NEW ZEALAND EXTENDS AFGHAN DEPLOYMENTS FOR ONE YEAR

C O N F I D E N T I A L WELLINGTON 000221 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/FO AND EAP/ANP NSC FOR VICTOR CHA OSD FOR JESSICA POWERS PHNOM PENH FOR POL/MCKEAN E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/12/2017 TAGS: MARR MOPS PINS PREL PGOV NZ SUBJECT: NEW ZEALAND EXTENDS AFGHAN DEPLOYMENTS FOR ONE YEAR REF: WELLINGTON 146 Classified By: Charge D'Affaires David J. Keegan, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Summary: The New Zealand Cabinet today approved the extension of current NZDF deployments to Afghanistan for one year, through September 2008, vice the two years that MoD requested (reftel). The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) told post that the Cabinet wanted the chance to revisit the deployment next year in order to determine whether the situation on the ground warrants altering the composition of the force. MFAT predicts the deployment will be extended again next year through September 2009. End Summary. ¶2. (U) Prime Minister Clark announced on March 12 that New Zealand will extend its current NZDF/police deployments in Afghanistan through September 2008. The deployments, including 120 personnel in the PRT, two personnel to train the Afghan National Army, up to five NZDF officers to serve at ISAF headquarters, and four police officers to help train the Afghan National police, were to expire in September 2007. The PM also announced that a new deployment of an NZDF frigate to join the Maritime Interdiction Operation (MIO) in the Arabian Sea for one month in mid-2008. Two NZDF medics will also serve in the Canadian PRT in Kandahar. ¶3. (C) The decision to extend the deployment for one year was taken by Cabinet earlier in the day. As we reported front channel (Wellington 146) MoD had requested Ministers approve a two-year extension (to September 2009),to avoid the Government having to review the deployment close to the time of the next NZ general election, currently expected for September 2008. But Matt Paterson, Policy Officer in MFAT's Security Policy Decision, says the Cabinet wanted a chance to review the potentially dangerous deployments in one year to assure that they are appropriate for the conditions in Afghanistan at that time. Paterson says it is highly probable the Cabinet will again extend the deployments next year, to September 2009, although they may choose to alter the number and type of forces on the ground if the situation warrants it. Paterson also says that the medics are being sent to the Canadian PRT at the request of the GOC. Up to two medics will be deployed at any one time; they will be rotated in and out depending on what specialists are needed. ¶4. (U) FYI: Defense Minister Goff announced on March 6 that Singapore is to send Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) personnel to serve under the NZDF PRT in Bamiyan. A five-person SAF team is to open a dental clinic at a provincial hospital, and five SAF engineers will join NZDF engineers and local contractors to construct and maintain bridges in the province. Singapore, who together with New Zealand, Australia, the UK and Malaysia is a member of the Five Nations Defence Arrangements, provided similar support to NZDF in East Timor from May 2001 - November 2002. End FYI. Keegan