C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 07 USNATO 000587

SIPDIS

NOFORN
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/02/2017
TAGS: NATO PREL AF
SUBJECT: NORTH ATLANTIC COUNCIL READOUT - OCTOBER 31, 2007

REF: A: SECSTATE 143745

Classified By: CDA Richard G. Olson for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C/NF) Summary from the NAC Meeting:

-- Afghanistan: The SYG commended the good discussions on
Afghanistan at last week's informal defense ministerial at
Noordwijk and at this week's informal SYG coffee with
PermReps. He also noted SACEUR,s recent letter regarding
the strains placed on ISAF,s transportation capabilities by
frequent visitors from capitals. The International Military
Staff,s intelligence update on Afghanistan noted that OMF
are expected to conduct a final surge in RC-South and East
before the winter lull.

Ambassador Nuland, noting that the NAC's focus on Afghanistan
suggests a need to address Afghanistan more comprehensively,
asked that future briefings to the NAC cover operational,
intel, and political elements each week. She also requested
information on Iranian activities in Afghanistan, saying that
she would also look at the possibility of bringing a U.S.
briefer to the NAC on the topic.

Other PermReps raised various issues regarding Afghanistan,
including commercial projects, the Comprehensive Strategic
Plan, the state of NATO,s Information Operations strategy,
resources and counternarcotics. The Danish PermRep announced
that last week the Danish parliament approved an increase in
the Danish contingent by a tank platoon to reinforce its
forces in Helmand. The SYG also reminded PermReps that no
candidates have yet been nominated for the NATO Senior
Civilian Representative position in Kabul, which will become
vacant in December, and noted the need for a uniform approach
on investigations into reports of civilian casualties.

-- Balkans: The NAC received an update on the situation in
Bosnia and Herzegovina and supported the proposal that the
SYG issue a statement in support of the High Representative.
Ambassador Nuland reported the U.S. will deploy additional
reserve assets to Kosovo for the upcoming election period and
conclusion of the Troika negotiations.

-- Darfur: The SYG reported on a meeting in Brussels on

October 22, between DASG Jochems and AU Commissioner Djinnit
in which they discussed NATO,s cooperation with the AU.
Djinnit reaffirmed the AU,s desire to develop the NATO-AU
relationship. Djinnit said the AU would request NATO airlift
for operations and NATO support for AU capacity building.
NATO is on schedule to complete the full AU airlift into
Darfur by 31 December.

-- Iraq: The SYG noted the NATO Training Mission - Iraq
(NTM-I) 2007 Periodic Mission Review (PMR) has been released
and the Policy Coordination Group will meet on November 9 to
discuss it. The Italian PermRep announced that the

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Carabinieri-type training at Camp Dublin commenced on October
27 with 450 members of the Iraqi National Police Quick
Reaction Force participating. Ambassador Nuland reported
that NTM-I has been lauded by the Iraqi Government, and on
another note, highlighted that on October 29, Karbala became
the eighth province to transition to Iraqi control.

-- Response to Terrorism: Turkish PermRep Ildem offered an
update on Turkey's fight against terrorism on the border with
northern Iraq, and further noted that Turkey had been
disappointed by the outcome of a meeting in Ankara last week
with senior Iraqi officials, but remained hopeful that
diplomatic efforts will result in progress. Ambassador
Nuland and other PermReps spoke in support of Turkey, while
praising Turkish restraint to date.

-- AOB: Ambassador Nuland refuted a statement made by the
Russian delegation at the September 26 NATO-Russia Council
meeting that Russian bomber flights carried out over U.S.,
UK, Icelandic, Danish, and Baltic air space were similar to
exercises undertaken by the United States. The Romanian
PermRep said Bucharest would be formally requesting NATO
early warning and air policing support for the Summit itwill
host next April.

END SUMMARY.

