READOUT: OCTOBER 8 NORTH ATLANTIC COUNCIL MEETING

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 06 USNATO 000367

NOFORN
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/10/2018
TAGS: NATO, PREL, AF
SUBJECT: READOUT: OCTOBER 8 NORTH ATLANTIC COUNCIL MEETING

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Classified By: Classified by Acting Deputy Chief of Mission Walter S. R
eid for Reasons 1.4(b) and (d).

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

-- AFGHANISTAN: NATO Secretary General de Hoop Scheffer
noted that SG(2008)0746: &Employment of NATO Airborne Early
Warning & Control Force for ISAF8 is under silence until
1800, Oct 8. If this document is agreed, the Military
Committee (MC) will be able to take forward its work on this
issue. SHAPE,s Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Maj
Gen Wright, cited a slight reduction in Opposing Militant
Forces (OMF) activity compared to the previous week and
reported that there has been a 33 percent decrease in attacks
on the ring road since August 4. PermReps focused on the
future assessment of the Comprehensive Strategic Pol-Mil Plan
(CSPMP) and Pakistan,s operations in the border area.

-- BALKANS: The SYG announced that he will continue to plan
the NAC trip to Kosovo.

-- AFRICA/PIRACY: The Chairman of the Military Committee
(CMC) presented the latest state of play on MC advice on the
issue of piracy. The MC is looking at a short term response
to address the immediate need of providing protection to the
World Food Program (WFP),as requested in a letter from the
UN, as well as the rules of engagement for a NATO flotilla
expected to be in the vicinity of the Gulf of Aden (GoA) in
coming weeks. He said the NATO MC will look at longer term
counter-piracy operations next, including options for use of
another NATO flotilla set to operate in the GoA and Indian
Ocean in Spring 2009. Canada is currently protecting WFP
ships, but will leave the region on October 23. The
Netherlands said it is considering detaching a ship from the
current NATO Mediterranean flotilla and sending it under a
national flag to follow the Canadian escort vessel. The EU
has a coordination cell in Brussels and is considering an
ESDP mission to commence in mid-December. SACEUR is seeking
NAC approval to establish the Rules of Engagement for any
NATO vessel that encounters an act of piracy; the ROE would
consider surveillance, deterrence, and engagement (Note: this
passed silence on Thursday, Oct. 9. End Note.).

-- IRAQ: no discussion

-- PREPARATIONS FOR THE MEETINGS OF DEFENCE MINISTERS IN
BUDAPEST: The SYG said that he would ask Ministers to note
and agree five reports during the October 10 formal session
of the Budapest Defense Ministerial.. At the same time, he
expressed his and the CMC's significant concerns about the PE
Review in the "Capability" report.

-- NOISE MITIGATION MEASURES AT GEILENKIRCHEN: The Chairman
postponed the presentation to another occasion given the
unexpected length of discussion on the previous agenda topic.

-- RESPONSE TO TERRORISM: Turkey briefed on the October 3 PKK
terrorist attack in Simdinli, informing the NAC that Turkish
operations against the PKK terrorists continue. Turkey also
said that Ankara had demarched Baghdad, reminding the Iraqis
of their international obligations and requesting that they
take measures against the terrorists.

-- STATEMENTS ON POLITICAL TOPICS: France briefed on the
recent informal EU defense ministers meeting which discussed
EU operations (namely Chad, Althea in BiH and Georgia),
capabilities and future counter-piracy activity plans.

--AOB: Poland informed the Council of plans for a Polish
contribution to the NATO Trust Fund for Afghanistan and the
NATO Trust fund for Ukraine. Albania and Croatia thanked
Lithuania for having ratified their entry into NATO and urged
remaining Allies to follow suit.

END SUMMARY.


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--------------
Afghanistan
--------------

2. (C/NF) Afghanistan: AWACS: NATO Secretary General de
Hoop Scheffer noted that SG(2008)0746 titled &Employment of
NATO Airborne Early Warning & Control (NAEWC) Force for
ISAF8 is under silence until 1800, Oct 8. In this document,
the SYG recommends moving the issue forward by validating the
requirement and establishing this deployment as a
theatre-level capability. If the document passes silence,
the Military Committee will be able to take forward its work
on this issue.

