Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08USNATO138
2008-04-16 14:58:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Mission USNATO
Cable title:
NORTH ATLANTIC COUNCIL READOUT - APRIL 16, 2008
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 USNATO 000138
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/16/2018
TAGS: NATO PREL AF
SUBJECT: NORTH ATLANTIC COUNCIL READOUT - APRIL 16, 2008
Classified By: A/DCM W. S. Reid III, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 USNATO 000138
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/16/2018
TAGS: NATO PREL AF
SUBJECT: NORTH ATLANTIC COUNCIL READOUT - APRIL 16, 2008
Classified By: A/DCM W. S. Reid III, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C/NF) Summary from the NAC Meeting:
-- Afghanistan: United Nations Special Representative of the
Secretary General Kai Eide briefed the NAC in ISAF format (to
SIPDIS
be reported septel). A/SYG Howard laid out initial thoughts
on implementing the Bucharest "Comprehensive Strategic
Political-Military Plan" for Afghanistan. Chairman of the
Military Committee General Henault told the NAC that, per
President Karzai's request at the Bucharest Summit, SHAPE has
been tasked to provide a baseline assessment by the end of
May on the implications of transferring security
responsibility for Kabul to Afghanistan. The IMS has SHAPE's
input to the spring 2008 ISAF Periodic Mission Review,
including an assessment on the status of police training, and
whether ISAF could do more to assist international efforts.
IMS AD OPS MG LiGobbi cited IEDs as the leading threat to
ISAF, ANSF, and local nationals. DCM Olson raised appointing
an SCR for Afghanistan, to which the SYG reported that
candidates for the position had been put forward and the
selection process was underway.
-- Balkans: SG(2008)0319 (revision of OpPlan 10501) is open
for written comments until COB Wednesday. D/SYG Bisogniero
expressed satisfaction that UNMIK had decided last week that
Serbia's organization of elections in Serbian regions of
Kosovo would be in violation of UNSCR 1244; the question of
visits from Belgrade to Kosovo Serb enclaves still had to be
addressed.
-- Africa ) Support to the AU: No discussion.
-- Iraq: PM Maliki will meet the NAC on Thursday.
-- AOB: The SYG spoke in farewell to Icelandic Ambassador
Gunnar Gunnarsson, Dean of the NAC.
END SUMMARY.
--------------
Afghanistan
--------------
2. (C) UN SRSG Kai Eide gave NATO and ISAF Ambassadors a
blunt, yet passionate "tour d'horizon" of the range of
challenges confronting him, sharing his impressions after
nine days in Kabul. A full report on this meeting will
follow septel.
3. (C) Assistant Secretary General for Operations Martin
Howard laid out his initial thoughts on how NATO will
implement the 64 actions called for in the ISAF
"Comprehensive Strategic Political Military Plan," which NATO
and ISAF Heads of State and Government agreed in Bucharest.
A/SYG Howard intends for his Policy Coordination Group (PCG)
committee to play a lead role in coordinating HQ-wide input,
and told PermReps that while he intends to have the
bi-annual, PCG-negotiated "ISAF Periodic Mission Review
(PMR)" play a major role in updating progress and modifying
the Plan, he hoped for their support in giving him as
Chairman wide leeway to allow flexible reporting in advance
of Ministerial meetings, and to Council as necessary. Howard
hopes to avoid lengthy negotiations prior to each
Ministerial, and seeks the ability to highlight particular
areas of concern for PermReps to address. He intends to
share a draft plan of internal HQ reporting responsibilities
with the PCG by the end of April, and to send his first
progress report on the Plan to the NAC by the end of May, in
time for the Defense Ministers' meeting in June.
4. (C) Chairman of the Military Committee General Henault
USNATO 00000138 002 OF 003
noted President Karzai's Bucharest remarks, in which Karzai
stated his government's intent to assume security
responsibility for "Kabul" by August 2008. General Henault
said NATO military authorities remain unclear whether Karzai
meant Kabul city, Kabul province, or ISAF's RC-Capital. The
Military Committee has tasked SHAPE to provide a baseline
assessment of the implications of such a transfer by the end
of May, and the MC will then pass negotiated, agreed advice
to the NAC for deliberation and decision. General Henault
highlighted factors in the analysis that will need to be
addressed, such as existing security conditions, capabilities
of the Afghan National Security Forces, risks, and means to
mitigate those risks. He also added that the Military
Committee has received SHAPE's input to the spring 2008 ISAF
PMR process, which includes a response to the NAC's autumn
2007 request for an assessment on the status of police
training in Afghanistan, and whether or not ISAF could do
more to assist international efforts.