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Afghanistan
--------------


2. (C/NF) The SYG said NATO defense ministers had had good
discussion on Afghanistan at the informal NATO Defense
Ministerial at Noordwijk as had PermReps at their October 30
informal coffee. He also noted SACEUR,s recent letter
regarding the strains placed on ISAF,s transportation
capabilities by frequent visitors from capitals. The
Chairman of the Military Committee (CMC) said that the
Military Committee welcomes the Noordwijk decision to develop
a Comprehensive Strategic Plan for Afghanistan, commenting
that it should help to synchronize efforts and strengthen
top-down planning. While the paper will be developed on the
political side, the MC welcomes the opportunity to provide
input as requested.


3. (C/NF) International Military Staff Director for
Intelligence Laino briefed the NAC that overall activities
are up since the last report, as a result of ISAF operations.
Opposing Militant Forces (OMF) are expected to conduct a
final surge in RC-South and East before the winter lull. In
RC-North, the situation is stable but not calm. In RC-West,
increased OMF attacks are possible as ISAF operations target
OMF in Badghis, while in RC-South OMF are active in Oruzgan
and in the Musa Qala area. In RC-East there is an increase
in OMF activities, particularly IEDs and indirect attacks, as
well as clashes between Taliban and HiG. Operation PAMIR,

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which seeks to link security and development, is ongoing --
information Ops are key to dividing the OMF from the people.


4. (C/NF) In Pakistan, there have been significant militant
attacks in the FATA and Pakistani military tactical failures.
The Pakistan military has been forced into a reactive
posture, and clashes are now spilling into Swat and
Waziristan.


5. (C/NF) Ambassador Nuland asked that in future the NAC
receive operational, intel, and political briefings on
Afghanistan each week, rather than on a rotating basis
(Norway supported this proposal.) The SYG responded that he
would develop a proposal on this request. Ambassador Nuland
also requested responses to her previous questions in the NAC
regarding the threat to Kabul, an update on Badghis province,
and a readout of the operation in Tora Bora, adding a fourth
question regarding the status of operations in Musa Qala.
She added that there was a need to address Afghanistan more
comprehensively, perhaps at one of the PermReps, upcoming
Away Days. She also requested a focus on Iranian activities
in Afghanistan, saying that she would look at the possibility
of bringing a U.S. briefer to the NAC on the topic.


6. (C/NF) Italian PermRep Stefanini reported on the Economic
Cooperation Organization meeting in Herat on October 20,
which brought together President Karzai with officials of
Central Asian and Caucasus nations to discuss commercial
projects.


7. (C/NF) Canadian PermRep McRae welcomed the focus on the
Comprehensive Strategic Plan and the desire to make it a
practical document. Canada wants it to include discussion of
Afghanistan,s neighbors. He also noted that Canada is
currently hosting in Dubai a workshop for Afghan and Pakistan
border officials.


8. (C/NF) Latvian PermRep Eichmanis asked about the state of
NATO,s Information Operations strategy, and IMS Director for
Intelligence Laino responded that the MC passed the document
in March 2007 to NATO HQ, where it remains.


9. (C/NF) Netherlands PermRep Schaper observed that three
months ago COMISAF shifted focus from RC-South to RC-East,
and asked whether the operational goals of the shift to the
East had been achieved. Laino responded that there had been
positive results, but there remained a need to help the ANSF
with imbedded trainers and improved capabilities.

10 (C/NF) Bulgarian PermRep Ivanov reported that Bulgarian
President Parvanov was in Kabul on October 21. During a
meeting with Karzai, Karzai commented on the shortage of ANSF
vehicles and also criticized the West, Russia, Pakistan, and
the Afghan Parliament. Karzai also drew a distinction
between good Taliban (which can be reintegrated) and bad
Taliban (which must be eliminated).

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11. (C/NF) Belgian PermRep van Daele suggested that the
Comprehensive Strategic Plan should clearly distinguish
between military and civilian operations. He also noted that
counting NATO SCR Everts, UN SRSG Koenigs, and EU Head of
Mission Vendrell, there are many civilian representatives in
Afghanistan and suggested they needed to be better
coordinated. SYG responded that he could inquire into
coordination mechanisms on the ground but only the work of
the NATO SCR is within NATO,s competence to direct. SYG
also reminded PermReps that the NATO SCR will depart his post
in December and no nation has yet nominated a successor.


