Twenty three additional patrimonial sites have been identified, which are protected by mobile patrols. KFOR has plans to increase protection of these sites if events or intelligence warrant. ¶9. (C) Ambassador Nuland suggested the briefing on KFOR activities protecting patrimonial sites should also be given to Jeremic when he comes to NATO so he can see all that KFOR USNATO 00000466 003 OF 003 is doing. She said the NAC needed to send a unified, strong message in the meeting with Jeremic, consistent with what Troika envoys Wisner and Ischinger have been saying. Dutch PermRep Schaper agreed Serbian statements on the return of Serbian security forces to Kosovo were irresponsible and provocative and said the visit of Jeremic provided an important opportunity to send this message. Italian PermRep Stefanini said Serbian statements about the West's wanting Kosovo to become a &NATO state8 had also not been helpful and said he would raise Italy,s concerns over these statements with Jeremic. The overall goal of the meeting with Jeremic, however, should be to encourage those in Serbia who want to move along the PfP track and support integration into Euro-Atlantic institutions. UK PermRep Eldon said the statements from Serbia have been outrageous and unhelpful. Also Serbian officials of different persuasions had been acting as if Belgrade has several governments, and this situation is unacceptable. Eldon stated that these sentiments should be made clear to Jeremic. While the UK wants to help the Trans-Atlanticists within the Serbian government, they need to stand up for what they believe as well. He suggested PermReps discuss messages for the Jeremic meeting in advance. Iraq -------------- ¶10. (C) CMC Henault said that maintaining security and force protection at Ar-Rustamiyah remained a challenge. Hungary assumed responsibility for the NATO Military Advice and Liaison Team (MALT) in July, but there had been no offer to provide a follow-on MALT in February 2008. Internal security continues to be provided by contractors, since no NATO internal security platoon had been offered. This contract expires at the end of the year and SHAPE will request its extension if no force protection platoon is generated. Any Other Business -------------- ¶11. (U) Ambassador Nuland noted Georgian FM Bezhuashvili would be in Brussels September 4, and would meet with a number of PermReps and had requested a meeting with the SYG. She suggested the PermReps discuss Georgia at the weekly coffee or lunch next Tuesday so they are all on point for the meetings. NULAND