ENHANCING ARAB DIPLOMATIC REPRESENTATION IN KABUL

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KABUL 003365 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/19/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL AF SUBJECT: ENHANCING ARAB DIPLOMATIC REPRESENTATION IN KABUL Classified By: Deputy Ambassador Francis Ricciardone; Reasons 1.5 (b) a nd (d) THIS IS AN ACTION MESSAGE; See Para 5. 1.(C) BEGIN SUMMARY: In an October 5 conversation with Deputy Ambassador Ricciardone, National Security Advisor Rassoul offered assurances that President Karzai would continue to consult closely with the USG as he prepared for a second term, including on the formation of a new cabinet. To link Afghanistan more closely to other Muslim nations, we recommend Department invite posts in OIC/Arab League states to ask host governments to consider (1) dispatching senior officials to attend the as-yet-unscheduled presidential inauguration; and (2) for those who have not, assigning resident ambassadors in Kabul. Rassoul reported Karzai had approved agrement for the elevation of Egyptian Charge Sharaf to Ambassador. Rassoul requested U.S. help in particular with the UAE, Iraq, and Jordan. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) Deputy Ambassador (D/AMB) Ricciardone called on National Security Advisor Zalmay Rassoul October 5, accompanied by Pol-Mil Counselor, to discuss GIRoA planning for a Presidential inauguration once the result of Afghanistan,s recent polling is clarified ) &whoever the President is8 - and related post-election steps to build public confidence in the next presidential administration. Rassoul assured D/AMB that President Karzai would continue to consult closely with the USG, including on the formation of a new cabinet. Rassoul expected Karzai would not announce the membership of a new cabinet prior to inauguration. He responded positively to D/AMB,s suggestion of renewing a bilateral Strategic Partnership dialogue in part to reassure Afghanistan,s neighbors of benign long-term U.S. intentions in the region. ¶3. (C) The conversation turned to the question of how to strengthen Afghanistan,s ties with other Muslim, particularly Arab states, as a means of countering the Taliban/al-Qaeda contention that the GIRoA was illegitimate and supported only by infidel governments. (Turkey, Pakistan, Iran and Saudi Arabia are the only Muslim states with Ambassadors resident in Kabul.) Rassoul noted that the Saudi government had encouraged President Karzai to visit the Kingdom for the Omra (lesser) pilgrimage. D/AMB asked whether the USG might appropriately encourage senior international attendance at the upcoming inauguration, including attendance by a senior Iraqi official. Rassoul welcomed this, explaining that GIRoA did not intend to issue invitations to the inauguration, both due to capacity concerns and for fear of offending anyone excluded. However, the Government hoped for a substantial turnout from neighboring countries, including Pakistani President Zardari. ¶4. (C) Rassoul expressed pleasure that the Government of Egypt had held to a promise to SRAP in July to upgrade its representation in Kabul to the level of Ambassador; in fact the Egyptian Charge, Karim Sharaf, had been granted agrement and would shortly present his credentials as Ambassador &in time for the inauguration.8 Rassoul and D/AMB agreed that the occasion of the inauguration would present a fine opportunity for Arab and Muslim states to show support to Afghanistan. Rassoul noted, however, that several key Arab states ) including Kuwait, Qatar, and Oman ) continued to maintain missions in Kabul without resident ambassadors. Karzai had granted agrement to the UAE nominee in January but the nominee had not yet come to Kabul to present credentials. Afghanistan had recently relocated its ambassador accredited to both Syria and Jordan from Damascus to Amman, in the hope of encouraging the Jordanian government to station an ambassador to Kabul. ¶5. (C) ACTION REQUEST. We recommend that Department instruct posts in OIC/Arab League states - at their discretion, dependent on their analysis of local conditions ) to approach host governments to ask that they demonstrate faith in and commitment to peace and stability in Afghanistan by (1) committing to dispatch senior officials to attend the as-yet-unscheduled presidential inauguration; and (2) assigning resident ambassadors in Kabul. Whatever the next twists and turns in Afghanistan,s presidential election process, such expressions of confidence by KABUL 00003365 002 OF 002 Muslim/Arab governments at this time would support international efforts to encourage a smooth political transition in Kabul, while providing GIRoA with a boost to its efforts to promote its legitimacy among the faithful. EIKENBERRY