Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09CANBERRA256
2009-03-16 08:06:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Embassy Canberra
Cable title:
AUSTRALIAN FM SMITH TO ATTEND AFGHANISTAN
how-toO 160806Z MAR 09 FM AMEMBASSY CANBERRA TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1205 INFO AMEMBASSY KABUL IMMEDIATE AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE IMMEDIATE AMEMBASSY PARIS IMMEDIATE AMEMBASSY BERLIN IMMEDIATE AMCONSUL MELBOURNE IMMEDIATE AMCONSUL PERTH IMMEDIATE AMCONSUL SYDNEY IMMEDIATE USMISSION USNATO IMMEDIATE USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L CANBERRA 000256
SIPDIS
NOFORN
STATE FOR SCA C.GUEST, EUR/RPM R.CARLAND AND EAP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/16/2019
TAGS: PREL MARR MOPS EAID AS
SUBJECT: AUSTRALIAN FM SMITH TO ATTEND AFGHANISTAN
CONFERENCE
REF: STATE 24422
Classified By: Acting POLCOUNS John W. Crowley. Reasons: 1.4(b)(d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L CANBERRA 000256
SIPDIS
NOFORN
STATE FOR SCA C.GUEST, EUR/RPM R.CARLAND AND EAP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/16/2019
TAGS: PREL MARR MOPS EAID AS
SUBJECT: AUSTRALIAN FM SMITH TO ATTEND AFGHANISTAN
CONFERENCE
REF: STATE 24422
Classified By: Acting POLCOUNS John W. Crowley. Reasons: 1.4(b)(d).
1. (SBU) Foreign Minister Stephen Smith's staff have
confirmed he will participate in the Netherlands-hosted
International Conference on Afghanistan in The Hague on March
31.
2. (C/NF) According to the Dutch Embassy, however, as late as
Friday afternoon, March 13, FM Smith was considering turning
down the invitation in order to register the GOA and Prime
Minister Rudd's anger at NATO's failure to invite the PM and
other ISAF contributing nation leaders to the NATO Summit to
discuss Afghanistan. FM Smith's chief of staff also told the
Dutch ambassador that Canberra had instructed its missions in
Paris, Berlin and The Hague to deliver strong demarches over
the matter.
3. (SBU) The Australian Ambassador to the EU, Alan Thomas,
had sent a sharply-worded letter to NATO SYG de Hoop Scheffer
on March 5, circulated to all NATO permreps, also expressing
Australia's deep unhappiness over the lack of a discussion on
Afghanistan at Strasbourg.
CLUNE
SIPDIS
NOFORN
STATE FOR SCA C.GUEST, EUR/RPM R.CARLAND AND EAP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/16/2019
TAGS: PREL MARR MOPS EAID AS
SUBJECT: AUSTRALIAN FM SMITH TO ATTEND AFGHANISTAN
CONFERENCE
REF: STATE 24422
Classified By: Acting POLCOUNS John W. Crowley. Reasons: 1.4(b)(d).
1. (SBU) Foreign Minister Stephen Smith's staff have
confirmed he will participate in the Netherlands-hosted
International Conference on Afghanistan in The Hague on March
31.
2. (C/NF) According to the Dutch Embassy, however, as late as
Friday afternoon, March 13, FM Smith was considering turning
down the invitation in order to register the GOA and Prime
Minister Rudd's anger at NATO's failure to invite the PM and
other ISAF contributing nation leaders to the NATO Summit to
discuss Afghanistan. FM Smith's chief of staff also told the
Dutch ambassador that Canberra had instructed its missions in
Paris, Berlin and The Hague to deliver strong demarches over
the matter.
3. (SBU) The Australian Ambassador to the EU, Alan Thomas,
had sent a sharply-worded letter to NATO SYG de Hoop Scheffer
on March 5, circulated to all NATO permreps, also expressing
Australia's deep unhappiness over the lack of a discussion on
Afghanistan at Strasbourg.
CLUNE