Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08USNATO82
2008-02-28 14:43:00
SECRET//NOFORN
Mission USNATO
Cable title:  

NORTH ATLANTIC COUNCIL READOUT - FEBRUARY 27, 2008

Tags:  NATO PREL AF 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO9850
OO RUEHFL RUEHLA RUEHMRE RUEHROV
DE RUEHNO #0082/01 0591443
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
O 281443Z FEB 08
FM USMISSION USNATO
TO RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1676
INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUCNOSC/ORG FOR SECURITY CO OP IN EUR COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA PRIORITY 0256
RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA PRIORITY 0517
RUEHTH/AMEMBASSY ATHENS PRIORITY 0195
RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD PRIORITY 0477
RUEHVB/AMEMBASSY ZAGREB PRIORITY 5440
RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN PRIORITY 0687
RUEHBS/AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS PRIORITY 6469
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 0273
RUEHDM/AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS PRIORITY 0299
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 0476
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 0847
RUEHKH/AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM PRIORITY 0335
RUEHLI/AMEMBASSY LISBON PRIORITY 0473
RUEHLJ/AMEMBASSY LJUBLJANA PRIORITY 1160
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 0365
RUEHMD/AMEMBASSY MADRID PRIORITY 0763
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PRIORITY 5900
RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA PRIORITY 0580
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 0465
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME PRIORITY 0705
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL PRIORITY 0282
RUEHGP/AMEMBASSY SINGAPORE PRIORITY 0072
RUEHTL/AMEMBASSY TALLINN PRIORITY 7037
RUEHTC/AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE PRIORITY 0989
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 0597
RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON PRIORITY 0125
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0596
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 07 USNATO 000082 

SIPDIS

NOFORN
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/28/2018
TAGS: NATO PREL AF
SUBJECT: NORTH ATLANTIC COUNCIL READOUT - FEBRUARY 27, 2008


Classified By: A/DCM W.S. Reid III for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 07 USNATO 000082

SIPDIS

NOFORN
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/28/2018
TAGS: NATO PREL AF
SUBJECT: NORTH ATLANTIC COUNCIL READOUT - FEBRUARY 27, 2008


Classified By: A/DCM W.S. Reid III for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) Summary from the NAC Meeting:

-- Afghanistan: SHAPE briefed on ISAF flood relief, and
Ambassador Nuland urged quick work and additional resources
to make flood relief a good news story at Bucharest. SHAPE
described excellent cooperation between ISAF and ANSF
resulting in a counter-IED success plus intelligence gains,
as well as providing seamless security during the recent NAC
trip. Germany announced a new "Provincial Advisory Team" in
RC-North, and Canada highlighted the government's 2008-2009
budget.

-- Balkans: SHAPE reported KFOR has increased its presence
and visibility in border and urban areas, particularly north
of the Ibar River, and is well positioned to continue to
support UNMIK as needed to ensure a safe and secure
environment. SHAPE reported coordination with UNMIK had
improved after some earlier difficulties but warned Kosovo
Serbs are enacting a pre-coordinated plan aimed at achieving
a soft-partition of northern Kosovo. Greece and Spain said
KFOR needed to remain neutral and should not push back
against soft partition, while the UK and U.S. urged a more
robust response. Ambassador Nuland expressed concerns about
creeping partition, noted UNMIK should restore the customs
regime on the Northern border and called for stronger public
diplomacy to highlight KFOR's efforts in maintaining security
and preventing ethnic violence. She also strongly rebutted
Greek assertions that PM Thaci's rhetoric was escalatory.

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

-- Iraq: The SYG noted LTG Dubik's positive NATO Training
Mission-Iraq (NTM-I) briefing to PermReps at Tuesday's SYG
Coffee. Ambassador Nuland urged quick progress on a NAC
decision on NTM-I, while the Italian PermRep reported on the
successful carabinieri training effort.

-- Response to Terrorism: The Turkish PermRep briefed on
Turkey's operations in Iraq, in which he said 153 terrorists
have been captured or killed, and related his disappointment
in the recent acquittal by a Belgian court of appeals of
seven individuals believed by Turkey to be members of a
terrorist group. Belgium replied that it was appealing the

decision. Ambassador Nuland commented on U.S. concerns that
Hezbollah could attempt an attack following the death of
Hezbollah militant Mughniyeh in Syria.

