NORTH ATLANTIC COUNCIL READOUT - JUNE 11, 2008

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 USNATO 000205 NOFORN SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/10/2018 TAGS: NATO PREL AF SUBJECT: NORTH ATLANTIC COUNCIL READOUT - JUNE 11, 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: The Chairman of the Military Committee (CMC) again urged more action on providing embedded trainers (OMLTs). SHAPE reported a 45 percent increase in theater-wide activity levels in May 2008, with the vast majority occurring in the south and east. Ambassador Nuland highlighted the First Lady's recent trip to Afghanistan. Canada noted a government report, "Setting a Course to 2011," was submitted June 10 to Parliament. -- Balkans: The SYG mentioned the uncertainty surrounding the UNMIK reconfiguration and the upcoming entry into force of the Kosovo Constitution on June 15. KFOR continues to maintain an increased operations tempo and is taking a pro-active approach in the run-up to this weekend. Ambassador Nuland urged Allies to support UN SYG Ban when he sends his UNMIK reconfiguration plan to the UN Security Council. -- Africa - Support to the AU: Two officers from JFC Lisbon have been identified to work in the AU HQ in Addis Ababa. SHAPE has sent to the National Military Representatives (NMRs) an AU request for airlift support to transport a Burundian battalion from Bujumbura to Somalia as part of the Africa Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM). -- Iraq: No discussion. -- Statements on Political Subjects: Slovenia briefed Allies on the topics discussed at the U.S.-EU Summit in Brdo. Ambassador Nuland informed Allies of the UN Security Council's recent discussions on Iran's nuclear program and Iraq. -- AOB: The Polish PermRep reported on Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski's visit to Afghanistan last week, where he met with President Karzai, the First Deputy President, and the Foreign Minister END SUMMARY. -------------- Afghanistan -------------- ¶2. (C/NF) Secretary General de Hoop Scheffer informed the Council he would see Pakistan FM Qureshi, Australian FM Smith, Acting Canadian FM Emerson, and hopefully, UN SYG Ban Ki-Moon on June 12 on the margins of the Paris Support Conference. ¶3. (C/NF) Chairman of the Military Committee (CMC) Henault again reminded Allies of the importance of fulfilling NATO's Operational Mentor Liaison Team (OMLT) commitment to the Afghan National Army (Comment: NATO's current OMLT shortfall is 22, projected to decrease to only 19 by March 2009. End comment.) Noting the key role of OMLTs, he stated that two ANA kandaks are at Capability Milestone-1 (CM-1),(fully capable to plan, execute, and sustain operations); 18 are at CM-2 (need coalition support); 16 are at CM-3 (partially capable); four are at CM-4 (formed but not capable),and nine required kandaks are yet to be formed. ¶4. (C/NF) SHAPE DCOS for Plans and Policy BG Simon Porter USNATO 00000205 002 OF 003 provided the operational brief, citing a forty-five percent increase in theater-wide activity levels in May 2008. Over 1,000 of the month's 1,153 recorded incidents occurred in the south and east. BG Porter cited a high ISAF operational tempo, the conclusion of the poppy harvest, and continued infiltration of Opposing Militant Forces (OMF) from Pakistan as causes. He cited a doubling in activity levels in RC-E among provinces not on the Pakistani border. ¶5. (C/NF) In southern Helmand, he noted the U.S. 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, Afghan Border Police, and elements of a UK battlegroup are continuing operations in and around Garmsir, and in stark contrast to 2006-2007, OMF in northern Helmand no longer "stand up and fight" against ISAF operations there. In RC-West, ISAF's operational focus has been on Farah, where the ANA 207 Corps, Italian and Spanish forces, and the 2nd Battalion/7th Marine Regiment (2/7) have enabled the insertion of ANP into Bakwa district, as part of the FDD program. In RC-E, the 2nd Battalion/506th Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division ) currently ISAF's Theater Task Force - has deployed to Paktika from Kandahar. ¶6. (C/NF) Ambassador Nuland highlighted the First Lady's recent trip to Afghanistan as a demonstration of U.S. commitment to "soft power," education, and to Afghanistan and its women. Canadian PermRep McRae briefed that on June 10, his government sent to Parliament its inaugural report to Parliament on Canada's