(C) AFGHANISTAN: DENMARK WILL SUPPORT POTUS'

C O N F I D E N T I A L COPENHAGEN 000534 SIPDIS STATE FOR S, EUR/RPM,EUR/NB, SCA E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/25/2019 TAGS: NATO PREL MOPS MARR AF PK DA SUBJECT: (C) AFGHANISTAN: DENMARK WILL SUPPORT POTUS' DECISION REF: STATE 120807 Classified By: (U) Ambassador Laurie S. Fulton; reason 1.4 (b, d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: In response to reftel demarche, MFA number two Claus Grube and national security advisor Thomas Ahrenkiel separately told the Ambassador that Denmark will strongly support President Obama's decision on strategy for Afghanistan. They stressed that the USG must be seen to discuss the strategy with partners. They made clear that Denmark does not envisage increasing its combat troops, but has decided to increase aid to Pakistan and is considering increasing its contribution to EUPOL. They stressed the importance of including Denmark in the Delivery Group being formed in Kabul to monitor the Afghan Government's performance, and of ensuring that the Danish contingent in Helmand be assigned ONE of the additional Afghan battalions to train and partner with. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) Ambassador made reftel demarche on national security advisor Thomas Ahrenkiel and, separately, MFA number two Claus Grube November 25. Grube was accompanied by State Secretary Michael Zilmer-Johns. In both discussions, the Danes welcomed the USG's consultation, were eager for President Obama to announce the result of the strategy review on Afghanistan, and gave assurance that their Government would strongly support the President's decision. They stressed the importance of the USG being seen to consult allies both before and after the President's announcement. ¶3. (C) They made clear that the current level of 750 - operating without caveat - is "the ceiling," the most combat troops Denmark can contribute. Zilmer-Johns said the Danish parliament demands some shift in early 2010 from combat to training, and this requires that ONE of the additional Afghan battalions to be deployed in Helmand be assigned to the Danes for training and partnering in the field. Grube said Denmark is considering bolstering its contribution to EUPOL by six police officers and a couple of trainers. He made a strong pitch for Denmark to be included in the Delivery Group being formed in Kabul to monitor the Karzai Government's performance, and promised that his Government would continue to reinforce to Karzai the need to deliver on combating corruption and providing services to the people. With regard to civilian assistance, Grube noted the perfect fit between USG and Danish priority areas: agriculture, education and health. ¶4. (C) On Pakistan, Grube added that Denmark has decided to increase its aid to 100 million Danish Kroner (DKK; approximately 5DKK to the Dollar),through multilateral organizations such as UNICEF. This, he said, was a clear political signal, and the fact that it had been announced before the USG came asking was a mark of Denmark's serious commitment. FULTON