EU DISCUSSES AFGHANISTAN-PAKISTAN WITH PARTNERS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BRUSSELS 001350 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL EAID EUN AF PK SUBJECT: EU DISCUSSES AFGHANISTAN-PAKISTAN WITH PARTNERS REF: STOCKHOLM 577 BRUSSELS 00001350 001.6 OF 002 Sensitive But Unclassified -- please handle accordingly. ¶1. (SBU) Summary and Introduction: Swedish Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Anna-Karin Enestrom and Swedish EU Presidency Political and Security Committee Ambassador Olof Skoog hosted informal consultations on October 5 to discuss Afghanistan and Pakistan. In addition to the United States, the UN, NATO, the World Bank, Canada, Australia, Norway, Turkey, and Japan were invited to share their thinking. The Swedes presented a broad outline of their ongoing strategic review (as discussed at the informal foreign ministers, Gymnich, meeting in September; see reftel). Key themes, developed in more detail since the September meeting, include the importance of regional actors, a more concrete and action-oriented approach, and Afghan ownership of the process. The EU emphasized that it is in Afghanistan for the long-term and the review should be seen as a modus operandi for the way forward. The European Commission also noted they are looking to put more resources into Afghanistan. All representatives were broadly in agreement on improved donor coordination and transitioning to an Afghan-led process. The EU member states will begin meeting October 6 to determine the final format of the review paper, to be released at the foreign minister's GAERC meeting at the end of October. End Summary and Itrst major tn. Specialshare fromle thereith the Parliament and civil society. Canada ha raised concerns about security and technicalcapacities to hold such a high-level conference in Kabul. The Council Secretariat Head of Unit for Asia also noted that the election results are still in flux, and that any international conference or compact could be limited by the perceived legitimacy of the future Afghan government, which could require a "dramatic" re-evaluation of the strategic review process, "if things go awry." (All nodded approvingly when Canada underscored the importance of unified messaging on the elections.) ¶4. (SBU) On Afghanistan, UNAMA Representative Mark Ward spoke about the Afghan National Development Strategy and the move to strategically focus on three main clusters of economic development (agriculture and rural development, education and vocational training, and infrastructure and economic development, mainly in the Center and North.) The European Union noted they are interested in focusing particularly on sub-national governance as a critical field for new development (as work within national sectors is on-going). Additionally, the EU brought up rule of law, policing and the judiciary as areas for continued attention. Reintegration is also a sector the EU intends to invest in, particularly on the technical aspects of administering such a program. USEU Charge d'Affaires conveyed talking points provided by Washington. The NATO representative spoke of the importance of civil-military interaction, particularly noting that the military can conduct clearing operations, but that holding and building is the critical element for civilian and military interaction. Several noted that holding and building programs should ideally be Afghan-owned and BRUSSELS 00001350 002.6 OF 002 implemented, albeit supported by the international community. Canada said Afghan administrative officials must move quickly into cleared villages. For Pakistan, the European Union, broadly supported by the partner countries present, supports the Malakand Development Strategy. The EU also said they are working with Pakistan to enhance governance, and to strengthen the EU-Pakistan political and economic relationship. All, including the U.S., noted the importance of building the capacity of Afghan government ministries. UNAMA noted that the next Afghan president will need to delegate extra authority to "super ministries" to govern. ¶5. (SBU) Comment: One day after these informal consultations with non-EU partners, the EU Political and Security Committee will begin discussing the text of the EU's strategy review. The EU hopes to produce an updated paper for the foreign ministers meeting at the end of October. The Swedish Presidency said the purpose of the exercise is to make the EU Af/Pak strategy paper discussed at the early September Gymnich meeting more concrete and action-oriented. Additionally, the Swedes announced that they will be hosting a meeting on October 6 to find creative solutions for the EU to fulfill its EUPOL mandate. (EUPOL has filled 265 of 400 training slots.) Commission and Council Secretariat contacts note the Swedish Presidency is heavily invested in ensuring that a concrete way-ahead comes out of this process. End comment. MURRAY .