12. (C/NF) Danish PermRep Pousen-Hansen noted that last week
the Danish parliament decided to send a tank platoon to
reinforce its forces in Helmand, this will bring Danish
numbers to 665.


13. (C/NF) The SYG asked the IMS to request from SHAPE
information on two reports he read in the press ) one report
that several hundred Taliban were massing near Kandahar and
another reported thirty Taliban killed in fighting in Farah
province where they had taken over a district center. The
SYG also noted the need for a uniform approach on
investigations into reports of civilian casualties.


14. (C/NF) Norwegian PermRep Traavik asked for an update on
ISAF,s counternarcotics activities within the OPLAN.

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Balkans
--------------


15. (C/NF) Kosovo -- The CMC reported that there have been no
new incidents of violence in Kosovo and that KFOR,s
operational tempo remains high. The CMC briefly updated the
Council on the Military Committee,s October 18 visit to
Kosovo where COMKFOR informed the committee that he continues
to update KFOR,s contingency plan and that KFOR remains
ready to counter any threat to the safe and secure
environment. Finally, CMC provided an update to the
Council on the Balkans Joint Area of Operations Reserve
Forces saying that COMKFOR is planning on holding a reserve
readiness exercise in the November-December timeframe. He
also said that Chiefs of Defense will discuss shortening the
response time for the strategic reserve force during their
November 13-14 meeting. Ambassador Nuland informed the
Council that USEUCOM is deploying to Kosovo U.S. Army Europe
over-the-horizon reserve forces, a task force of Apache
Helicopters and Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles, as
increased deterrence to violence during the upcoming
elections. Slovenia provided a readout of its Foreign
Minister,s recent visit to Belgrade where he told President
Tadic, Prime Minister Kostunica and Foreign Minister Jeremic
to be flexible during the ongoing Troika negotiations and not
to repeat the same mistakes as in the 1990s when Belgrade

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found itself isolated from Europe and the international
community.


16. (C/NF) Bosnia -- ASYG Martin Erdmann updated the NAC on
the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina since October 19 when
the High Representative Lajcak imposed changes to laws
regulating the functioning of the Bosnian Parliament and
Council of Ministers that sparked a crisis with Republika
Srpska (RS) Prime Minister Dodik. He noted the ongoing
meeting of the Peace Implementation Council (PIC) where Dodik
has expressed a more conciliatory tone, but said that
nevertheless the RS continues to agitate against both the
Office of the High Representative and his Bonn Powers. The
PIC is expected to issue a statement Wednesday. Following
the update, Allies (Portugal, Slovakia (in a very long
intervention), Norway, U.S., Germany, The Netherlands,
Slovenia, and Latvia) expressed both their concern over the
developments in Bosnia and support for the Office of the High
Representative. They also noted the unhelpful signals coming
out of Belgrade that is fueling the crisis, although Norway,
Slovakia, and Slovenia linked Belgrade,s behavior to the
Kosovo situation and the unsupportive role being played by
Moscow. Portugal and Slovakia also noted that the current
crisis is directly related by the failure to adequately
follow through on police reform which would have led to the
signing of the stabilization and accession agreement with the
European Union. Portugal informed the Council that Lajcak
would be coming to Brussels on November 8 to brief the EU PSC
and requested SYG to try and arrange for the High Rep to also
brief the NAC -- a request endorsed by Allies. Allies
supported the SYG,s intention to issue a statement noting
NATO,s concern over Bosnia and support to Lajcak. The SYG
informed the Council that he would issue a statement once the
PIC has issued its declaration later today and that he would
arrange to try and have Lajcak come to the NAC to update the
Council on Bosnia.

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Darfur
--------------


17. (C/NF) The SYG reported that DASG Jochems and AU
Commissioner Djinnit met in Brussels October 22 to discuss
NATO,s cooperation with the AU. Djinnit reaffirmed AU,s
desire to develop the NATO-AU relationship in an incremental
manner. Djinnit said AU would request NATO airlift for
operations and NATO support for AU capacity building.


