APRIL 27 AFGHANISTAN-PAKISTAN-IRAN FOREIGN

UNCLAS KABUL 001039 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL AF IR PK SUBJECT: APRIL 27 AFGHANISTAN-PAKISTAN-IRAN FOREIGN MINISTERIAL: LOW SUBSTANCE 1.(SBU) FM Spanta will host Pakistani FM Qureshi and Iranian FM Mottaki at a 4/27 trilateral in Kabul, to prepare for a yet-to-be-scheduled trilateral heads of state meeting in Tehran. MFA Senior Advisor Davood Marodian reported on 4/23 that the MFA was approaching next week's meeting with some caution, as Pakistan and Iran have pressed to expand the proposed areas of trilateral cooperation beyond earlier agreed to areas like agriculture, transportation, and transit trade to include trilateral security issues like counterterrorism, border enforcement and military cooperation. Afghanistan is less concerned about the possibility of trilateral counternarcotics collaboration. The MFA's view on trilateral security cooperation is influenced by the history of the two neighboring countries' roles in Afghanistan's internal and security affairs. ¶2. (U) The three countries' heads of state agreed at the 3/11 Economic Cooperation Organization meeting in Tehran to hold a trilateral summit in Tehran in May. Marodian informed us that the three countries have not set an exact date for the summit meeting, but Iran was pushing hard to hold it some time before its June 12 presidential elections. Marodian speculated President Ahmadinejad was seeking that timing to give him a political boost ahead of the election. ¶3. (U) Marodian reported that the three governments were now negotiating a joint statement that would emphasize trilateral politicial consultation and regional cooperation, with an emphasis on economic an cultural areas of common interest. As for the 4/27 events, the three foreign ministers will first meet jointly with President Karzai, then hold separate bilateral meetings, and conclude the day with a trilateral plenary session. RICCIARDONE