NORTH ATLANTIC COUNCIL READOUT JANUARY 31, 2007

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 USNATO 000060 SIPDIS NOFORN SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/31/2017 TAGS: NATO PREL AF SUBJECT: NORTH ATLANTIC COUNCIL READOUT JANUARY 31, 2007 Classified By: DCM Richard G. Olson, for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: -- Afghanistan: Secretary General (SYG) provided a readout of JCMB meeting in Berlin. The International Military Staff (IMS) Operations Director highlighted the need for more troops, the poor progress on staffing of ISAF X composite HQ, and the concern that misunderstandings about &ROE Escalations8 is causing an increase in civilian casualties. -- Kosovo: The Chairman of the Military Committee (CMC) informed the NAC that KFOR is conducting increased presence operations at least through February 9, as UN Special Envoy Ahtisaari prepares to present his proposal to Belgrade and Pristina. Ahtisaari will brief PermReps on February 16. -- Darfur: Secretary General (SYG) noted African Union (AU) summit outcomes, and stated that NATO stands by to assist AU on Somalia. -- Iraq: SHAPE provided initial assessment on gendarmerie training, with the Italian report expected by the end of February. SHAPE appeals to nations for an internal security platoon for Ar-Rustimayah. -- Moldova: Moldovan Foreign Minister Stratan and Defense Minster Plesca address Moldova,s Individual Partnership Action Plan (covered septel). -- Terrorist Threat Intelligence Unit, (TTIU): The Director of the NATO Office of Security briefed the NAC on the TTIU,s 2006 activities, and highlighted 2007 goals and objectives. END SUMMARY. Afghanistan -------------- ¶2. (C) SYG de Hoop Scheffer welcomed the discussion of a comprehensive approach to Afghanistan during the January 26 Foreign Ministers meetings at NATO, but reminded that fully adopting such an approach meant working at all levels, not just endorsing a concept among ministers. The SYG conveyed a readout on the January 30 Joint Coordination and Monitoring Board (JCMB) Political Directors meeting in Berlin that he had received from German Political Director Michael Schaefer prior to the NAC: the group endorsed the JCMB as a successful central coordinating body; agreed to strengthen further the JCMB where necessary; acknowledged the need to increase Afghan governing capacity and efforts to train Afghan National Security Forces; discussed human rights and the Afghan constitution; and called for political and security support for Afghanistan from its neighbors. �00A; ¶3. (C) The SYG termed the January 30 NAC with Pakistan PM Aziz (septel) an important opportunity to engage with a nation crucial to NATO,s success, and informed the Council that based on the NATO Legal Adviser,s discussions in Islamabad last week, Pakistan welcomes a more formal NATO-ISAF presence in Islamabad. He previewed that a Pakistani chop on a draft transit agreement with NATO was expected shortly, and urged Allies to respond quickly once the draft agreement was received. ¶4. (C) CMC Henault updated on the status of ISAF X composite headquarters manning, which still suffers shortfalls. The HQ is currently at a 68% staffing level, which will pose difficulty if not resolved by the end of February. He reiterated that SHAPE has called for nations to step up their games and resolve the &unhealthy8 situation. In addition to low staffing levels, only 39% of the expected 206 participants in February battle staff training in Stavanger have registered. USNATO 00000060 002 OF 003 ¶5. (C) IMS Operations Director MG Fenton informed the NAC that SHAPE had submitted its revised Combined Joint Statement of Requirements to NATO HQ and touched on the key adjustments. Past shortfalls remain, including the need for two strategic reserve battalions and one operational reserve battalion, an enabled battalion to serve as a theater task force, and PRTs and maneuver forces for Nimroz and Dai Kundi provinces. SACEUR will now also ask to upgrade the QRF companies in RC-S and RC-W to full battalions, and seek two additional battalions to focus on border and LOC issues in RC-S and RC-E. ¶6. (C) Fenton also briefed the Council that ISAF was deep into planning a follow-on operation to Oqab (Eagle),which would occur in the March-May timeframe and aim to preempt and dislocate any insurgent spring offensive attempts. The operation would involve close liaison with the Pakistani military. Fenton noted that ISAF is trying to transfer security responsibilities in the Panjwayi area of RC-S to ANSF so that high-end ISAF forces can be freed for other more demanding missions, but insufficient numbers of ANSF hamper the effort. He stated that by March, 700 auxiliary police should be on duty in Kandahar province. Finally, he briefed that COMISAF is concerned by the growing number of &ROE escalations,8 noting that civilian casualties impact the mood of the Afghan people. Following requests for clarification by the U.S., Latvia, and Norway, Fenton indicated that the Afghan people often do not understand the ROE escalation process (e.g. warning shouts, warning shots, then engagement) which ISAF soldiers use, and expressed hope that if ISAF gets the word out better, incidents where ISAF forces fire on civilians in self-defense can be reduced. Fenton noted that the ROE are classified and will not be released. ¶7. (C) Germany offered to bring Political Director Shaefer to brief the NAC on the JCMB, which Ambassador Nuland welcomed. The Ambassador also asked the IMS for updates on operations in the Sangin Valley and Kajaki Dam areas, security in Kandahar city, and any possible measures ISAF could take to protect Afghan parliamentarians. She asked for a status report prior to the Seville ministerial on NATO,s progress to help equip the ANA. Finally, she informed colleagues that she and the UK ambassador were working together to set up a briefing on Afghan counter-narcotics priorities for the NAC. Kosovo -------------- ¶8. (SBU) The SYG briefly mentioned the January 26 Contact Group meeting and stated the need for continued unity within the international community on Kosovo status. He said that UN Special Envoy Ahtisaari is preparing to travel to the region on February 2 to present his proposal to Belgrade and Pristina and will come to the NAC on February 16 to address PermReps. The CMC briefed that KFOR is conducting increased presence operations through at least February 9 to deter any violence during this period. Darfur -------------- ¶9. (SBU) The SYG noted the AU Summit, and reported that the rotating chairmanship had been awarded to Ghana instead of Sudan. It remains to be seen what impact this might have on President Bashir,s policies towards Darfur. The SYG said there is still a &difference of opinion8 between the UN and Sudan over the role of the UN in Darfur, noting the UN Secretary General did not get a formal authorization from SIPDIS Bashir for a &hybrid8 force in Darfur. The Sudanese, however, have agreed to the &light8 and &heavy8 assistance packages. The SYG reported that Somalia was discussed at the summit, but African leaders had so far only committed 4,000 soldiers for that mission. The SYG committed to monitoring preparations to deploy the force and will keep PermReps informed of any AU requests made to NATO for USNATO 00000060 003 OF 003 assistance. Iraq -------------- ¶10. (SBU) CMC Henault noted that on Jan 30, NATO HQ received SHAPE,s preliminary assessment on gendarmerie training. A full report from the Italian-led scoping mission is expected at the end of February. SHAPE will provide a more detailed assessment after receiving the Italian report. He also drew PermReps, attention to the need to provide an internal security platoon for Ar-Rustimayah. This requirement was not filled at the November 2006 force generation conference, and subsequently was outsourced through May 31, 2007. SHAPE is requesting offers to provide an internal security platoon be provided by February 28. Terrorist Threat Intelligence Unit -------------- ¶11. (SBU) In 2006, the TTIU provided support to ten committees and issued 44 reports, increasing cooperation with NATO Allies and partners. In 2007, the TTIU will focus on emerging CT threats in areas of interest to NATO members and solicit a more give-and-take relationship with MED Dialogue and ICI countries. Ambassador Nuland encouraged the NATO Office of Security to be aggressive in pushing down classification levels where appropriate so that partners can access relevant information. NULAND