Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08CANBERRA1281
2008-12-16 06:17:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Canberra
Cable title:
AUSTRALIA CONSIDERS SUPPORT FOR AFGHAN ELECTIONS
how-toVZCZCXYZ0006 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHBY #1281 3510617 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 160617Z DEC 08 FM AMEMBASSY CANBERRA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0701 INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 0267 RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 0828 RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE PRIORITY 0061 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0730
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)
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
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