-- Statements on Political Subjects: Slovenia lauded the
performance of the SYG's representative at the recent meeting
of EU defense ministers as providing valuable comments, and
encouraged such cooperation between NATO and the EU in the
future. Turkey applauded the Slovene initiative to invite a
NATO representative for the meeting, noting the EU had not
reciprocated NATO's flexibility in inviting senior EU
officials to NATO meetings until this ministerial. Turkey
provided a brief assessment of the recent parliamentary
elections in Pakistan and requested that long-term relations

USNATO 00000082 002 OF 007


with Pakistan be discussed in another NATO forum.

-- AOB: No discussion.

END SUMMARY.

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


2. (C) SHAPE Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations MG Wright
briefed that ISAF humanitarian operations were shifting from
cold weather relief to flood relief, reporting that COMISAF
had issued a warning order to prepare ISAF forces to
cooperate with the Afghan government on flood relief.
Medical Civil Affairs Patrols reached 3,000 Afghans last
week.


3. (C) Wright reported that the Afghan Poppy Eradication
Force has begun operations in Helmand. Three battle
group-size operations are underway in Helmand, Kandahar, and
Uruzgan, with ISAF's theater task force deployed to Uruzgan
in conjunction with Afghan National Security Forces. He
praised cooperation between ANSF and ISAF's RC-Capital on
security for the February 19-21 NAC visit to Afghanistan as a
model for future joint activity. Citing another good news
story on ISAF/ANSF cooperation against IEDs, he described how
two off-duty policemen in Khost apprehended two individuals
planting an IED and called in the ANA, which led to ISAF
safely exploding the IED. One of the detained individuals
was a known Taliban commander and IED facilitator, whose
capture has led to significant intelligence gains.


4. (C) Looking at the intelligence highlights, Wright noted
that threat reports of female suicide bombers in Kabul remain
high and the potential for Opposing Militant Forces (OMF) to
begin moving from Pakistan to Afghanistan. He cited the
first complex attack of 2008 by OMF this past week, in which
they used an IED followed by direct fire, in the Gulestan
district of RC-West. Looking at ISAF's efforts to target OMF
key leaders, he stressed that OMF were not homogeneous and
thus strikes on leaders had different effects within
different factions; however, intelligence over the past two
months has suggested the emergence of several rival OMF
factions, and increasing stresses among senior leaders as
they seek to deal with this factionalization. MG Wright
stated that much of the OMF confidence from late 2006 has
dissipated, and the OMF no longer seek to challenge ISAF for
operational primacy. The ceasefire between militants and the
Pakistani government continues in Pakistan's FATA, he said,
and the Pakistani military is meanwhile strengthening its
military position.


5. (C) In the follow-on discussion, Ambassador Nuland urged
SHAPE and ISAF to come to the NAC quickly with any requests
that could help facilitate the provision of flood relief. MG
Wright noted that COMISAF intends to issue a Project
Submission Requirement to replace at least seven Afghan
bridges ruined by flooding and Ambassador Nuland asked for a

USNATO 00000082 003 OF 007


copy for the NAC, citing the potential for a good news
deliverable for Bucharest.


6. (C) German PermRep Brandenberg informed the Council that
on February 23 a German "Provincial Advisory Team" opened in
RC-North's Takhar province. This small team is co-led by
officers from the Bundeswehr and MFA and, according to the
German PermRep, will enable Germany to intensify its support
to Takhar, which had been previously based out of PRT Kunduz.



7. (C) Canadian PermRep McRae followed up on Acting Senior
Civilian Representative Jochems' written report of his
meeting with Afghan Deputy NSA Tandor, who had expressed his
desire for the development of a long-term strategic
partnership with NATO, stating that Canada supports this and
would like to see it addressed within the upcoming debate on
an ISAF Comprehensive Political Military Strategic Plan.
McRae also highlighted Canada's 2008-2009 budget that was
tabled on February 26, noting development assistance for
Afghanistan would be CAN $280 million ) making Afghanistan
Canada's largest foreign aid recipient ) and the
government's commitment to a 20-year plan for building the
capabilities of the Canadian Armed Forces.

