NORTH ATLANTIC COUNCIL READOUT - MAY 7, 2008

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 06 USNATO 000160

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E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/07/2018
TAGS: NATO PREL AF
SUBJECT: NORTH ATLANTIC COUNCIL READOUT - MAY 7, 2008

REF: SECSTATE 48130

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Classified By: DCM Richard G. Olson, Jr. for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C/NF) Summary from the NAC Meeting:

-- Afghanistan: The Secretary General announced his choice of
an Italian as the new NATO Senior Civilian Representative.
The IMS reported it hopes to have consolidated Bucharest
force generation review from SHAPE by May 13. The ANSF are
leading approximately 25 percent of military operations
across Afghanistan. Without new pledges, NATO anticipates a
shortfall of 20 ANA training teams by March 2009. The U.S.
24th Marine Expeditionary Unit is pressuring the Taliban in
former safehaven of Garmsir. The Canadian PermRep urged NATO
political engagement with Pakistan, while the SYG noted his
intention to begin a political dialogue with the new
Pakistani government at the right time. The NAC agreed to
continue negotiations with Qatar for a NATO-Qatar SOFA;
Ambassador Nuland reiterated U.S. redlines and urged creative
solutions. Ambassador Nuland announced a U.S. contribution
of $2,000,000 to the ISAF Post Operations Humanitarian Relief
Fund.

-- Balkans: The U.S. urged NATO to obtain detailed
information regarding UN staffing levels in Kosovo during the
upcoming transition period.

-- Africa ) Support to the AU: No discussion.

-- Iraq: No discussion.

-- 2008 ) 2009 NATO Public Diplomacy Strategy: In presenting
the 2008-2009 strategy, Assistant Secretary General for
Public Diplomacy Jean-Francois Bureau cited progress in
public diplomacy since last year thanks to NAC support and
guidance, the flexibility to redistribute PDD resources from
lapsed science programs to the Media Operations Center and
NATO TV, and improved Afghan capacity. Allies endorsed the
two-year, Summit-to-Summit timeline of the strategy as well
as the focus on NATO priorities, new technology and targeted
audiences. Ambassador Nuland noted that the mechanics and
the vision are right, but NATO lacks the capacity it needs.

-- Statements on Political Subjects: Ambassador Nuland
briefed the NAC using a Washington-provided PowerPoint
presentation entitled: "Stemming the Flow of Foreign
Terrorists into Iraq" and asked Allies to take a number of
steps to impede the flow of foreign fighters to Iraq (details
septel).

-- AOB: No discussion.

END SUMMARY.

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Afghanistan
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2. (SBU) NEW NATO SENIOR CIVILIAN REPRESENTATIVE CHOSEN: The
SYG announced he had selected an Italian candidate,
Ambassador Fernando Gentilini, as NATO's next SCR in
Afghanistan. Gentilini comes from the cabinet of outgoing PM
Prodi, and should arrive in Kabul in mid-July for two weeks
of overlap with current Acting SCR Jochems.


3. (C/NF) BUCHAREST FORCE GENERATION FOLLOW-UP: Chairman of
the Military Committee (CMC) General Henault reported that
the IMS tasked SHAPE to provide information on the status of
Bucharest ISAF offers, and an assessment on how these offers
address the CJSOR priority shortfalls, by May 13. The SYG,
relaying a problem that SHAPE experienced in producing this
report, reminded Allies that nations must follow up their
Bucharest pledges with formal offers to D/SACEUR.


4. (C/NF) AFGHAN NATIONAL SECURITY FORCES TRAINING AND
DEVELOPMENT: CMC Henault reminded the Council that the
current shortfall in NATO embedded ANA training teams (OMLTs)
is 22; factoring in both planned ANA growth and existing NATO
OMLT pledges, this shortfall will remain more or less static
through March 2009, when the shortfall is predicted to be 20
teams. IMS Assistant Director MG Li Gobbi noted the
following statistics on the participation of ANSF (ANA and/or
ANP) in ISAF operations by Regional Command: in RC-E, ANSF
has participated in 100 percent of operations; in RC-S, 90
percent; RC-W, 80 percent; RC-N, 30 percent; and RC-Capital,
50 percent. ANSF have had the lead in approximately 25
percent of operations across Afghanistan. The CMC stated
that the Military Committee is working on finalizing
long-term NATO training support initiatives to the ANA.


5. (C/NF) ISAF OPERATIONS: MG Li Gobbi briefed that the
ongoing poppy harvest has played a role in limiting the
operational tempo of Opposing Militant Forces (OMF); the
harvest should begin winding down at the end of May/early
June. Li Gobbi pointed to recent OMF propaganda concerning a
"spring offensive," but stated that OMF lack the capability
and the command and control to carry out attacks pan-theater
or even coordinated between regions. OMF were in a
"reactive" mode in RC-S last week, according to Li Gobbi, due
to intense ISAF and ANSF activity, characterized by the U.S.
24th Marine Expeditionary Unit's (MEU) clearing operations in
Garmsir, and significant operations led by the ANA 205 Corps
near Kandahar. Despite ISAF and ANSF operations in RC-E, he
anticipated spikes in the levels of OMF activity in RC-E due
to the bolstering of Pakistani safehavens by deals between
the Pakistani government and militants.


