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