5. (C) IMS AD for Operations MG LiGobbi provided the
operations update, noting that IEDs remain the greatest
threat to ISAF and ANSF personnel, as well as local
nationals. He also noted the onset of the poppy harvest
stands to affect the op tempo of Opposing Militant Forces as
they harvest or protect their fields, and stated that the
government's Poppy Eradication Force had been attacked often
in Helmand and elsewhere. He said the MOD and MOI planned to
field a special Counternarcotics kandak by June to provide
force protection, but some PermReps noted the poppy harvest
would be over by then.
6. (C) DCM Olson raised the unfinished business of appointing
an SCR for Afghanistan. He praised the work of Deputy A/SYG
Ambassador Maurits Jochems in an interim capacity and
suggested extending his mandate. The UK and Canada seconded
the U.S. proposal. The SYG reported that candidates for the
position had been put forward and the selection process was
underway.
--------------
Balkans
--------------
7. (C) D/SYG Bisogniero reminded PermReps that SG(2008)0319
(revision of OpPlan 10501) is open for written comments until
COB Wednesday. He also pointed to SG(2008)0321 (update on
Kosovo developments between Independence and April 10) in
lieu of delivering a full oral briefing.
8. (C/NF) D/SYG Bisogniero expressed satisfaction that UNMIK
had decided last week that Serbia's organization of elections
in Serbian regions of Kosovo would be in violation of UNSCR
1244. He noted that the question of visits from Belgrade to
Kosovo Serb enclaves still had to be addressed. General
Eikenberry's staff provided a CMC briefing on Kosovo.
9. (C) The UK commented that Kosovar Serbian support for KFOR
could not be taken for granted. The UK PermRep reminded the
D/SYG that video clips taken of the violence in Mitrovica in
February had still not been shown to NNTCs.
10. (C) Spain said it had misgivings about some of the
analysis contained in the SG reports, but supported resting
policy on UNSCR 1244, which Serbia also considered to be the
authoritative document on Kosovo's status.
--------------
Iraq
--------------
11. (U) D/SYG Bisogniero reminded the Council that PM Maliki
will meet the NAC Thursday.
USNATO 00000138 003 OF 003
---
AOB
---
12. (U) AOB: The SYG spoke in farewell to Icelandic
Ambassador Gunnar Gunnarsson, Dean of the NAC.
NULAND
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/16/2018
TAGS: NATO PREL AF
SUBJECT: NORTH ATLANTIC COUNCIL READOUT - APRIL 16, 2008
Classified By: A/DCM W. S. Reid III, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C/NF) Summary from the NAC Meeting:
-- Afghanistan: United Nations Special Representative of the
Secretary General Kai Eide briefed the NAC in ISAF format (to
SIPDIS
be reported septel). A/SYG Howard laid out initial thoughts
on implementing the Bucharest "Comprehensive Strategic
Political-Military Plan" for Afghanistan. Chairman of the
Military Committee General Henault told the NAC that, per
President Karzai's request at the Bucharest Summit, SHAPE has
been tasked to provide a baseline assessment by the end of
May on the implications of transferring security
responsibility for Kabul to Afghanistan. The IMS has SHAPE's
input to the spring 2008 ISAF Periodic Mission Review,
including an assessment on the status of police training, and
whether ISAF could do more to assist international efforts.
IMS AD OPS MG LiGobbi cited IEDs as the leading threat to
ISAF, ANSF, and local nationals. DCM Olson raised appointing
an SCR for Afghanistan, to which the SYG reported that
candidates for the position had been put forward and the
selection process was underway.
-- Balkans: SG(2008)0319 (revision of OpPlan 10501) is open
for written comments until COB Wednesday. D/SYG Bisogniero
expressed satisfaction that UNMIK had decided last week that
Serbia's organization of elections in Serbian regions of
Kosovo would be in violation of UNSCR 1244; the question of
visits from Belgrade to Kosovo Serb enclaves still had to be
addressed.
-- Africa ) Support to the AU: No discussion.
-- Iraq: PM Maliki will meet the NAC on Thursday.
-- AOB: The SYG spoke in farewell to Icelandic Ambassador
Gunnar Gunnarsson, Dean of the NAC.
END SUMMARY.
--------------
Afghanistan
--------------
2. (C) UN SRSG Kai Eide gave NATO and ISAF Ambassadors a
blunt, yet passionate "tour d'horizon" of the range of
challenges confronting him, sharing his impressions after
nine days in Kabul. A full report on this meeting will
follow septel.