18. (C/NF) NATO is on schedule to complete the full AU
airlift into Darfur by December 31, the date for the
transition from AMIS to the AU/UN Hybrid mission. The last
10 days has been an intensive period with two Rwandan AU
battalions being deployed to Darfur via NATO/USAF C-17
airlift. Canada has confirmed it will provide NATO airlift
for 280 Ghanaian Civil Police and the 27-strong Kenyan
military police platoon. UK is completing NATO airlift of

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the Nigerian AU battalions.

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Iraq
--------------


19. (C/NF) The SYG noted the NTM-I 2007 Periodic Mission
Review (PMR) has been released and the PCG will meet on
November 9 to consider recommendations for the NAC.


20. (C/NF) Italian PermRep Stefanini reported on the start of
the Carabinieri-type training at Camp Dublin on October 27,
and detailed the types of training that the Iraqi National
Police (NP) would receive, including rule of law, crowd
control, weapons, navigational skills, and command and
control. He noted that 450 NPs are currently in training and
that more will be trained in the future. Stefanini mentioned
that the NTM-I Commander, LTG Dubik, visited the training
site on October 28 and was very satisfied. The Italian
PermRep stressed that the NTM-I training was very important
for Iraq and that the Carabinieri training in particular will
have a positive impact on the political situation in the
country.


21. (C/NF) Ambassador Nuland applauded the Italian efforts,
adding that she had recently met with a high-level U.S.
delegation just returning from Iraq which informed her that
NTM-I was highly appreciated by both MNF-I and
Iraqileadership. She also noted the October 29 transfer of
Karbala to Provincial Iraqi Control, arguing that it was a
demonstration of the progress being made in Iraq.

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Response to Terrorism
--------------


22. (C/NF) Response to Terrorism: Turkish PermRep Ildem said
that Turkish security forces have stepped up their campaign
to combat the terrorism coming from Iraq and in the last two
weeks, 64 terrorists have been killed and 16 security
personnel have lost their life with 17 injured. Ildem
further noted that Turkey had been disappointed by the
outcome of a meeting in Ankara last week with senior Iraqi
officials over continuing terrorism from Northern Iraq, with
Ankara believing that the Iraqi proposals would take far too
long to implement. Nevertheless, he said that he was still
hopeful that diplomatic efforts will result in some progress,
adding that the upcoming expanded Iraq Neighbors Group
ministerial, which Istanbul is hosting, would be an
opportunity for further diplomatic discussions on the issue.


23. (C/NF) Ambassador Nuland expressed solidarity with
Turkey, emphasizing that the United States works bilaterally
with Ankara to help combat terrorism through various measures
including intelligence sharing. She also expressed
appreciation for continued Turkish restraint with regard to a

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cross-border operation into northern Iraq. UK Deputy PermRep
Kidd noted Prime Minister Brown's full condemnation of the
PKK's actions and full support of Turkish restraint in its
efforts to address the issue. German PermRep Brandenburg
also noted solidarity and concern over the Turkish hostages
and their safety. Hefurther said that while he supported
Turkey's responses, he hopes that all actions would be in
compliance with International Law. The French, Italian, and
Spanish Representatives all spoke briefly to note solidarity
with Turkey as well. Ildem thanked PermReps for their
comments and support, and also thanked the SYG for his public
statements.

---
AOB
---


24. (C/NF) Ambassador Nuland noted that at the September 26
NATO-Russia Council meeting, the Russian delegation alleged
that Russian bomber flights which have been carried out over
U.S., UK, Icelandic, Danish and Baltic air space were similar
to the exercises being undertaken by the United States.
Drawing on reftel A, the Ambassador strongly refuted the
comparison, noting that Russian heavy bomber exercises in the
Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic were not comparable to U.S.
flights, which had been conducted only in support of
operation in Afghanistan and Iraq. She also said that these
U.S. flights had always followed the notification procedures
called for by the START Treaty. Ambassador Nuland said she
hopes that if the Russian delegation repeats such comparisons
in NATO-Russia Council meetings, Allies will join with the
United States in batting them down.


25. (C/NF) Romanian PermRep Ducaru said that Bucharest would
be formally requesting NATO early warning and air policing
support for the April Summit, to which the SYG responded that
the request would certainly be granted as it had in similar
circumstances in the past.
OLSON