AUSTRALIA CONSIDERS SUPPORT FOR AFGHAN ELECTIONS

C O N F I D E N T I A L CANBERRA 001281 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/RPM AARON COPE AND SCA/A NISHA SINGH E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/15/2018 TAGS: NATO PREL MOPS MARR AF AS SUBJECT: AUSTRALIA CONSIDERS SUPPORT FOR AFGHAN ELECTIONS REF: STATE 131480 Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Daniel A. Clune for reasons 1.4( b) and (d) ¶1. (C/NF) Deborah Stokes, First Assistant Secretary, South and West Asia, Middle East and Africa Division, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, told DCM on December 16 that Australia is very conscious of the importance of suppoQing the Afghan elections. The request for election support forces will be included in an overall review of Afghanistan policy, but on a timetable that will not result in decision prior to mid-February. Australia acknowledges that its timing is out-of-sync with the NATO Election Support Forces meeting planned for mid-January but emphasized its agreement and support for Afghanistan's election process. ¶2. (C/NF) On a related note, Stokes reemphasized a formal request from PM Rudd that the next NATO Summit include an ISAF component. She pointed out that PM Rudd suggested that a follow-up meeting be held in one year to measure results when the Political-Military Plan was adopted at the Bucharest Summit. Australia's requests for the meeting through NATO channels have met resistance from France and Germany, which have cited unavailability of hotel space, and Stokes asked that the U.S. add support to their request with its NATO partners. MCCALLUM