DECISIONS BY NATO DEFENSE MINISTERS REGARDING

UNCLAS USNATO 000375 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: MARR MOPS NATO PREL AF SUBJECT: DECISIONS BY NATO DEFENSE MINISTERS REGARDING COUNTER-NARCOTICS EFFORTS IN AFGHANISTAN Classified By: Charge D'Affairs Walter S. Reid for Reasons 1.4(B) and (D). ¶1. (SBU) On Wednesday, October 15, the NATO Secretary General issued a statement in regards to decisions made by NATO Defense Ministers at the recent meeting in Budapest. ¶2. (SBU) The text of the statement follows: BEGIN STATEMENT 15 October 2008 SG(2008)0770 To : ISAF Non-NATO Troop Contributing Nations Cc : Permanent Representatives (Council) From : Secretary General Subject : Decisions by NATO Defence Ministers Regarding Counter-Narcotics Efforts in Afghanistan Please find attached, for your information, a copy of decisions taken at the meeting of NATO Defence Ministers in Budapest regarding ISAF's involvement in counter-narcotics efforts in Afghanistan. (signed) Jaap de Hoop Scheffer EXCERPT FROM DECISION SHEET OF THE MEETING IN DEFENCE MINISTERS' SESSION WITH INVITEES (Budapest, 10 October 2008) Based on the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan request that ISAF support the Afghans in defeating all elements supporting the insurgency; recognizing the clear linkage between narcotics and traffickers, processing facilities and the insurgency; recognizing the danger these represented to ISAF, coalition and Afghan National Security Forces; and recognizing that under the appropriate United Nations Security Council resolution, Afghans were in the lead for counter-narcotics efforts, but did not yet have the capability to fully address this problem themselves; Ministers: - directed ISAF - upon the request by and in support of Afghan authorities - to take action in concert with the Afghans against facilities and facilitators supporting the insurgency as provided for in the existing operational plan; - agreed that such action would only be performed by forces authorized by respective nations; - agreed that in all cases, the action taken would be in accordance with NATO's policy to avoid civilian casualties to the maximum extent possible; - agreed that such action would initially begin in priority regions of Afghanistan as determined by ISAF; and - agreed that the results of actions taken in accordance with this direction would be initially assessed and reported at the NATO Defence Ministers' Meeting in Krakow. END STATEMENT REID