NORTH ATLANTIC COUNCIL READOUT - JANUARY 30, 2008

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 USNATO 000040 SIPDIS NOFORN SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/31/2018 TAGS: NATO PREL AF SUBJECT: NORTH ATLANTIC COUNCIL READOUT - JANUARY 30, 2008 Classified By: DCM Richard G. Olson for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C/NF) Summary from the NAC Meeting: -- Afghanistan: Secretary General (SYG) de Hoop Scheffer said he will write to non-NATO ISAF contributors prior to Vilnius Ministerial to update them on progress in drafting ISAF's Comprehensive Strategic Political Military Guidance. Chairman of the Military Committee (CMC) Henault stated the ISAF Post Operations Humanitarian Relief Fund had spent over 1.1. million euros in 2007. Ambassador Nuland praised the high operational tempo of U.S. forces in RC-East, and noted positive U.S.-Afghan-Pakistani cooperation along the Afghan-Pak border. Slovenia reported it delivered 60 mortars and 17,000 rounds of ammo to the Afghan National Army. -- Balkans: The SYG said there will be a briefing next week on the network of militant groups in Kosovo and a briefing on possible scenarios following CDI. NATO and KFOR will monitor developments in Belgrade and Serbia following the second round of elections in Kosovo. The D/CMC briefed on KFOR lines of communications. -- Africa ) Support to the AU: The African Union has requested continued support to the AMISOM mission in Somalia. Slovenia reported on the January 29 GAERC decision to launch the EUFOR military bridging operation in Chad and the CAR. -- Iraq: No discussion. -- Response to Terrorism: Spain briefed on the dismantlement of a terrorist cell, which led to the arrest of fourteen individuals. The investigation revealed the cell's high operating capacity to perpetrate explosive attacks using IEDs and logistical links to other European countries. -- AOB - Review of the Peacetime Establishment: Several nations objected to the June deadline proposed by the Military Committee for review of the Peacetime Establishment (PE) of NATO military command structure. The D/CMC responded that the NATO strategic commands needed until June to review their roles, commands and missions in sufficient detail. The SYG expressed support for the D/CMC and remarked that the largest obstacle to timely reform of the PE was insufficient political will on the part of Allies. -- AOB - Capabilities Report: The UK stated that it will not break silence on the impending Force and Defense Planning capability report, but identified concerns that it would like to see addressed in the future, and called for progress on these items by the next ministerial meeting in 2009. -- Exchange of Views with the Prime Minister of Albania on the Progress Made by his Country in the Context of MAP: PM Berisha's meeting with the NAC on Albania's performance in the Membership Action Plan will be reported by septel. END SUMMARY. USNATO 00000040 002 OF 004 -------------- Afghanistan -------------- ¶2. (C/NF) The SYG asked the NAC how to involve the 14 non-NATO ISAF troop contributors (NNTC) in the process of devising ISAF,s Comprehensive Strategic Political Military Guidance prior to the Vilnius Informal Defense Ministerial February 7 - 8, where the NNTC ministers (plus UN and EU reps) will take part in a discussion on ISAF. After many comments by PermReps, including an objection in principle by Turkey, the SYG agreed on a compromise suggested by Ambassador Nuland. He will pass the NNTCs a paper before Vilnius bringing them up to speed on where the drafting process stands, but will not share any draft texts that lack NAC consensus. ¶3. (C/NF) CMC Henault briefed on the status of the ISAF Post Operations Humanitarian Relief Fund (POHRF). Citing its positive impact on Afghan support for ISAF and the Afghan government, he thanked nations for their donations, and stated that over 1.1 million euros has been spent in 2007. ¶4. (C/NF) NATO IMS AD for Operations MG Li Gobbi provided the weekly intelligence and operational update, reporting that threat levels across Afghanistan remained consistent with prior weeks and that the activity levels of Opposing Militant Forces (OMF) were consistent with previous winters. He briefed that ISAF had increased its force protection posture in RC-Capital, as the OMF continue to seek to execute asymmetric attacks such as that on the Serena Hotel. He commented favorably on ISAF's relationship with the Afghan National Directorate of Security in Kabul, and noted cooperation is increasing throughout Afghanistan. He stated that weather continues to effect ISAF's operations and op tempo, though all Regional Commands continue to maintain pressure on the OMF. He also detailed ongoing humanitarian assistance missions throughout Afghanistan conducted by ISAF forces in close coordination with the Afghan government. On Pakistan, he noted that Pakistani military forces had carried out operations involving helicopters, tanks, and artillery in South Waziristan in response to militant attacks. He reported Pakistan's recent decision to bolster security at the country,s nuclear