6. (C/NF) PAKISTAN: Canadian PermRep McRae again expressed
oft-heard Canadian concerns with the Pakistani safehavens of
militants that attack ISAF forces, and questioned whether the
Pakistani government was living up to its international
obligations by agreeing deals with militants that ignored the
issue of cross-border attacks into Afghanistan. He asked the
SYG if he intended to engage the Pakistani leadership on this
issue, and asked if the Tripartite Commission (TPC) could be
of more assistance. He urged quick action on a Bucharest
tasking agreed by HOSG to "( strengthen ISAF engagement in

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the TPC and supporting processes, including by encouraging
the TPC to develop a joint plan for securing the border, in
consultation with the cross-border Jirga and creation of an
ISAF military liaison office in Islamabad." The SYG agreed
that NATO needed a political dialogue with Pakistan, and
stated that he has held off on contacting the new Pakistani
leadership, but intends to do so "once the dust settles" in
Islamabad.


7. (C/NF) NATO-QATAR COOPERATION AGREEMENT AND ISAF AIR OPS:
Noting SACEUR's April 25 letter underlining the importance of
the ISAF Cell at the U.S. Central Command's Combined Air
Operations Center (CAOC) in Qatar, the SYG asked NATO Deputy
Assistant Secretary General Bob Simmons to brief on his April
28-29 negotiations in Doha for a NATO-Qatar Cooperation
Agreement that would establish an official status for the
Cell and permit ISAF to remain in the CAOC. (Comment: Qatar
had in the past threatened to expel NATO personnel working in
the CAOC, arguing that they were there in violation of Qatari
immigration law. End comment.) Simmons said that the
discussions had failed to resolve several major issues,
particularly relating to jurisdiction and the scope of
bilateral agreements, adding that he had remained firm with
regard to Allied red lines. Despite the apparent impasse,
the Qatari negotiator had neither ended negotiations
completely nor threatened to close the ISAF Cell. Instead,
he asked NATO to provide him with a clean copy of the
agreement as proposed by Allies in order that his authorities
could study it and determine whether and how to proceed with
negotiations. The SYG said that he was "feeling slightly
uncomfortable in this negotiating process," adding that he
had hoped Allies could have provided Simmons' more
flexibility on key issues. Nevertheless, he proposed that
the process move forward as suggested by the Qataris, with
NATO providing Doha a clean, revised text. CMC Henault
stressed that there was no viable alternative to the ISAF
Cell within the CAOC and that it was "critical to providing
the Close Air Support when ISAF troops are in contact with
the enemy." Ambassador Nuland, deploying reftel guidance,
endorsed the SYG's proposal to send Doha a revised copy of
the draft agreement, while making clear that the U.S. would
not bend on jurisdictional issues. She suggested that if the
impasse continued, NATO could determine whether Doha would
allow the ISAF Cell to remain if it were staffed only with
NATO personnel from countries with bilateral SOFAs. The
Italian DCM also agreed with the SYG's approach, adding that
Rome looked at this issue through the lens of jurisdiction.
The French PermRep stressed the continuing military
importance of the ISAF Cell, as demonstrated by SACEUR's
letter and General Henault's comments, and argued that Allies
had "no other choice" but to continue to find a way to reach
an agreement. He added that as the Contact Point Embassy in
Doha, the French were prepared to offer any assistance
possible to NATO in the negotiations.


8. (C/NF) DISCUSSION: Ambassador Nuland announced an imminent
U.S. donation of $2,000,000 to the ISAF Post Operations
Humanitarian Relief Fund, and encouraged proportional Allied
donations that would enable the POHRF to become a truly

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effective tool for COMISAF. She noted the 24th MEU had been
successful thus far in blocking Taliban infiltration routes
from Pakistan through southern Helmand into northern Helmand
and that the MEU was likely to continue operations near
Garmsir. She stated that U.S. Marine police trainers had
begun to deploy to northern Helmand and Farah provinces, and
had brought reconstruction money with them, as well. The UK
PermRep urged nations to contribute to the joint UK/France
helicopter trust fund, and the Norwegian PermRep announced
that Norway would contribute two-million euros to the fund.

