KOSOVO READY TO SUPPORT AF-PAK POLICY IN WORD AND DEED

UNCLAS PRISTINA 000531 SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPT FOR SCA, EUR/SCE, EUR/PGI, INL, DRL, PRM, USAID E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL MARR KV SUBJECT: KOSOVO READY TO SUPPORT AF-PAK POLICY IN WORD AND DEED REF: STATE 122731 SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - PLEASE PROTECT ACCORDINGLY ¶1. (SBU) Charge d'Affaires Michael Murphy met Kosovo President Fatmir Sejdiu Tuesday, December 1 to preview the main thrust of President Obama's announcement on the way forward for Afghanistan and Pakistan and to seek his support (reftel). The Charge noted that the main U.S. goal for the region remains the same as President Obama articulated March 27, namely, "to disrupt, dismantle and defeat Al-Qaeda and to present their return to Afghanistan or Pakistan in the future." He noted that the international military mission in Afghanistan would be narrow, time-limited and clearly defined, and that training would be accelerated so that Afghan forces could take the lead in securing their country. The Charge promised to deliver a copy of President Obama's speech to President Sejdiu as soon as it was available, and asked the President for Kosovo's support for President Obama's approach. SEJDIU PLEDGES KOSOVO'S SUPPORT FOR U.S. APPROACH -------------- -------------- ¶2. (SBU) President Sejdiu expressed his gratitude to the Charge for the meeting, and said that he was honored by the request for Kosovo's support for U.S. plans in Afghanistan. He said that he would raise the issue with Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci and the two would most likely issue a joint statement of support for the U.S. approach Wednesday, December 2. (Note: In a telcon the Charge held with Prime Minister Thaci later in the day, Thaci echoed the President's willingness to issue a joint statement in support of President Obama's position. End note) ...AND ITS READINESS TO CONTRIBUTE -------------- ¶3. (SBU) In addition to his statement of support, President Sejdiu noted Kosovo's willingness to make substantive contributions as well. He said that he had told NATO SYG Rasmussen, during the latter's visit to Kosovo earlier this year, that Kosovo was prepared to contribute a small number of personnel to the Afghan effort. These personnel could take part in NATO's Afghan mission within the bounds of the Kosovo Security Force's (KSF) civil defense tasks. Sejdiu said he was prepared to visit NATO Headquarters in Brussels, together with the Commander of the KSF, General Sylejman Selimi, to discuss the possibilities for such a contribution, adding that he had passed this message to Brussels via Albania's PermRep to NATO, who had accompanied the Albanian Foreign Minister on a recent visit to Kosovo. COMMENT -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Kosovo's leaders are foursquare behind U.S. policy for Afghanistan and Pakistan, and are prepared to match supportive statements with tangible contributions. We leave it to experts in NATO and in Washington to determine if a Kosovo contribution of manpower makes sense. That said, we are encouraged that Kosovo, which benefits from a stabilizing NATO troop presence, is willing to contribute to peacekeeping efforts itself. MURPHY