Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08USNATO9
2008-01-07 15:43:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Mission USNATO
Cable title:
UN AND NATO SECGENS DISCUSS AFGHANISTAN SENIOR
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHNO #0009 0071543 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 071543Z JAN 08 FM USMISSION USNATO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1540 INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL IMMEDIATE 0798 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 0550
C O N F I D E N T I A L USNATO 000009
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/07/2018
TAGS: IO PREL NATO AF
SUBJECT: UN AND NATO SECGENS DISCUSS AFGHANISTAN SENIOR
CIVILIAN REP
REF: SECSTATE 1001
Classified By: CHARGE RICHARD OLSON FOR REASONS 1.4(B) AND (D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L USNATO 000009
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/07/2018
TAGS: IO PREL NATO AF
SUBJECT: UN AND NATO SECGENS DISCUSS AFGHANISTAN SENIOR
CIVILIAN REP
REF: SECSTATE 1001
Classified By: CHARGE RICHARD OLSON FOR REASONS 1.4(B) AND (D).
1. (C) Ambassador delivered reftel demarche orally to NATO
SYG on January 4. Charge delivered Terms of Reference on
January 7.
2. (C) Separately, UNSYG Ban Ki Moon telephoned NATO SYG
Jaap de Hoop Scheffer on January 4 to discuss the proposed
Terms of Reference for the Senior International Civilian
Representative to Afghanistan (reftel),according to de Hoop
Scheffer's office. Ban said that double- or triple-hatting
the Representative with NATO and/or EU responsibilities, in
addition to the UN hat, is now off the table, but there is a
good chance of a coordinating role. Ban said he would pass
the (UN blessed version) of the Terms of Reference to de Hoop
Scheffer, which will allow the latter to discuss it with NATO
PermReps, ideally on January 8.
3. (C) Ban urged that NATO and the UN conclude a
"non-binding agreement," probably in the form of an exchange
of letters, on cooperation between ISAF and the UN Assistance
Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). (Note: this idea was
originally raised with NATO interlocutors by UN USG for
Safety and Security David Veness (UK) in March 2007. Veness
then followed up with a letter to NATO with a proposed draft
of an ISAF-UNAMA "Letter of Arrangement," but the idea was
coolly received at NATO for two reasons: first, NATO was
anticipating a broader NATO-UN declaration would preclude the
need for a separate ISAF-UNAMA agreement; and second, NATO's
inability to reach a similar agreement between ISAF and EUPOL
--because of Turkey's unwillingness to agree-- suggested that
progress would not be easy.) In the phone call, Ban told de
Hoop Scheffer he hoped to have the broad NATO-UN declaration
completed by Bucharest.
4. (C) Comment: Given that Ban has now raised the dormant
issue of a separate ISAF-UNAMA agreement personally with de
Hoop Scheffer, NATO owes Ban a reply. With discussions on
the NATO-UN declaration ongoing, we are not convinced a
separate, parallel ISAF-UNAMA Agreement is the most effective
way forward. However, we do not oppose discussion of such
an agreement on the margins, as long as it does not impede
progress on nominating the Senior International Civilian
Representative or slow the discussions on the broader NATO-UN
declaration. Mission requests Washington guidance by OOB
Brussels-time January 8, on points we can make with SYG de
Hoop Scheffer and the NATO PermReps.
OLSON
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/07/2018
TAGS: IO PREL NATO AF
SUBJECT: UN AND NATO SECGENS DISCUSS AFGHANISTAN SENIOR
CIVILIAN REP
REF: SECSTATE 1001
Classified By: CHARGE RICHARD OLSON FOR REASONS 1.4(B) AND (D).
1. (C) Ambassador delivered reftel demarche orally to NATO
SYG on January 4. Charge delivered Terms of Reference on
January 7.
2. (C) Separately, UNSYG Ban Ki Moon telephoned NATO SYG
Jaap de Hoop Scheffer on January 4 to discuss the proposed
Terms of Reference for the Senior International Civilian
Representative to Afghanistan (reftel),according to de Hoop
Scheffer's office. Ban said that double- or triple-hatting
the Representative with NATO and/or EU responsibilities, in
addition to the UN hat, is now off the table, but there is a
good chance of a coordinating role. Ban said he would pass
the (UN blessed version) of the Terms of Reference to de Hoop
Scheffer, which will allow the latter to discuss it with NATO
PermReps, ideally on January 8.
3. (C) Ban urged that NATO and the UN conclude a
"non-binding agreement," probably in the form of an exchange
of letters, on cooperation between ISAF and the UN Assistance
Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). (Note: this idea was
originally raised with NATO interlocutors by UN USG for
Safety and Security David Veness (UK) in March 2007. Veness
then followed up with a letter to NATO with a proposed draft
of an ISAF-UNAMA "Letter of Arrangement," but the idea was
coolly received at NATO for two reasons: first, NATO was
anticipating a broader NATO-UN declaration would preclude the
need for a separate ISAF-UNAMA agreement; and second, NATO's
inability to reach a similar agreement between ISAF and EUPOL
--because of Turkey's unwillingness to agree-- suggested that
progress would not be easy.) In the phone call, Ban told de
Hoop Scheffer he hoped to have the broad NATO-UN declaration
completed by Bucharest.
4. (C) Comment: Given that Ban has now raised the dormant
issue of a separate ISAF-UNAMA agreement personally with de
Hoop Scheffer, NATO owes Ban a reply. With discussions on
the NATO-UN declaration ongoing, we are not convinced a
separate, parallel ISAF-UNAMA Agreement is the most effective
way forward. However, we do not oppose discussion of such
an agreement on the margins, as long as it does not impede
progress on nominating the Senior International Civilian
Representative or slow the discussions on the broader NATO-UN
declaration. Mission requests Washington guidance by OOB
Brussels-time January 8, on points we can make with SYG de
Hoop Scheffer and the NATO PermReps.
OLSON