3. (C) Assistant Secretary General for Operations Martin
Howard laid out his initial thoughts on how NATO will
implement the 64 actions called for in the ISAF
"Comprehensive Strategic Political Military Plan," which NATO
and ISAF Heads of State and Government agreed in Bucharest.
A/SYG Howard intends for his Policy Coordination Group (PCG)
committee to play a lead role in coordinating HQ-wide input,
and told PermReps that while he intends to have the
bi-annual, PCG-negotiated "ISAF Periodic Mission Review
(PMR)" play a major role in updating progress and modifying
the Plan, he hoped for their support in giving him as
Chairman wide leeway to allow flexible reporting in advance
of Ministerial meetings, and to Council as necessary. Howard
hopes to avoid lengthy negotiations prior to each
Ministerial, and seeks the ability to highlight particular
areas of concern for PermReps to address. He intends to
share a draft plan of internal HQ reporting responsibilities
with the PCG by the end of April, and to send his first
progress report on the Plan to the NAC by the end of May, in
time for the Defense Ministers' meeting in June.
4. (C) Chairman of the Military Committee General Henault
USNATO 00000138 002 OF 003
noted President Karzai's Bucharest remarks, in which Karzai
stated his government's intent to assume security
responsibility for "Kabul" by August 2008. General Henault
said NATO military authorities remain unclear whether Karzai
meant Kabul city, Kabul province, or ISAF's RC-Capital. The
Military Committee has tasked SHAPE to provide a baseline
assessment of the implications of such a transfer by the end
of May, and the MC will then pass negotiated, agreed advice
to the NAC for deliberation and decision. General Henault
highlighted factors in the analysis that will need to be
addressed, such as existing security conditions, capabilities
of the Afghan National Security Forces, risks, and means to
mitigate those risks. He also added that the Military
Committee has received SHAPE's input to the spring 2008 ISAF
PMR process, which includes a response to the NAC's autumn
2007 request for an assessment on the status of police
training in Afghanistan, and whether or not ISAF could do
more to assist international efforts.
5. (C) IMS AD for Operations MG LiGobbi provided the
operations update, noting that IEDs remain the greatest
threat to ISAF and ANSF personnel, as well as local
nationals. He also noted the onset of the poppy harvest
stands to affect the op tempo of Opposing Militant Forces as
they harvest or protect their fields, and stated that the
government's Poppy Eradication Force had been attacked often
in Helmand and elsewhere. He said the MOD and MOI planned to
field a special Counternarcotics kandak by June to provide
force protection, but some PermReps noted the poppy harvest
would be over by then.
6. (C) DCM Olson raised the unfinished business of appointing
an SCR for Afghanistan. He praised the work of Deputy A/SYG
Ambassador Maurits Jochems in an interim capacity and
suggested extending his mandate. The UK and Canada seconded
the U.S. proposal. The SYG reported that candidates for the
position had been put forward and the selection process was
underway.
--------------
Balkans
--------------
7. (C) D/SYG Bisogniero reminded PermReps that SG(2008)0319
(revision of OpPlan 10501) is open for written comments until
COB Wednesday. He also pointed to SG(2008)0321 (update on
Kosovo developments between Independence and April 10) in
lieu of delivering a full oral briefing.
8. (C/NF) D/SYG Bisogniero expressed satisfaction that UNMIK
had decided last week that Serbia's organization of elections
in Serbian regions of Kosovo would be in violation of UNSCR
1244. He noted that the question of visits from Belgrade to
Kosovo Serb enclaves still had to be addressed. General
Eikenberry's staff provided a CMC briefing on Kosovo.
9. (C) The UK commented that Kosovar Serbian support for KFOR
could not be taken for granted. The UK PermRep reminded the
D/SYG that video clips taken of the violence in Mitrovica in
February had still not been shown to NNTCs.
10. (C) Spain said it had misgivings about some of the
analysis contained in the SG reports, but supported resting
policy on UNSCR 1244, which Serbia also considered to be the
authoritative document on Kosovo's status.
--------------
Iraq
--------------
11. (U) D/SYG Bisogniero reminded the Council that PM Maliki
will meet the NAC Thursday.
USNATO 00000138 003 OF 003
---
AOB
---
12. (U) AOB: The SYG spoke in farewell to Icelandic
Ambassador Gunnar Gunnarsson, Dean of the NAC.
NULAND