3. (C/NF) Operational Update by SHAPE DCOS/OPS: SHAPE,s
Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Maj Gen Wright, cited a
slight reduction in Opposing Militant Forces (OMF) activity
compared to the previous week and noted OMF are focusing
their efforts on undermining the Government of Afghanistan
and key government leaders. He reported that the Tri-partite
Commission (TPC) met this past week and that Pakistan
representatives offered training and equipment to the ANSF.
This offer is expected to be a key topic for the next TPC
meeting, scheduled for October 27. Maj Gen Wright reported
that there had been a 33 percent decrease in attacks on the
ring road since August 4. Lastly, he said that voter
registration began on October 6, adding that there has been
no specific OMF intent to target voter registration.

4. (C/NF) PermRep Comments: Noting that he was looking
forward to a discussion of the Comprehensive Strategic
Pol-Mil Plan (CSPMP),the UK PermRep expressed regret that
the CSPMP Annex was still making its way through NATO,s
committee structure and would not be available in time for
discussion at the October 9-10 Budapest Defense Ministerial.
He recommended the NAC look at the CSPMP immediately upon
return from Budapest to ensure the structure is correct
before the committee work on the document resumes. He also
argued that a detailed report must be prepared for the 2009
Summit. Returning to his concerns about the way NATO does
business, he suggested that NATO should move toward reviewing
documents in a parallel process rather than the current
series process. De Hoop Scheffer replied that that this
suggestion would be looked at as a part of the larger
discussion on NATO HQ reform.

5. (C/NF) The Dutch PermRep requested SHAPE provide an
assessment of Pakistan operations in the Federally
Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and how it has affected the
OMF activities in Afghanistan. MG Wright said he would have
his intelligence staff work on this assessment, and he would
address this issue in his next briefing to the NAC.

6. (C/NF) The Canadian PermRep suggested the SYG speak
specifically about the CSPMP during the lunch at 26 in
Budapest. SYG assured him this topic would be discussed more
than once in Budapest.

7. (C/NF) The Romanian PermRep reported that his country had
deployed its first OMLT to Afghanistan this week.
Additionally, his Defense Minister has pledged further OMLTs
for deployment next year.

8. (C/NF) The Estonian PermRep asked for a briefing or
assessment of Pakistan border issues and how civilian tools
could be of use in addressing problems for which the military
could not. He also voiced support for SACEUR,s
recommendations on counternarcotics (CN) amendments to the
Operational Plan (OPLAN).

9. (C/NF) The Czech Republic,s PermRep reported that his
government has donated 50,000 Euros to the ANA Transportation
Trust Fund to move the 3 Czech attack helicopters that are
ready to for delivery to the ANA. He noted that an
additional 350,000 Euros was needed to move the other 12
donated helicopters. He challenged the Alliance to donate

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more money to the Trust Fund to get desperately needed
equipment to the ANA.

10. (C/NF) Closing Comments: In closing, the de Hoop
Scheffer mentioned that he would have a teleconference with
Afghan Minister of Defense Wardak that afternoon and he would
let the Council know what was discussed over lunch in
Budapest. Lastly, SYG recommended a combined Political and
Military Committee meeting to discuss the CSPMP in the run-up
to NATO,s April 2009 Strasbourg / Kehl Summit.

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Balkans
--------------

11. (C/NF) Balkans: The SYG, following up on the
discussions that occurred in the Perm Rep coffee on October
7, announced that he will continue to plan the NAC trip to
Kosovo. He said he would take into account concerns that
nations had raised with the agenda and with meetings with
Kosovo officials that could be perceived as NATO
acknowledgment of Kosovo,s status.

12. (C/NF) SHAPE followed with a short operational update
that highlighted shortfalls in both the KPC Stand-down and
KSF Stand-up Trust Funds. Luxembourg and the Czech Republic
both expressed concern that nations still had not honored
pledges to these critical Trust Funds. De Hoop Scheffer
stressed that the situation must improve quickly, adding that
it may be appropriate to conduct an analysis of the Trust
Fund pledges and the consequences of delays in filling them.

