Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09KABUL1259
2009-05-18 06:33:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kabul
Cable title:
CABINET TO COUNTER PARLIAMENT'S EFFORT TO
how-toVZCZCXRO6522 OO RUEHDBU RUEHPW DE RUEHBUL #1259 1380633 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 180633Z MAY 09 FM AMEMBASSY KABUL TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8949 INFO RUCNAFG/AFGHANISTAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L KABUL 001259
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/17/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL MOPS AF
SUBJECT: CABINET TO COUNTER PARLIAMENT'S EFFORT TO
CHALLENGE PRESENCE OF COALITION FORCES
Classified By: Deputy Ambassador Francis J. Ricciardone, for reasons
C O N F I D E N T I A L KABUL 001259
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/17/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL MOPS AF
SUBJECT: CABINET TO COUNTER PARLIAMENT'S EFFORT TO
CHALLENGE PRESENCE OF COALITION FORCES
Classified By: Deputy Ambassador Francis J. Ricciardone, for reasons 1.
4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) Deputy Ambassador urged FM Spanta on May 16 to ensure
that the government's response to Parliament's calls to
"legalize the presence of foreign forces" would be
constructive and avoid any practical constraints on coalition
operational requirements. Spanta responded that the
government would be presenting to Parliament that evening a
compendium of bilateral and multilateral agreements that
constitute an existing framework for that presence.
2. (C) The compendium will include all of the pertinent UNSC
resolutions as well as the many bilateral agreements between
the government and each troop contributing country. Spanta
contended that this documentation would make a clear case to
Parliament that the foreign troop presence was already on
firm legal footing.
3. (C) Cabinet members tasked by Karzai to serve on the
Commission to address this issue met subsequently on May 16
and affirmed the above approach. Justice Minister Danesh
chairs the commission, and other key members include FM
Spanta, MOD Wardak, MOI Atmar and NDS Chief Saleh.
4. (C) The Cabinet's strategy will answer one part of the
Parliament's objection ) the legal status of foreign troop
presence here. The other point of contention for many MPs is
certain operations (i.e., aerial attacks, night raids,
detentions) by foreign forces. The cabinet reportedly has
decided to deal with these two issues sequentially.
EIKENBERRY
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/17/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL MOPS AF
SUBJECT: CABINET TO COUNTER PARLIAMENT'S EFFORT TO
CHALLENGE PRESENCE OF COALITION FORCES
Classified By: Deputy Ambassador Francis J. Ricciardone, for reasons 1.
4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) Deputy Ambassador urged FM Spanta on May 16 to ensure
that the government's response to Parliament's calls to
"legalize the presence of foreign forces" would be
constructive and avoid any practical constraints on coalition
operational requirements. Spanta responded that the
government would be presenting to Parliament that evening a
compendium of bilateral and multilateral agreements that
constitute an existing framework for that presence.
2. (C) The compendium will include all of the pertinent UNSC
resolutions as well as the many bilateral agreements between
the government and each troop contributing country. Spanta
contended that this documentation would make a clear case to
Parliament that the foreign troop presence was already on
firm legal footing.
3. (C) Cabinet members tasked by Karzai to serve on the
Commission to address this issue met subsequently on May 16
and affirmed the above approach. Justice Minister Danesh
chairs the commission, and other key members include FM
Spanta, MOD Wardak, MOI Atmar and NDS Chief Saleh.
4. (C) The Cabinet's strategy will answer one part of the
Parliament's objection ) the legal status of foreign troop
presence here. The other point of contention for many MPs is
certain operations (i.e., aerial attacks, night raids,
detentions) by foreign forces. The cabinet reportedly has
decided to deal with these two issues sequentially.
EIKENBERRY