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Balkans
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9. (C/NF) The SYG informed the Council of UN Under Secretary
General for Peace-Keeping Operations Guehenno's recent trip
to Pristina and Belgrade to discuss UNMIK and EULEX
transition plans and the May 6 meeting of the Quint Political
Directors in London that discussed Kosovo. The SYG noted
that Guehenno could not attend the London meeting, but would
be providing a full readout of his trip via teleconference
upon his return to New York later this week. The SYG also
mentioned the upcoming Serbian elections on May 11 and
Belgrade's determination to hold elections in Kosovo despite
UNMIK's position that municipal elections would violate UNSCR

1244. The CMC echoed the SYG's last point, saying that
upcoming events such as the elections present situations that
could upset the current situation in Kosovo. Noting that
KFOR will continue its high operational tempo, the CMC stated
that the radical Kosovo Albania Movement for
Self-Determination is planning to hold a demonstration in
Pristina in advance of the elections and KFOR is taking all
necessary actions in coordination with UNMIK and the KPS to
deter any violence. Lastly, the CMC stated that SHAPE would
be providing its input with regard to revision three of the
Balkans JOA Operations Plan by the end of the week for
approval by the Military Committee and the NAC. The CMC
noted that the Military Committee is looking to provide its
approval, and forward it to the Kosovo policy coordinating
group and the NAC no later than the June Defense Ministerial.



10. (C/NF) Upon hearing this last point, the UK pushed for a
faster timetable and appealed to the CMC to "speed the
process up," saying that events on the ground could not wait.
In response, the CMC assured the UK that the NMAs would do
all it can to facilitate a quick process, but underscored
that the political guidance only came last week. In response
to a Dutch question on reserve forces, the CMC mentioned that
the German reserve battalion would be rotating out of Kosovo
by May 31 and be replaced by the UK reserve battalion. He
assured the Council that COMKFOR does have the forces he
needs, assuming that KFOR does not become the first responder
as a result of gaps between UNMIK and EULEX. Ambassador
Nuland noted U.S. disappointment with Guehenno's failure to
appear at the London meeting, and that Washington remains
deeply concern by any UN effort to conduct parallel
negotiations with Belgrade that could have a negative impact

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on Kosovo and its status as a recognized independent nation.
She called on Allies to continue their engagement with the
UN, particularly in getting UN support to the incoming EU
mission, and formally proposed that NATO, led by the SYG,
inquire about UN staffing plans heading into June 15 and
post-June 15 at least until September 1. She also noted the
importance of emphasizing that there should be no gaps
between UNMIK and EULEX, and that the UN owes NATO answers
regarding transition plans given its direct impact on KFOR
operations. Greece supported the U.S., saying that the
information on UN plans would be very useful for NATO. The
SYG concluded by endorsing the U.S. request and said he would
do everything that was necessary to ensure that NATO has any
additional information it might need regarding transition and
the way ahead in Kosovo. The SYG also noted that he would
brief the Council regarding Guehenno's activities at some
point next week.

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2008 - 2009 NATO Public Diplomacy Strategy
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11. (U) A/SYG for Public Diplomacy Jean-Francois Bureau
requested endorsement of the 2008-2009 Public Diplomacy
Strategy as the way to enhance NATO's image, engage new
members and partners and get NATO competing in the global
information environment. He cited progress since last year
thanks to NAC support and guidance, the flexibility to
redistribute PDD resources from lapsed science programs to
the Media Operations Center and NATO TV, and improved Afghan
capacity including through U.S., UK and Canadian efforts. He
and Spokesman James Appathurai emphasized the need for
expanded public affairs capacity in ISAF (filling the empty
PAO billets at ISAF HQ and in regional commands, and opening
embed programs to media from other nations),in Afghanistan
(more mentoring of Afghan government officials, particularly
at the regional level),and at NATO (implementing the
Military Committee Action Plan with human and financial
resources, training for outgoing PAOs, and a stronger effort
to build PA capabilities at the national level). A/SYG
Bureau asked Allies to help in forecasting their deployments,
as the six-month rotations offered a management and training
challenge on the PA side as well.


12. (U) General Henault reported that the Military Committee
has identified strategic communications has one of its main
lines of discussion to be taken up by Chiefs of Defense at
next week's meeting. He welcomed the new policy foundation
and the action plan roadmaps to capacity building, but stated
that reform in military PA capacity would be progressive.


13. (U) Ambassador Nuland welcomed the considerable progress
since last year and A/SYG Bureau's leadership in getting the
mechanics and the vision right. She noted the need now to
focus on capacity ) the right voices, pictures, training and
younger audiences. She recommended expanded PA training at
NATO, getting surrogates out speaking in capitals, and
building on the Young Atlanticist Network to reach the 30-40
year-old professional communities throughout the Alliance.

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Allies endorsed the two-year, Summit-to-Summit timeline, as
well as the focus on NATO priorities, new technology and
younger audiences. The UK PermRep urged PDD to think early
about the Summit PD plan and target audiences across the
Alliance. The Czech Republic and Lithuania requested
separate plans to address NATO's response to 21st century
threats. Almost all Allies spoke, giving positive feedback
to Bureau's presentation.
NULAND