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


8. (C) The SYG reiterated the need to keep the security
situation in Kosovo under close review. He pointed out the
international community's continued call for moderation by
all actors while striving for peace and long-term stability
within the region. The SYG also reminded the Council that
the first meeting of the International Steering Group (ISG)
will take place February 28 in Vienna and will consist of
representatives from France, Germany, Italy, the UK, US, the
EU, and NATO, as well as several other countries who have
recognized Kosovo. The ISG is expected to formally appoint
current EU Special Representative to Kosovo Peter Feith as
the International Civilian Representative for Kosovo, which
will allow the establishment of an International Civilian
Office under his responsibility. The SYG also announced that
the EU and World Bank expect to host a technical meeting of
donors for Kosovo in Brussels on March 5 focusing on Kosovo's
medium-term financing needs and planning for a future donors'
conference later in the year. NATO will attend the meeting
as an observer. Lastly, the SYG raised the Russian PermRep's
recent comments regarding NATO,s future tasks as being in
conflict with UNSCR 1244, noting that he, as the Chair of the
NATO-Russia Council, planned to reiterate Allied points on
Kosovo, but called on Allies to also respond.


9. (C) The CMC reported on KFOR's increased operational tempo
since Kosovo's declaration of independence and said that
recent events have validated previous decisions on reserve
reinforcement and that mutually supporting efforts of the
multi-national task forces have helped improve KFOR's
capability. He also reviewed timelines required for NATO's

USNATO 00000082 004 OF 007


next steps and noted the importance of the Council making a
decision soon on the Execution Directive for the
implementation of the Bridging Document.


10. (C) General Wright gave a well-received briefing on the
current operational situation in Kosovo, highlighting KFOR's
current deployment posture region-wide, the low threat that
currently exists against KFOR, and the current status of
demonstrations and KFOR's responses. Noting that KFOR had
increased its presence and visibility in the border and urban
areas, particularly north of the Ibar River, he told the
Council that KFOR is well positioned to continue to support
and respond, as needed, to UNMIK in order to ensure a safe
and secure environment. He also mentioned that COMKFOR is in
constant communication with the Serbian CHOD. He
particularly focused on the recent reinforcement of
Multi-National Task Force North (MNTF-N) by the Italian ORF
battalion. MNTF-N, which currently has a complement of 17
maneuver companies, seven of which are deployed in Mitrovica
on both sides of the Ibar River, is deployed to monitor
conditions and support UNMIK and the KPS. General Wright
updated the Council on the status of COMKFOR's operational
reserves, noting their increased readiness and that the
German ORF battalion will begin deploying to Kosovo on March
15 in order to relieve the Italians. Looking to the future,
General Wright sounded a note of warning that the Kosovo
Serbs are in the process of enacting a seemingly
pre-coordinated plan with Belgrade leading toward soft
partition of the north. He emphasized, however, the
importance for the international community, particularly
UNMIK and later the EU, of working with all actors on the
ground. Responding to Czech, German, and Belgium inquiries
over the initial lack of good coordination between UNMIK and
KFOR, General Wright acknowledged problems in the immediate
aftermath of the declaration of independence, but assured the
Council that coordination has improved, citing recent
incidents this week that confirmed better communication
between the two. In response to a question from Portugal,
General Wright noted that so far the status of electrical
power and supplies into Kosovo has remained unchanged.


11. (C) The UK noted the importance of the NAC approving the
Executive Directive (echoed by all other PermReps who spoke)
for KFOR's new tasks. The UK, echoed later by France, also
stressed the importance of being clear that it is UNMIK that
should take the lead in law enforcement, not undercutting the
incoming European Union mission, and being prepared to
provide a firm and robust response to soft partition at some
point. He also supported sending a strong and clear signal
to the Russian Ambassador regarding KFOR's role in the
Balkans. Spain condemned the recent violence in Belgrade,
but sounded a note of caution regarding any effort by KFOR to
push back against soft partition, citing the December
Ministerial guidance that called for KFOR to remain neutral
and not to impose Pristina's authority. Spain added that
briefings on SHAPE and Military Committee development of the
resource and staffing implications of pursuing the new tasks
was progressing in an orderly fashion and that Spain wanted a
deliberate development of these issues before the NAC could

