AFGHANISTAN: SWITZERLAND FOCUSED ON CIVIL SECTOR;

C O N F I D E N T I A L BERN 000525

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/A (T.REOTT),EUR/RPM (R.CARLAND),AND EUR/CE
(Y.SAINT-ANDRE)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/07/2018
TAGS: MARR PREL PGOV MASS AF SZ
SUBJECT: AFGHANISTAN: SWITZERLAND FOCUSED ON CIVIL SECTOR;
SWISS ASSISTANCE TO ANA SUSTAINMENT APPEARS UNLIKELY

REF: A. STATE 97991

B. BERN 246

Classified By: POL/E Counselor Richard A. Rorvig; reasons 1.4(b) and (d
).


1. (C) Poloff delivered the message and request in reftel A
on September 19 to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA)
Acting Senior Coordinator for South Asia Agnes Christelet.
While undertaking to review the request, Christelet
informally expressed doubt that the GOS would find the
necessary domestic political support for direct assistance to
ANA sustainment. She noted that Switzerland does not
traditionally provide assistance to foreign militaries
outside of the realms of civil-military relations. Referring
to FM Calmy-Rey's statement to the June Paris Support
Conference for Afghanistan, Christelet emphasized that
Switzerland has committed to maintaining support for Afghan
civil reconstruction at a level of CHF 15-20 million (USD
14-18 million) per year for the next few years (reftel B).
With regard to projects in the security sector, Christelet
reported that Switzerland was working with Germany to
increase the number of women in the Afghan police force, and
also was considering projects related to border controls and
customs in the context of the OSCE.


2. (C) Poloff followed up on the reftel A request with DFA
Senior Coordinator for South Asia Yves-Pierre Fux on October

3. Fux said that the GOS had made a political decision
earlier in the year to restrict Switzerland's Afghan
reconstruction assistance to civilian sectors. He added that
this does not mean that Swiss cooperation with the ANA is
completely out of the question, but that the DFA would need
to coordinate further with the MOD and other Swiss agencies
regarding the request for ANA sustainment support. (Comment:
Fux's tone, however, was not optimistic. End Comment)
Along the lines of comments made previously by Christelet,
Fux said that Switzerland is working together with Canada on
possible projects to help train Afghan border police and/or
customs officials. He commented that their intention is to
develop projects bilaterally with a view to coordinating them
within the broader OSCE effort. Post will continue to press
the ANA sustainment issue with Swiss officials at appropriate
opportunities.
CONEWAY