--------------
Africa
--------------

13. (C/NF) Africa: The Chairman of the Military Committee
(CMC) presented the latest state of play on MC advice
regarding the piracy issue. The MC is looking at a short
term response to address the immediate need of providing
protection to the World Food Program, (WFP),as requested in
a letter from the UN, as well as the long term need of a
complementary approach to counter-piracy when the EU stands
up its operations in the Gulf of Aden and the next NATO
flotilla returns to the region in Spring 2009. Canada is
currently protecting WFP ships, but will leave the region on
October 23. The EU has a coordination cell in Brussels and
is considering an ESDP mission to commence in mid-December.
SACEUR is seeking NAC approval to establish the Rules of
Engagement for any NATO vessel that encounters an act of
piracy; the ROE would consider surveillance, deterrence, and
engagement (Note: This passed silence on Oct. 9 as well. End
Note.).

14. (C/NF) The CMC noted that Standing NATO Maritime Group 2
(SNMG-2) will be passing through the Suez Canal on October
15, in the Gulf of Aden October 21, and continue through the
Red Sea to various port visits in the Persian Gulf,
completing its mission in early December. CMC stated that
NATO had a number of options, including having some ships
detour and stay in the Gulf of Aden. Alternatively, the
entire mission could be redirected or extended as needed.
The MC had provided a memorandum for this short term
decision, which was under NAC silence. CMC said that--so
far--ships protecting the WFP have been provided on a
national basis. He highlighted TF-150 and CJTF-HOA as having
allowed ships to peel off in support. (Note: we would welcome
confirmation of such detachments from CJTF-HoA. End Note.)
In the long term, CMC said that SNMG-1 will pass through the
Gulf of Aden region from mid-March 2009 until early July,
2009.

15. (C/NF) Ambassador Volker urged the NAC to respond
favorably to the UN request, arguing that NATO has the
capacity to provide the support and would not incur any
additional costs in doing so. He also argued that NATO

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needed to fill the gap that will exist until the EU mission
is deployed. Volker emphasized that NATO-EU staff-to-staff
coordination is important. The Ambassador also offered U.S.
assistance in providing/sharing data from USG assets in the
region to a NATO headquarters, which could then be shared
with the ESDP mission.

16. (C/NF) The Dutch PermRep informed the NAC that his
government was likely to send a frigate in response to the UN
request for WFP escort duty, adding that a firm decision on
this from The Hague was expected by the end of next week.
The Netherlands said it would detach the ship from the
current NATO Mediterranean flotilla and send it under a
national flag to follow the Canadian escort vessel. In
response to a UK suggestion that NATO efforts might need
further consideration in this light, the Dutch PermRep
emphasized that he did not want the Dutch decision to operate
on a national basis to block NATO's collective decisions on
piracy. Germany, Italy, Denmark, and UK supported the CMC's
approach, highlighting the need for complementarity of NATO
and EU anti-piracy efforts. Italy added that counter-piracy
was so important that Italy was proposing to host the
headquarters in Rome for the EU ESDP mission. The UK
pointedly said that national contributions were simpler and
quicker, although he did add that such contributions should
not block NATO's parallel efforts to develop its own policies
and that any political decisions must be made by the NAC.
Norway was very strong in urging the SYG to make a positive
and immediate response to the UN request. The Canadian
PermRep said that NATO must be sympathetic to the situation
in Somalia, adding that taking on an anti-piracy role would
prove NATO,s relevance in the region and beyond. Turkey
said it supported SNMG-2 use in response to the UN request
and said future possible NATO assistance to support the EU
should be defined in operational detail and brought to the
NAC for consideration under existing guidelines. (Note:
Turkey did not use the term &agreed framework.8 End Note.)

17. (C/NF) The SYG concluded the discussion by saying that
NAC needed to move forward on three decisions: two
short-term, one long-term. First, to assist the WFP, NATO
needs more clarification from the UN, but also needs to be
seen as supportive, especially in light of UNSCR 1838 and the
recent signing of the UN-NATO MoU at UNGA. He continued that
an immediate response would likely be national in character
since NATO will need an MOU with the WFP, and NATO may have
additional command and control issues to resolve. Second,
Defense Ministers in Budapest this week should consider the
role of SNMG-2. In response to German and Portuguese
requests about rules of engagement for NATO ships to actually
engage pirates as opposed to cruise in deterrence/presence
missions, the SYG said individual Allied political decisions
would be made whether these ships would stay under the NATO
flag or revert to their national flag in such a circumstance.
Third, in the long-term how will NATO work with the EU in a
complementary capacity? Another political decision must be
made as to the long-term NATO role in anti-piracy, and how
this effort might fit with any future ESDP mission.

