Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07USNATO466
2007-08-29 16:26:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Mission USNATO
Cable title:  

NORTH ATLANTIC COUNCIL READOUT AUGUST 29 2007

Tags:  NATO PREL AF 
pdf how-to read a cable
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 USNATO 000466 

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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)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 USNATO 000466

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NOFORN
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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