HUNGARY SUPPORTS AFGHAN NATIONAL ARMY EXPANSION

UNCLAS BUDAPEST 000882 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/CE JAMIE LAMORE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AF PREL HU SUBJECT: HUNGARY SUPPORTS AFGHAN NATIONAL ARMY EXPANSION REF: SECSTATE 93225 ¶1. (SBU) In response to reftel, MFA Afghan Desk Officer Ferenc Hegyesi told PolOff on September 4 that Hungary supports increasing the size of the Afghan National Army (ANA). Highlighting the current and planned Hungarian military activity in Afghanistan - their PRT in Baghlan province, the upcoming security responsibility for Kabul's airport, deployment of two OMLTs in early 2009 and the planned Special Forces contingent - Hegyesi stated the importance of improving the capabilities of the ANA. He also mentioned that Hungary now has five Hungarian police officers and one Croatian police officer, originally assigned to their PRT, seconded to the EUPOL mission, with an additional three police officers working within their PRT to further develop Afghan National Police capabilities. ¶2. (SBU) Comment. While Hungary supports ANA expansion in principle, we anticipate that the GOH will be challenged to provide significant contributions to the proposed multi-donor trust fund due to its current financial situation. End comment. Foley