USNATO 00000082 005 OF 007


be ready to take up any further political consideration of
these "sensitive political issues." Italy also reflected on
KFOR's evolving role, noting that there is concern (echoed by
Estonia, the Netherlands and Belgium) about the transition
period between UNMIK's drawdown and the EU mission's
deployment which PermReps should continue to discuss. Italy
said that Allies should not discuss the planning tasks with
Russia in the NRC and should be cautious not to allow any one
country to be the interpreter of UNSCR 1244. Greece took to
task Kosovo Prime Minister Thaci's recent comments on NATO's
role in maintaining Kosovo's territorial integrity, saying
that such comments only served to heighten the tensions and
inquired as to the extent of Thaci's contacts with NATO
authorities. Greece added that KFOR should not enforce
Kosovo border posts and should remain neutral in such
"political" questions. Ambassador Nuland, in rebuttal of
Greece, echoed UK concerns over the creeping soft partition,
noting that UNMIK should restore the customs regime in the
north while not allowing the Serbs to ignore it. She pushed
for a good public diplomacy message from NATO on events so
far that highlighted KFOR's strong efforts to maintain
security and the lack of ethnic violence. She also suggested
as part of responding to Russia in the NRC that the NATO
military authorities be available to provide a brief
presentation on KFOR's posture in order to help deflect their
arguments about NATO not doing enough to protect the Kosovo
Serbs. (The SYG concurred and asked CMC to present such
information, if asked, in the NRC.) Lastly, she pushed back
strongly against the Greek insinuation that Thaci's comments
heightened tensions, saying that it was unfair to criticize
elected leaders who pledge to protect their sovereign
territory. In response, the Greek PermRep acknowledged that
while he understood Thaci's comments were made in a political
context, he wanted to show his concern over any implication
that somehow NATO is providing an Article 5-like guarantee.

--------------
Iraq
--------------


12. (C) The SYG opened his comments by saying that LTG Dubik
gave a solid, positive briefing to PermReps on NTM-I
yesterday. He continued by saying that the NAC will come
back to NTM-I in the lead-up to PM Maliki's visit in April.
Ambassador Nuland intervened to ask for a quick NAC decision
in response to the letter from PM Maliki requesting NATO
continue its role in training Iraqi security forces through

2009. She further requested that the CMC supply the tasked
guidance and reach a decision within two weeks. The CMC
responded that the Military Committee would prioritize its
work on the matter. The SYG weighed in by asking the CMC to
move as quickly as possible. Italian PermRep Stefanini
reported on the carabinieri training, informing the NAC that
the second class of 398 national police graduated on February

19. The third course is scheduled to begin on March 1 and,
for the first time, will include Iraqis who were trained by
NTM-I.

--------------

USNATO 00000082 006 OF 007


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


13. (C) Turkish PermRep Ildem reported that Turkey's cross
border operation in Iraq was intended to ensure that northern
Iraq is not used as a terrorist safe haven and is only
targeting PKK camps. The current operation has extended 15
kilometers beyond the Turkey-Iraq border, and has resulted in
153 terrorists captured or killed, and the loss of just under
100 Turkish security forces. Ambassador Nuland noted that
the U.S. has emphasized to Turkey the need to keep these
operations of "limited duration and scope." She added that
the U.S. was helping keep political dialogue channels between
Ankara and Baghdad open, telling both the same message on the
necessity of a limited duration and scope for the Turkish
operation.


14. (C) The Turkish PermRep additionally related his
disappointment in the recent acquittal by a Belgian court of
appeals of seven individuals, believed by Turkey to be
members of terrorist group DHKP-C. The Belgian PermRep said
that his government had filed an official appeal regarding
the ruling. Ambassador Nuland noted DHKP-C figured
prominently on official U.S. terrorist groups lists and
emphasized the need for Allied governments to tighten
internal laws and procedures to prevent terror groups from
using Allied territory to plan and orchestrate attacks on
NATO territory and elsewhere.


15. (S/NF) Ambassador Nuland commented on U.S. concerns that
Hezbollah might attempt an attack following the death of
leading Hezbollah figure Mughniyeh in Syria. She noted the
group has responded in similar fashion to past attacks on its
leadership. She emphasized that Allied security officials
should be in a heightened state of awareness and encouraged
Allies to cooperate as much as possible to help deter and
address potential Hezbollah reprisal attacks.

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


16. (C) Statements on Political Subjects: Slovenian PermRep
Cerar remarked that the SYG representative at the recent
meeting of EU defense ministers had provided valuable
comments. He encouraged further such cooperation between
NATO and the EU in the future.


17. (C) The Turkish PermRep provided a brief assessment of
the recent parliamentary elections in Pakistan. Turkey
agreed with the general conviction that the elections were
free and transparent, and expected little dispute from the
Pakistani military. Turkey considered the political
landscape to have dramatically changed, with Musharraf's PMLQ
party and religiously-inclined parties clear losers. Turkey
expected the two leading parties to form a coalition, with
which President Musharraf had indicated his willingness to
cooperate. PermRep Ildem requested that this topic be
discussed in another NATO forum, with the discussion aimed at

USNATO 00000082 007 OF 007


long-term NATO-Pakistan relations, not just ISAF cooperation.
WEINROD