18. (C/NF) Iraq: no discussion

-------------- --------------
Preparations for the Meetings of Defense Ministers in Budapest
-------------- --------------

19. (C/NF) Preparations for the Meetings of Defense
Ministers in Budapest: The SYG previewed the formal meeting
to be held at the Defense Ministerial on Friday, October 10.
He said he would ask Ministers to note and agree to five
reports. At the same time, he expressed his significant
concerns about the PE Review in the "Capability" report )
concerns he said were shared by CMC. He stated that the EWG
report on the PE Review "goes nowhere(and is a recipe for
disaster." As a result, he said that he intended to ask
Ministers to make their own decision about the PE Review.
The UK directly supported the SYG, with U.S., Canada,

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Denmark, Norway and Lithuania saying that they did not object
to a ministerial discussion of the PE review should the SYG
introduce the topic, while Turkey, Greece, and Spain
threatened to open up the entire report for discussion if the
SYG took his suggested course of action. The three Allies
noted that the EWG report had just passed silence, that they
had all made concessions in order to reach consensus, and
that Ministers could not discuss just select portions of the
report. The Turks asked that all positions expressed during
the NAC meeting be fully incorporated into the subsequent
decision-sheet so that everyone would be clear on the
discussions which took place. The SYG concluded by saying
that he has the obligation, as Chairman, to tell Ministers
that the PE Review is moving in the wrong direction. He said
it would then be up to the Ministers to decide if he is right
or wrong.

--------------
Noise Mitigation Measures at Geilenkirchen
--------------

20. (C/NF) Noise Mitigation Measures at Geilenkirchen: The
Chairman postponed the presentation to another occasion given
the unexpected length of discussion on the previous agenda
topic. As the scheduled presenter was a Dutch national, the
Dutch PermRep. intervened to ask that the presentation be
rescheduled as soon as possible.

--------------
Response to Terrorism
--------------

21. (C/NF) Response to Terrorism: The Turkish PermRep said
that 17 Turkish military personnel were killed in the October
3 PKK terrorist attack in Simdinli. He noted the use of
heavy weaponry by the PKK during the attack. He informed the
NAC that Turkish operations against the PKK continued. He
also said Ankara had demarched Baghdad to remind the GOI of
its international obligations and to request they take
measures against the terrorists.

--------------
Statements on Political Subjects
--------------

22. (C/NF) Statements on Political Subjects: France briefed
on the recent informal EU defense ministers meeting,
highlighting the main discussion topics: EU operations,
capabilities and counter-piracy activities. On operations,
the PermRep said that while ministers recognized the recent
UN resolution mandating a relief operation for current EU
activities in Chad, they also recognized that a number of EU
personnel already there would remain to support the UN
operation. On Operation Althea in Bosnia-Herzegovina, the
ministers discussed &options8 but a decision would not be
taken until the November GAERC. On the recently deployed
Georgia mission, ministers expressed satisfaction with the
manner in which the operation was progressing. Regarding
capabilities, the points discussed included battle groups,
interoperability and strategic lift transportation
capacities, among other topics. According to France, EU
defense ministers also had a long conversation on piracy in
which they agreed on coordinating their efforts in early
December and to make strong efforts to complement the work of
NATO and other parties involved in the area.

--------------
Any Other Business
--------------

23. (C/NF) Any Other Business: Poland informed the Council
of plans for a Polish contribution to the NATO Trust Fund for
Afghanistan and the NATO Trust fund for Ukraine. The Polish
PermRep did not give an amount, but noted that these plans
would be elaborated in the forum of the Euro-Atlantic
Partnership Council later in the day. Albania and Croatia

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thanked Lithuania for having ratified their entry into NATO
and urged remaining Allies to follow suit.
REID