HUNGARIAN ASSISTANCE BEYOND THE AUGUST

C O N F I D E N T I A L BUDAPEST 000529 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR S/SRAP KAREN HANRAHAN, SCA/A ARIELLA VIEHE, EUR/RPM AARON COPE, AND EUR/CE JAMIE LAMORE. PLEASE PASS TO JEFF HOVENIER AT NSC E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/22/2019 TAGS: NATO PREL MOPS MARR AF HU SUBJECT: HUNGARIAN ASSISTANCE BEYOND THE AUGUST PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION REF: SECSTATE 74362 Classified By: Acting P/E Counselor Jon Martinson, reasons 1.4 (b,d) ¶1. (SBU) PolOff delivered reftel demarche to the MFA's NATO Section Chief Peter Sztaray on July 20. Sztaray expressed appreciation for the information and requested that we share any new strategy updates with his office. Continuing, Sztaray stated that his office is currently coordinating a multi-ministry effort to develop a mid-term plan for continued Hungarian contributions to Afghanistan, and he hopes to have the plan completed well before the December NATO ministerial. ¶2. (C) Acknowledging the demarche's emphasis on increased civilian presence in Afghanistan, Sztaray stated that the MFA would like to increase the civilian presence in their PRT in Baghlan province, and they are currently discussing such possibilities with the MOD. That said, he expressed concern over the increased level of insurgent activity in the north, stating that security issues would most likely influence a final decision as to any civilian increases in the PRT. He also suggested that PRTs may be the old paradigm and perhaps other structures may be more appropriate for the future, to include an increase in OMLTs. ¶3. (C) Sztaray also confirmed that the Government has extended the mandates of the Hungarian PRT and OMLT currently in Afghanistan until October 2010. He stated that the second Hungarian OMLT is still on track for the third quarter of 2010, although this will require a separate GOH decision before the unit deploys. ¶4. (C) The DATT delivered the demarche to MOD Policy State Secretary Jozsef Bali on July 21. Responding, Bali confirmed that Hungary recently sent 40 soldiers to Afghanistan to enhance security for the upcoming August elections. However, he noted that these troops would be redeployed to Hungary "when they are not needed anymore," soon after they have fulfilled their election security mission. Bali also confirmed that MOD planners are currently discussing the deployment of a second OMLT in the third quarter of 2010. This OMLT would be a Hungarian-only unit and would be in addition to the combined OMLT with the Ohio National Guard. Bali also reaffirmed Hungary's plan to deploy two transport helicopters to Afghanistan in the second half of 2010. ¶5. (C) However, in terms of increased support over and above those mentioned previously, Bali stated that there would most likely not be any additional military contributions in the near future due to the Government's significant budget reductions resulting from the current financial crisis. He commented that an inter-ministerial meeting scheduled for July 22 would address potential future budget cuts. However, Bali said that Hungarian contributions to ISAF are "sacrosanct," and the MOD would continue their current level of contributions despite the financial crisis and MOD budget cuts. Bali said he is "more than one-hundred percent sure that Hungary cannot give more money for civil development" in Afghanistan, but that they would be "more than happy to maintain the present level" of support. Bali also confirmed that he is "brainstorming" with his counterpart in the MFA, State Secretary Gabor Iklody, to discuss the PRT composition and ways to improve civil-military cooperation in Afghanistan. LEVINE