FRENCH SPECIAL ENVOY: FRANCE TO INCREASE ITS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KABUL 000751

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR SRAP, SCA/FO, SCA/A, EUR/WE, EUR/RPM
STATE PASS USAID FOR ASIA/SCAA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/27/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM EAID AF AADP FR
SUBJECT: FRENCH SPECIAL ENVOY: FRANCE TO INCREASE ITS
COMMITMENT TO AFGHANISTAN

Classified By: PRT and Sub-National Governance Counselor Valerie C. Fow
ler for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

Summary
--------------


1. (C) French Special Envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan
Pierre Lellouche visited Kapisa province on March 24 where he
participated in a shura of Afghan leaders and received
briefings on the Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) and
combined US-French military operations. Lellouche indicated
that President Sarkozy will announce at the International
Conference on Afghanistan at The Hague and the NATO Summit
that France will increase its commitment to security and
development in Afghanistan, with particular emphasis on
agriculture programs in Kapisa Province and neighboring
Sarobi District.

Increased French Commitment
--------------


2. (U) At a March 24 shura of Afghan leaders, Special Envoy
Lellouche told Afghan officials and village elders that his
visit marked the beginning of a new initiative by President
Sarkozy to increase France,s commitment to the security and
development of Afghanistan. Governor Khwaja Khausuddin
Abobaker, along with the 3/201 Afghan National Army (ANA)
Brigade Commander, Independent Directorate of Local
Governance (IDLG) Senior Advisor, and a representative of the
local elders, repeatedly thanked the coalition and the PRT
for all that is currently being accomplished in their
province. Governor Abobaker offered suggestions for French
assistance, reciting from a list of 11 major development
projects that ranged from a new power station to a dairy,
taken from the Afghan National Development Strategy. Special
Envoy Lellouche responded by stating that France could not
afford the billions of dollars all of these projects require,
but will work closely with the United States, United Nations
Assistance Mission for Afghanistan (UNAMA),and the Afghan
government to pursue these goals. (Lellouche stated to the
press that French aid would increase from 10M euros to 40m
euros in 2009, and grow to 100m euros in 2010.)


3. (C) Following the departure of the Afghans the Task
Force, PRT representatives, and French officers briefed
Lellouche and his delegation from the French Embassy, Foreign
Ministry, and UNAMA. Lellouche asked detailed questions and
said France is giving serious consideration to establishing a
French PRT. Special Envoy Lellouche indicated that President
Sarkozy will announce a significant increase in France,s
military and financial commitment during the International
Conference on Afghanistan at The Hague and the NATO Summit.


4. (C) In a meeting March 27 with State PRT Director, French
Embassy Counselor Cecile Sportis said that a French PRT
remains a longer-term consideration. Sportis expects
President Sarkozy,s announcement to detail a French
commitment emphasizing agriculture programs in Kapisa
Province and neighboring Sarobi District. These programs
will nest in UNAMA,s Integrated Approach. In the
short-term, the French will focus on apiculture (bees and
honey) as both a cash crop and source of sugar for families;
on poultry farms; and on fertilizer and seeds, either for
sale through local distributors or distributed on a for-work
basis. Sportis noted that the French anticipate having pilot
projects underway before May, when President Sarkozy may
visit Afghanistan. In the longer-term, Sportis identified
the establishment of eight veterinary clinics, a dairy
factory, and training centers for farmers as proposed foci.
Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL) line
directors in Kapisa and Sarobi welcomed the idea of training
centers in both locations, which Sportis estimates could
train 4,000 farmers each year. In response to a question,
Sportis added that she anticipates President Sarkozy will
also announce significant new French commitments to police
mentoring.

Comment
--------------


5. (C) Kapisa Province, along with Sarobi District in Kabul
Province just to the south, will remain at the center of
French presence in Afghanistan. The French will have their
hands full, and there will be complex transfer issues should
they decide to assume command of their own area of
operational responsibility from the U.S. in the highly
conflictive zone. Currently, French Task Force Tiger,
consisting of a battalion of the elite Chasseurs Alpins, is
the principal maneuver unit of US Task Force Warrior, a

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component brigade of CJTF-101 in RC-East. This partnership
has been exceptional. However much resolve the French bring
to their new level of commitment - for example, in sustaining
forward operating bases or taking on the full scope of a PRT
- their challenge will be to carefully match ambition with
capabilities.
WOOD