engagement in Afghanistan. The report, "Setting a Course to 2011," fulfills a March 13 commitment to Parliament, and responds directly to a recommendation outlined in the Independent Panel of Canada's Future Role in Afghanistan (a.k.a. the "Manley Panel"). -------------- Balkans -------------- ¶7. (C/NF) The SYG briefly mentioned the uncertainty surrounding the UNMIK reconfiguration and the upcoming entry into force of the Kosovo Constitution on June 15. He informed the Council that he hopes to speak to UN SYG Ban-Ki Moon during tomorrow's Conference on Afghanistan in Paris to seek more clarity. Lastly, the SYG mentioned that UN SYG is close to informing the UN Security Council of UNMIK's reconfiguration. BG Porter, providing the situational and operational update, said that the impending entry into force of the constitution could lead to increased tensions. He informed the Council that KFOR continues to maintain an increased operations tempo and is taking a pro-active approach in the run-up to this weekend. Of note, he said that KFOR has increased security around Gate 1 in the north and around the Mitrovica Court House. He also provided a short brief on the status of Kosovo's electricity supply saying that recent shortages due to equipment failure could also exacerbate tensions. Ambassador Nuland concurred with the SYG regarding the impending report on UNMIK's reconfiguration to the Security Council. She also called on Allies and other members of the Security Council to fully support the UN SYG when he forwards his UNMIK reconfiguration plan to the UNSC. Spain fully supported U.S. remarks highlighting the importance of the UN SYG's request to the EU to work in Kosovo as part of the reconfiguration. -------------- Africa - Support to the AU -------------- USNATO 00000205 003 OF 003 ¶8. (C/NF) The CMC informed the NAC that two officers have been identified from JFC Lisbon to provide air movement and personnel management support at the AU HQ in Addis Ababa, as requested by the AU and approved by the NAC. One officer will arrive on June 16, the other on July 7. ¶9. (C/NF) The CMC also reported that SHAPE has sent to the National Military Representatives (NMRs) an AU request for airlift support to transport a Burundian battalion from Bujumbura to Somalia as part of the Africa Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM). He noted that this was the first time the AU had made such a request for support for AMISOM to NATO. -------------- Statements on Political Subjects -------------- ¶10. (C/NF) The Slovenian PermRep briefed Allies on the topics discussed at the U.S.-EU Summit in Brdo, where President Bush and EU leaders discussed the Middle East, Kosovo, Iran, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Additionally, they discussed non-security related issues such as climate change, free trade, and the free movement of people. ¶11. (C/NF) Providing an update on upcoming events at the UN Security Council, Ambassador Nuland previewed the July 13 meeting on Iran sanctions, and the June 13 mid-year review of the Multi-National Force ) Iraq (MNF-I),and Secretary Rice's planned attendance at the June 19 thematic debate on women, peace and security at which the U.S. would seek a resolution calling for an end to the use of sexual violence against civilians as a weapon of war. --- AOB --- ¶12. (C/NF) The Polish PermRep reported on Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski's visit to Afghanistan last week where he met with President Karzai, the First Vice President Ahmad Zia Massoud, and Foreign Minister Spanta. In their talks, the officials focused on Polish-Afghan cooperation in Ghazni Province and discussed the training of Afghan soldiers, diplomats, and experts in agriculture. During a ceremony that attracted a large amount of media attention, Sikorski unveiled a plaque commemorating the 1987 death of Andy Skrzypkowiak, a cameraman working with Sikorski who was a journalist the time, at the hands of fighters under Gulbuddin Hekmatiyar. Sikorski called for Hetmatiyar to be brought to justice, provoking a response from a Hekmatiyar spokesman that Hekmatiyar forces would increase attacks against Polish forces. Although Sikorski's remarks will likely increase the danger to Polish troops, the PermRep said that it was more important to expose war crimes and seek justice against those with past blood on their hands. Ambassador Nuland added that Hekmatiar has a lot of more recent blood on his hands as well. NULAND