Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BERLIN334
2009-03-20 15:26:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Berlin
Cable title:
BOTH GERMAN FM STEINMEIER AND SPECIAL ENVOY
how-toVZCZCXYZ0010 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHRL #0334 0791526 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 201526Z MAR 09 FM AMEMBASSY BERLIN TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3636 INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 0493 RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 0617 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0697 RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 0795 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L BERLIN 000334
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/20/2019
TAGS: PREL NATO EU AF PK UN GM
SUBJECT: BOTH GERMAN FM STEINMEIER AND SPECIAL ENVOY
MUETZELBURG TO ATTEND MARCH 31 AFGHANISTAN CONFERENCE
REF: STATE 24422
Classified By: POLITICAL MINISTER COUNSELOR JEFF RATHKE. REASONS: 1.4 (
B) AND (D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L BERLIN 000334
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/20/2019
TAGS: PREL NATO EU AF PK UN GM
SUBJECT: BOTH GERMAN FM STEINMEIER AND SPECIAL ENVOY
MUETZELBURG TO ATTEND MARCH 31 AFGHANISTAN CONFERENCE
REF: STATE 24422
Classified By: POLITICAL MINISTER COUNSELOR JEFF RATHKE. REASONS: 1.4 (
B) AND (D).
1. (SBU) Post delivered reftel points to MFA Deputy
Afghanistan/Pakistan Task Force Director Thomas Zahneisen on
March 17, after coordinating with the Dutch Embassy, which
briefed the MFA on their plans for the March 31 Afghanistan
Conference the day before.
2. (C) Zahneisen warmly welcomed the conference as an
excellent initiative and appreciated the "big tent" approach.
He confirmed that Germany's participation at the conference
would mirror that of the U.S., with both FM Steinmeier and
Special Envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan Muetzelburg
attending. MFA Afghanistan/Pakistan Task Force Director
Ruediger Koenig is also expected to be part of the German
delegation, along with a special assistant from the
minister's office and an MFA press spokesman.
3. (C) Zahneisen noted that, as briefed by the Dutch, some 73
countries and 10 organizations will participate in the
conference, thereby limiting each delegation to just
principal plus 2 in the meeting room, with 4 others
accommodated in a separate listening room. Therefore it was
not yet clear whether and how other German ministries that
deal with Afghanistan (i.e., MOD, MOI and the Ministry of
Economic Cooperation and Development) would be incorporated
into the delegation.
4. (C) Zahneisen was also curious to get the U.S. view on the
chairman's statement. He said the Dutch were stressing the
need for a "crisp, positive and up-lifting" statement that
addressed four major areas: political issues, security,
development and the regional approach. Zahneisen said
Germany thought it was important for the statement to stress
Afghan ownership and the need for the Afghans to do their
part by improving governance, eliminating corruption, and
gradually taking on responsibility for security from the
international community. Zahneisen said he realized,
however, that based on past experience with such Afghanistan
conferences, there was a limit to how critical the conference
statement could be of Afghan performance.
Koenig
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/20/2019
TAGS: PREL NATO EU AF PK UN GM
SUBJECT: BOTH GERMAN FM STEINMEIER AND SPECIAL ENVOY
MUETZELBURG TO ATTEND MARCH 31 AFGHANISTAN CONFERENCE
REF: STATE 24422
Classified By: POLITICAL MINISTER COUNSELOR JEFF RATHKE. REASONS: 1.4 (
B) AND (D).
1. (SBU) Post delivered reftel points to MFA Deputy
Afghanistan/Pakistan Task Force Director Thomas Zahneisen on
March 17, after coordinating with the Dutch Embassy, which
briefed the MFA on their plans for the March 31 Afghanistan
Conference the day before.
2. (C) Zahneisen warmly welcomed the conference as an
excellent initiative and appreciated the "big tent" approach.
He confirmed that Germany's participation at the conference
would mirror that of the U.S., with both FM Steinmeier and
Special Envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan Muetzelburg
attending. MFA Afghanistan/Pakistan Task Force Director
Ruediger Koenig is also expected to be part of the German
delegation, along with a special assistant from the
minister's office and an MFA press spokesman.
3. (C) Zahneisen noted that, as briefed by the Dutch, some 73
countries and 10 organizations will participate in the
conference, thereby limiting each delegation to just
principal plus 2 in the meeting room, with 4 others
accommodated in a separate listening room. Therefore it was
not yet clear whether and how other German ministries that
deal with Afghanistan (i.e., MOD, MOI and the Ministry of
Economic Cooperation and Development) would be incorporated
into the delegation.
4. (C) Zahneisen was also curious to get the U.S. view on the
chairman's statement. He said the Dutch were stressing the
need for a "crisp, positive and up-lifting" statement that
addressed four major areas: political issues, security,
development and the regional approach. Zahneisen said
Germany thought it was important for the statement to stress
Afghan ownership and the need for the Afghans to do their
part by improving governance, eliminating corruption, and
gradually taking on responsibility for security from the
international community. Zahneisen said he realized,
however, that based on past experience with such Afghanistan
conferences, there was a limit to how critical the conference
statement could be of Afghan performance.
Koenig