MFA CITES THREE CONCERNS WITH OSCE ROLE IN

C O N F I D E N T I A L ATHENS 000566 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT ALSO FOR EUR/SE, EUR/RPM, AND SA E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/21/2018 TAGS: PGOV BGMT OSCE PREL PTER GR AF SUBJECT: MFA CITES THREE CONCERNS WITH OSCE ROLE IN AFGHANISTAN Classified By: Acting Political Counselor Jeff Hovenier or reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) On Aprl Poloff delivered reftel demarche and points to Mr. Sotirios Demestichas of the MFA D3 Directorate for the OSCE and the Council of Europe. Demestichas emphasized that any OSCE engagement with Afghanistan should address what the Afghan government cites as its priorities, and he looked favorably on the fact that the GoA had specifically requested customs border assistance. ¶2. (C) In terms of OSCE engagement within the borders of Afghanistan, Demestichas highlighted the following three areas of concern: security, a potential for duplication of efforts, and legal issues surrounding an internal OSCE field mission. (Note: Demestichas said these are "areas of concern for those OSCE nations that have concerns" and would not explicitly equate them to GoG concerns. End note.) Poloff drew from "if asked" points to explain that the OSCE should provide its own security apparatus similar to the numerous other international organizations, bilateral missions, and NGOs on the ground in Afghanistan and that this should be funded through extra-budgetary funds. Poloff also underscored that the OSCE would not duplicate customs and border security efforts that are being undertaken by others. ¶3. (C) Demestichas offered to continue discussions on the OSCE's role in Afghanistan in more "concrete terms" once the OSCE Secretariat announced proposals for participating member states in the coming months. SPECKHARD