facilities. ¶5. (C/NF) During the follow-on discussion, Ambassador Nuland highlighted that the op tempo in RC-East was at present as high as it had been in August, and three times higher than it had ever been in prior winters. She said Generals McNeill and Rodriguez were determined to avoid a winter lull and to use this time period to shape the battlefield for the coming spring. She also responded to German PermRep Brandenburg's question to the IMS on the relationship between OMF activity in RC-East and in the Pakistani border regions. She noted that the U.S. plus-up of approximately 3,000 troops in the east in 2006 had enabled the increased op tempo and sustained efforts near the border. She cited U.S. and PakMil cooperation on the Pakistani operations in Swat, and efforts to enhance cooperation between U.S. and ANSF forward USNATO 00000040 003 OF 004 operating bases on the Afghan side of the border with those on the Pakistani side to close the OMF "ratlines." She suggested raising the issue with General McNeill on the NAC's upcoming trip to Afghanistan. ¶6. (C/NF) The Slovenian PermRep announced that a Slovenian equipment donation for the Afghan National Army had arrived in Kabul. The donation consisted of 60 mortars and 17,000 round of ammunition. The Slovenes used their unspent SALIS flight hours to move the donation without third party assistance but had difficulties involving overflight clearances and intends to raise the issue at the SALIS Board. Canada, supported by Spain and Belgium, called for a briefing to Defense Ministers at Vilnius on the nature and tactics of the OMF. The SYG noted such a brief is already planned by the IMS for the NAC on February 13. -------------- Balkans -------------- ¶7. (C/NF) The SYG informed the NAC that there will be a briefing next week on the network of militant groups in Kosovo and a briefing on possible scenarios following CDI. NATO and KFOR will monitor developments in Belgrade and Serbia following the second round of elections in Kosovo. ¶8. (C/NF) The D/CMC briefed the Council on KFOR lines of communications. KFOR reached an implementation agreement with Montenegro on December 26 and has used Montenegro for communications and re-supply on two occasions. EUFOR also has an agreement with Montenegro. NATO and Serbia still have to agree on lines of communication through Serbia, but EUFOR already has an agreement with Serbia. NATO and EUFOR also have transit agreements with FYROM, with cargo debarking from ports in Greece. NATO also has an agreement with Albania but has not transited that country. -------------- Africa - Support to the AU -------------- ¶9. (C/NF) The SYG reported that the Alliance had received a request from the African Union for continued NATO support to the AMISOM mission in Somalia for six months. The SYG issued a recommendation to continue support, and the decision is under silence until February 1. -------------- Response to Terrorism -------------- ¶10. (C/NF) Spanish PermRep Benavides reported that the dismantlement of a terrorist cell in Barcelona led to the arrest of fourteen individuals -- twelve of Pakistani and two of Indian origin. The surveillance and a subsequent investigation revealed the cell's high operating capacity to perpetrate explosive attacks using IEDs and the cell's logistical links to several other European countries. Plans USNATO 00000040 004 OF 004 to conduct three attacks within Spain and additional attacks in three additional Allied nations were also identified. Ambassador Nuland commented the investigation underscored the importance of Allied cooperation in counter-terrorism, pointing out there were indications of similar cells in 5 - 8 Allied nations. --- AOB --- ¶11. (C/NF) Review of the Peace Time Establishment: The UK raised objections to the June deadline proposed by the Military Committee for review of the Peacetime Establishment (PE) of the NATO military command structure. The UK argued that the proposed deadline would not provide time for the NAC to review the MC recommendations prior to the June Defense Ministerial. Allied interventions expressed general agreement that the PE review process should be synchronized with the Defense Ministerial. Denmark, Italy, and Spain supported the UK's suggestion that the PE review be completed before the Ministerial while Norway and Canada said it should be sufficient to inform the NAC of progress prior to the Ministerial. The D/CMC responded that the NATO strategic commands needed until June to review their roles, commands and missions in sufficient detail. The SYG expressed support for the D/CMC and remarked that the largest obstacle to timely reform of the PE was insufficient political will on the part of Allies. ¶12. (C/NF) Capabilities Report: The UK said it had issued a letter stating that it will not break silence on the impending Force and Defense Planning capability report, but which identifies concerns that it would like to see addressed in the future. In line with these concerns, the UK would like the NAC to take ownership and leadership on these issues, receiving regular updates on the process for and progress in resolving these issues. NULAND