NORTH ATLANTIC COUNCIL READOUT - SEPTEMBER 12, 2007

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 USNATO 000499 SIPDIS NOFORN SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/13/2017 TAGS: NATO PREL AF SUBJECT: NORTH ATLANTIC COUNCIL READOUT - SEPTEMBER 12, 2007 REF: USNATO 00427 Classified By: CDA Richard G. Olson for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Summary from the NAC Meeting: -- Afghanistan: COMISAF, accompanied by SACEUR, briefed the NAC and non-NATO troop contributing nations on ISAF successes and challenges, plus stringent efforts to avoid civilian casualties. Full report to come Septel. -- Balkans: The SYG noted the Troika would hold a new round of talks with the parties September 18-19 in London, leading to the September 27 meeting of Contact Group Foreign Ministers in New York, which would include the SYG. -- Darfur: No discussion. -- Iraq: DCM noted that the statements delivered by General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker in their Congressional testimony would be distributed to Allies. -- Response to Terrorism: Germany briefed on the September 4 arrests of terror suspects in Germany and praised close cooperation between German and U.S. law enforcement officials. Denmark noted 8 persons were arrested September 4 in Denmark, also suspected of planning to use hydrogen peroxide explosives. -- Statements on Political Subjects: Spain, speaking as OSCE CIO, noted the conclusions from Minister Zuzul,s review of the August Georgian missile incident and stated that that the Spanish FM will report to the NAC on November 19, a week before the OSCE Madrid Ministerial. END SUMMARY. Afghanistan -------------- ¶2. (C) Note: a full report of today,s NAC meetings will be transmitted Septel. Balkans -------------- ¶3. (C) The SYG noted the Troika would hold a new round of talks with the parties September 18-19 in London, and would report the results to the Contact Group. He said these meetings will be key to preparing for the upcoming Contact Group Foreign Ministers meeting in New York on September 27, which will include the SYG. Darfur -------------- ¶4. (U) No discussion. Iraq --- ¶5. (U) DCM said that the statements delivered by General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker during Congressional testimony would be distributed to Allies. Response to Terrorism: -------------- ¶6. (C) The SYG noted the sixth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, saying that the recent arrests of terror suspects in Germany, Denmark, and Turkey emphasize that the terror threat continues. ¶7. (C) German PermRep Brandenburg stated that on September 4, three persons arrested in Germany were associated with Islamic Jihad Union, which is on the UN terror list. They were apparently planning attacks against U.S. installations in Germany. This is the first case of home-grown terrorists in Germany. He recalled that the U.S. had provided timely USNATO 00000499 002 OF 002 warning in the NAC about the possible use of hydrogen peroxide in explosives, as in this case (see reftel). He praised close cQperation between U.S. and German law enforcement officials. ¶8. (C) Danish PermRep Poulsen-Hansen stated that eight persons were arrested in Denmark on September 4, also noting the U.S. warning on hydrogen peroxide. He called the suspects &militant Islamists with links to Al Qaeda8. Statements on Political Subjects: -------------- ¶9. (C) The Spanish Charg, speaking as OSCE CIO, noted that the conclusions from Minister Zuzul,s review of the Georgian missile incident would be circulated to Allies. The conclusions include calls for more OSCE observers in Georgia to try to prevent such incidents in the future. He noted that the Spanish FM will report to the NAC on November 19, a week before the OSCE Madrid Ministerial. AOB: -------------- ¶10. (U) The SYG had kind words for departing Greek PermRep Zepos. OLSON