DENMARK: COORDINATED APPROACH TO ENGAGING AFGHAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L COPENHAGEN 000483 SIPDIS DEPT FOR SRAP HOLBROOKE, EUR/NB E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/28/2019 TAGS: NATO PREL AF SUBJECT: DENMARK: COORDINATED APPROACH TO ENGAGING AFGHAN GOVERNMENT REF: STATE 109882 Classified By: Ambassador Laurie Fulton; reason 1.4 (b,d). ¶1. (C) On October 27, poloff conveyed reftel talking points to Stephan Schonemann, Acting Department Head, Department for Stabilization, Afghanistan Unit, and Jesper Thomsen, Pakistan Team Leader, Department of South Asia. Both Schonemann and Thomsen said the Danish Government is in full agreement with Washington on this issue and would instruct its embassy in Kabul accordingly. ¶2. (C) Schonemann also said they have become concerned that the Karzai government may use its provincial appointment authority to select/reappoint individuals who may not be the optimum candidates for the coming critical period in Afghanistan. Schonemann added that they hope the current governor of Helmand province, where the majority of Denmark's 750-person military contingent is operating, is kept on, because they believe he is effective and committed to progress. ¶3. (C) On a related matter, Schonemann conveyed Denmark's satisfaction that its input had been requested/considered early on in the current U.S. strategic review, but also asked when a final decision might be rendered; poloff said he would pass the question on to Washington. FULTON