AFGHANISTAN: COMMITMENTS FROM JANUARY 26 INFORMAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L USNATO 000054 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/30/2017 TAGS: NATO PREL MOPS MARR AF SUBJECT: AFGHANISTAN: COMMITMENTS FROM JANUARY 26 INFORMAL FOREIGN MINISTERS MEETING REF: A. STATE 7434 B. STATE 4834 Classified By: Ambassador Victoria Nuland, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) The January 26 informal foreign ministerial at NATO HQ resulted in a reiteration of the Alliance's strong political commitment laid out at Riga. Though not a donor conference, the Ministerial also resulted in several Allied commitments of additional development and military assistance. Secretary Rice announced that President Bush will ask Congress for $2 billion in new reconstruction assistance and $8.6 billion to help train and equip the Afghan National Security Forces. The Pentagon announced the day before the Ministerial that the U.S. will extend 3,200 troops in Afghanistan who had been scheduled to depart for up to an additional 120 days. Reports of the two meetings will be forthcoming in septels. ¶2. (C) For Washington's and Posts' reference and follow-up, we tally the following new commitments from Allies and Partners expressed during the January 26 meetings. Note, reiterations of known existing commitments (such as French FM Douste-Blazy's restatement of commitments made at Riga, are not included): Albania -------------- -Plan to "double soon" their military commitment to Afghanistan Azerbaijan -------------- -Working to double troops in Afghanistan Bulgaria -------------- -Looking to lift caveats -Considering a civilian contribution to the Hungarian PRT -Consider increasing the training of ANA and ANP in Bulgaria and Afghanistan Czech Republic -------------- -Removing remaining caveats on forces -Will deploy a Special Ops group to the South -Intends to take over Hungarian PRT in 2008 -Will annualize its current contribution to the Afghan humanitarian fund Denmark -------------- -Prepared to accelerate dispersal of its aid -Will donate $11.7 million to the ANA in '07 -Will contribute development planning experts to COMISAF Finland -------------- -Willing to deploy 10 police trainers with EU ESDP mission -1 million euros to LOFTA Fund for Police Salaries Germany -------------- -Considering extending PRT in the North by establishing branch offices in the district centers -Considering SACEUR's request for reconnaissance Tornado aircraft, expect a Bundestag decision soon Greece -------------- -300,000 euros in 2007 for counter-narcotics fund -500,000 euros in co-funding with Hungary (Pol-i-Khomri PRT) for agricultural, water, health and education programs -Extending by 6 months medical unit in Kabul -Will donate 13 M60 tanks with ammo in the next 2 months, and 41 more over the course of 2007 -Will donate 300 AK-47 rifles Iceland -------------- -Will add more money for development in PRTs -Will provide airlift for ISAF Italy -------------- -Will increase training for the Afghan customs police and border guards -Will intensify Carabinieri training for the Afghan police Lithuania -------------- -Will deploy Special Operations forces to the South The Netherlands -------------- -Ready to provide more money and personnel to train Afghan police in Uruzgan Norway -------------- -Will increase civilian contribution by 50 percent for 2007, making Afghanistan the second largest recipient of Norwegian aid -Will double the number of police instructors in Afghanistan -Will support the establishment of a civil service training facility in Afghanistan -Will provide energy experts to the Afghan government Romania -------------- -Will lift remaining caveats on troops in Romanian PRT at Qalat -Will contribute to EU police mission Slovakia -------------- -Will donate $11 million in military equipment -Will send engineers to Kandahar airport Slovenia -------------- -Will "increase military commitment in ISAF" in 2007 (no specifics) Spain -------------- -Considering an HQ contribution for ISAF XI Turkey -------------- -Will train an Afghan artillery unit -Will contribute 160 officers to composite ISAF HQ in '08 UK -- -Will significantly increase "civilian front-line staff" (e.g., diplomatic and other civilian personnel in PRTs) in Afghanistan and London -Will double economic assistance to Pakistan NULAND