Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09KABUL1141
2009-05-05 05:12:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Kabul
Cable title:
Atmar promises private security company rules will address
how-toVZCZCXRO6090 PP RUEHDBU RUEHIK RUEHPOD RUEHPW RUEHYG DE RUEHBUL #1141 1250512 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 050512Z MAY 09 FM AMEMBASSY KABUL TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8736 INFO RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC 0800 RUCNAFG/AFGHANISTAN COLLECTIVE RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE RUEABND/DEA HQS WASHINGTON DC RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES 0029
UNCLAS KABUL 001141
DEPT FOR SRAP, SCA/FO, SCA/RA, AND SCA/A
DEPT PASS FOR AID/ANE
DEPT PASS USTR FOR DELANEY AND DEANGELIS
DEPT PASS OPIC
DEPT PASS FOR TDA FOR STEIN AND GREENIP
USOECD FOR ENERGY ATTACHE
CENTCOM FOR CSTC-A
NSC FOR JWOOD
TREASURY FOR MHIRSON, ABAUKOL, AWELLER, AND MNUGENT
COMMERCE FOR HAMROCK-MANN, DEES, AND FONOVICH
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958 N/A
TAGS: PGOV ASEC EIND EAID AF
SUBJECT: Atmar promises private security company rules will address
USG concerns; Parliamentary action on hold
REFS: (a) Kabul 918 (b) Kabul 603 (c) Kabul 463
UNCLAS KABUL 001141
DEPT FOR SRAP, SCA/FO, SCA/RA, AND SCA/A
DEPT PASS FOR AID/ANE
DEPT PASS USTR FOR DELANEY AND DEANGELIS
DEPT PASS OPIC
DEPT PASS FOR TDA FOR STEIN AND GREENIP
USOECD FOR ENERGY ATTACHE
CENTCOM FOR CSTC-A
NSC FOR JWOOD
TREASURY FOR MHIRSON, ABAUKOL, AWELLER, AND MNUGENT
COMMERCE FOR HAMROCK-MANN, DEES, AND FONOVICH
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958 N/A
TAGS: PGOV ASEC EIND EAID AF
SUBJECT: Atmar promises private security company rules will address
USG concerns; Parliamentary action on hold
REFS: (a) Kabul 918 (b) Kabul 603 (c) Kabul 463
1. (SBU) Interior Minister Atmar told acting DCM on May 3 that the
government was prepared to modify its regulations of private
security companies (PSCs) to meet U.S. concerns. Karzai has
directed cabinet members to give Atmar the authority to grant the
U.S. exceptions to existing regulations on personnel caps, and to
equalize governmental fees. Atmar characterized cabinet approval to
grant Atmar this authority to be "pro forma." The regulations limit
the armed personnel per PSC to 500, a number that would be
insufficient to meet security requirements for USG facilities and
operations. The regulations also impose significantly higher
governmental fees on non-Afghan than Afghan providers. (See refs b
and c). The authority for Atmar would permit MOI to exempt certain
PSCs from the personnel cap and to equalize the differentiated fee
structure. The MOI would exempt PSCs that the U.S. Embassy sought
exemptions for, as long as the companies were properly vetted.
(Note: The U.S. only contracts with properly licensed PSCs.)
2. (SBU) The cabinet had expected to approve the authority at the
May 3 cabinet meeting, but Karzai changed the agenda to focus on the
May 6-7 Trilateral Meeting. Atmar expected the cabinet to take up
this issue at the May 18 cabinet meeting. Atmar dismissed the delay
as inconsequential. Karzai had made clear his intent, and the
cabinet would affirm the decision when it met next. In the
meantime, the embassy will continue its working-level consultations
with Interior officials to work out the details of the exemption
from the cap and equalization of the fees.
3. (SBU) Parliament continues to debate a draft PSC law that is even
more restrictive and discriminatory than the regulations issued by
the cabinet (ref a). Speaker Qanooni promised the Charge on April
29 to keep the law from a vote until MPs advocating harsher rules
and those closer to the U.S. position could reach a compromise. The
majority of MPs want to ban PSCs altogether, but they are
disorganized and Qanooni rightly regards their hard-line position as
impractical and unworkable. Atmar promised that he and his staff
would continue to lobby Parliament for changes to the bill but urged
the embassy to keep up its own efforts as well. Since Parliament
action is always unpredictable, the embassy will continue to speak
with both opponents and supporters to make sure that the law
addresses USG concerns over force protection and equal treatment for
non-Afghan PSCs.
RICCIARDONE
DEPT FOR SRAP, SCA/FO, SCA/RA, AND SCA/A
DEPT PASS FOR AID/ANE
DEPT PASS USTR FOR DELANEY AND DEANGELIS
DEPT PASS OPIC
DEPT PASS FOR TDA FOR STEIN AND GREENIP
USOECD FOR ENERGY ATTACHE
CENTCOM FOR CSTC-A
NSC FOR JWOOD
TREASURY FOR MHIRSON, ABAUKOL, AWELLER, AND MNUGENT
COMMERCE FOR HAMROCK-MANN, DEES, AND FONOVICH
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958 N/A
TAGS: PGOV ASEC EIND EAID AF
SUBJECT: Atmar promises private security company rules will address
USG concerns; Parliamentary action on hold
REFS: (a) Kabul 918 (b) Kabul 603 (c) Kabul 463
1. (SBU) Interior Minister Atmar told acting DCM on May 3 that the
government was prepared to modify its regulations of private
security companies (PSCs) to meet U.S. concerns. Karzai has
directed cabinet members to give Atmar the authority to grant the
U.S. exceptions to existing regulations on personnel caps, and to
equalize governmental fees. Atmar characterized cabinet approval to
grant Atmar this authority to be "pro forma." The regulations limit
the armed personnel per PSC to 500, a number that would be
insufficient to meet security requirements for USG facilities and
operations. The regulations also impose significantly higher
governmental fees on non-Afghan than Afghan providers. (See refs b
and c). The authority for Atmar would permit MOI to exempt certain
PSCs from the personnel cap and to equalize the differentiated fee
structure. The MOI would exempt PSCs that the U.S. Embassy sought
exemptions for, as long as the companies were properly vetted.
(Note: The U.S. only contracts with properly licensed PSCs.)
2. (SBU) The cabinet had expected to approve the authority at the
May 3 cabinet meeting, but Karzai changed the agenda to focus on the
May 6-7 Trilateral Meeting. Atmar expected the cabinet to take up
this issue at the May 18 cabinet meeting. Atmar dismissed the delay
as inconsequential. Karzai had made clear his intent, and the
cabinet would affirm the decision when it met next. In the
meantime, the embassy will continue its working-level consultations
with Interior officials to work out the details of the exemption
from the cap and equalization of the fees.
3. (SBU) Parliament continues to debate a draft PSC law that is even
more restrictive and discriminatory than the regulations issued by
the cabinet (ref a). Speaker Qanooni promised the Charge on April
29 to keep the law from a vote until MPs advocating harsher rules
and those closer to the U.S. position could reach a compromise. The
majority of MPs want to ban PSCs altogether, but they are
disorganized and Qanooni rightly regards their hard-line position as
impractical and unworkable. Atmar promised that he and his staff
would continue to lobby Parliament for changes to the bill but urged
the embassy to keep up its own efforts as well. Since Parliament
action is always unpredictable, the embassy will continue to speak
with both opponents and supporters to make sure that the law
addresses USG concerns over force protection and equal treatment for
non-Afghan PSCs.
RICCIARDONE