THE NETHERLANDS TO HOST FIFTH GLOBAL INITIATIVE

UNCLAS KABUL 000002 SIPDIS KABUL FOR COS USFOR-A DEPARTMENT FOR ISN/FM WMDT (MEGGEN WATT, SARAH PRESCOTT) AND SCA-A WASH FOR GLOBAL INITIATIVE PARTNER NATIONS COLLECTIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PARM PINR PINS PREL PTER GIPNC SUBJECT: THE NETHERLANDS TO HOST FIFTH GLOBAL INITIATIVE MEETING IN JUNE 2009 REF: SECSTATE 132539 ¶1. (U) Afghan Foreign Ministry official Dr. Jamrad Jamshed, Director of MFA's Fourth Political Department, responded with enthusiasm to the invitation to the Fifth Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism (GICNT) meeting in The Hague in June 2009. He said the Afghan government (GIRoA) would probably send a senior MFA official and promised to confirm this expectation shortly. ¶2. (U) On December 29, Political-Military Counselor Clarke, Netherlands DCM Renet van der Waals, and Russian Federation Counselor Andrey Vadov jointly demarched Dr. Jamshed, per reftel request. Afghan MFA officials M. Yama Aini, the Northern European desk officer, and A. Hakim Atarud, the Southern European desk officer, sat in on the meeting. Aside from conveying the invitation and explaining the conference, the Netherlands DCM led a short general discussion on the importance of combating nuclear terrorism. Dr. Jamshed volunteered that Afghanistan was acutely aware of the dangers, especially considering that it was surrounded by nuclear armed neighbors and located in an unstable region. He welcomed the invitation. Jamshed did not commit to attendance at the deputy foreign minister level but expressed the view that a senior MFA official probably would participate in the GICNT conference. He promised to provide confirmation and details as soon as possible. WOOD