NORWAY LOOKING TO ACCELERATE AFGHANIZATION

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 OSLO 000123 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/19/2019 TAGS: PREL PARM EAID NATO AF PK NO SUBJECT: NORWAY LOOKING TO ACCELERATE AFGHANIZATION REF: STATE 14097 Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Kevin M. Johnson for reasons 1.4 b and d ¶1. (SBU) Summary: The GON told visiting SCA DAS for Afghanistan Patrick Moon on February 13 that Norway's main priorities for Afghanistan are: -- a greater UN role, -- an increased role for the Afghans (even at the cost of increases in corruption), -- regional dialogue, -- a gradual move to a support function for the international community, -- and a continued stress on the importance of civilian aid. Norwegian MFA and MOD offered additional funding for elections, suggested a willingness to consider additional training efforts for the ANA and Afghan police and a continued desire to contribute to quality civilian development projects as well as consider some limited increases in military committments. If more is needed or expected from Norway it will be necessary to ask directly at a senior level. End Summary. Laying the Ground Work for the NATO Summit -------------- ¶2. (C) Meeting with representatives from Norway's Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Defense, DAS Moon provided a summary of the various reviews of policy for Afghanistan and Pakistan currently underway. He stressed that the conclusions of these reviews would be reached soon and that consultations with allies would continue, laying the groundwork for a successful NATO summit in April. He outlined some of the possible outcomes of the ongoing reviews, including increases in military and civilian presence and explained that the five-year goal is designed to prepare Afghans for taking over responsibility for both security and development. DAS Moon also highlighted the results of his talks with the Russians concerning: a transit agreement; potential flexibility in UN Security Council Resolution 1267 terrorist de-listings; greater OSCE involvement in Afghanistan; military assistance to Afghanistan; elections and counter-narcotics cooperation. ¶3. (C) Moon painted a realistic picture of the situation in Afghanistan, mentioning the challenging security situation, the need for better police training, regional challenges and corruption. He also stressed progress made in infrastructure projects, particularly power supply to Kabul, efforts to reconcile different Afghan elements, improvements in the Afghan National Army (ANA),new procedures designed to prevent civilian casualties, positive results from voter registration drives and small but significant progress in counter narcotics and in regional cooperation. Given the urgent need for security improvements he asked Norway to consider contributing an additional Operational Mentor and Liaison Team (OMLT),to contribute to the Focused District Development (FDD) police mentoring program, to encourage Russia to allow greater OSCE presence in Afghanistan, and to help with the NATO trust fund for the ANA. Norway's Response and Priorities -------------- ¶4. (C) Norwegian Defense and Foreign Affairs officials welcomed Moon's report and clearly appreciated the opportunity to be consulted. Norway's already planned contributions include; -- an additional $10 million contribution to the Afghan elections, -- long-term presence at their Provisional Reconstruction Team (PRT) in Meymaneh, if perhaps in a different form, -- looking at leaving some special operation forces behind (after their rotation is up in the fall) to train a special police unit, -- Norway's first OMLT deployed in January 2009, -- Norway has committed to supporting the ANA in terms of combat engineering training and would consider supporting communications training. -- MOD is also looking at keeping its helicopters in Afghanistan and sending one of its new C-130s. ¶5. (C) In response to a request for views on how to proceed (reftel),Norwegian officials stressed the following: OSLO 00000123 002 OF 002 -- importance of strengthening UNAMA as a donor coordination mechanism. -- committment to working with the legitimate Afghan government despite questions over Karzai, -- encouraging the reconciliation process, -- accelerating an increase of the Afghan role in all aspects. -- welcomed the Holbrooke appointment's regional role and feel that dialogue between all parties was of utmost importance to lessen the tension. -- stress on the importance of avoiding civilian casualties. -- need more Afghans to provide security, reducing the international role as primary security provider. -- agreed on the importance of ANA funding and support -- agreed on the need for better police and justice sector training and mentoring. Comment -------------- ¶4. (C) Norway remains committed to a long-term military and civilian presence in Afghanistan but is also clearly looking at ways to increase the Afghan role vs. international role. They are also very interested in the view from Washington and greatly appreciated the chance to hear from DAS Moon regarding the thinking about Afghanistan as well as to share their views on what should be priorities. In our judgment Norway will consistently push for a greater UN role, an increased role for the Afghans (even at the cost of increases in corruption and inefficiency),regional dialogue, a gradual move to a support function for the international community and a continued stress on the importance of civilian aid. Military support for ISAF will continue and could possibly be slightly increased but this element will not be the centerpiece of Norwegian strategy for Afghanistan. It may be possible to convince the Norwegians to make new commitments to Afghanistan, but the U.S. will have to press them hard to make this happen. WHITNEY