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:

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-- 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