AMBASSADOR DAALDER AND FM FRATTINI DISCUSS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ROME 001155 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/14/2019 TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR MOPS NATO IT AF SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR DAALDER AND FM FRATTINI DISCUSS AFGHANISTAN, NATO STRATEGIC CONCEPT ROME 00001155 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: Political Minister-Counselor Barbara A. Leaf for Reasons 1.4 (B) and (D) ¶1. (C) Summary: U.S. Ambassador to NATO Ivo Daalder and EUR DAS for Western Europe Spencer Boyer met with Italian Foreign Minister Frattini on October 8 to discuss the way ahead in Afghanistan and the development of the NATO Strategic Concept. Frattini said that Italy remains firmly committed to Afghanistan, is interested in expanding its training efforts for Afghan National Security Forces, and looks forward to discussing the results of the U.S. strategic review and the McChrystal report. Frattini advocated an expanded political role for ISAF in the area of reconciliation and reintegration of Taliban fighters, endorsed President Obama's goal of a world free of nuclear weapons, and agreed that NATO's review of its Strategic Concept should explore how the Alliance can best participate in and contribute to that goal. End summary. Afghanistan: Italy's Commitment Firm, Sees Expanded Political Role for ISAF in Reconciliation - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶2. (C) U.S. Ambassador to NATO Ivo Daalder and EUR DAS for Western Europe Spencer Boyer met with FM Frattini on October ¶8. Frattini noted that MOD La Russa was at that moment in Afghanistan visiting Italian troops and had used the opportunity to reaffirm Italy's commitment to Afghanistan. Frattini recently presided over the G8 Foreign Ministers' meeting on the margins of UNGA where the G8 commitment to Afghanistan and Pakistan had been reaffirmed as well. The GOI is looking forward to seeing the results of the strategic review taking place in Washington in the wake of the Afghan elections and the McChrystal report, but regardless of the outcome Italy's commitment will remain firm. Frattini said Italy wants to do more in the field of training the Afghan National Security Forces, where it already has the lead in the nascent NTM-A structure for Police Training, and to expand its civil reconstruction efforts which, he noted, are greatly appreciated by the Afghan people. He said the Governor of Herat recently thanked Italy for the agricultural and infrastructure projects carried out by its PRT, and FM Spanta (who is from Herat) noted to him recently that 35 
years ago Italy helped Herat to develop wine production. Italy intends to re-launch that program, along with olive cultivation, as an effort to reverse the trend toward opium production in RC-West. Ambassador Holbrooke, Frattini said, had been absolutely correct in stressing the importance of crop substitution over eradication. ¶3. (C) With regard to the audit of the Afghan elections, Frattini acknowledged that some allies feel that there should be a second round regardless of the audit outcome, while others believe that Karzai would likely win a free and fair election in any event and that subjecting him to a second round would be humiliating. Italy's goal was simply to ensure that there is a transparent procedure in place for conferring legitimacy on the victor, whoever that turns out to be. Ambassador Daalder replied that the U.S. shares these concerns and that it is important that the Afghan-led election review process be allowed to play itself out. The IEC and ECC are moving forward as quickly as possible to obtain results by mid-October. He noted that, while we still have a window in which a second round could take place, we are reaching the point (early November) at which the onset of winter would require postponement until spring 2010. Either way it will be important for Karzai to reach out to Abdullah in the event of a victory. Minister Frattini and Ambassador Daalder agreed on the importance of marking the inauguration of the new government with an international meeting in Kabul that would confer international recognition and help to seal a new compact between the government and the Afghan people. Daalder noted that it would be important for NATO to plan for various scenarios even before the election process is finished, so that resources could start moving through NATO channels at the earliest opportunity, but that no firm decisions would be made before the October 23 Bratislava Defense Ministerial at the earliest. ¶4. (C) Frattini offered his strong support for expanding ISAF's political role to include reconciliation and ROME 00001155 002.2 OF 002 reintegration of insurgent fighters seeking an honorable way out. He noted that during discussions on the margins of UNGA it became clear that some allies felt that this task fell more appropriately to UNAMA, but that in his view there is a role for ISAF. Ambassador Daalder agreed that ISAF has more people on the ground than the UN and hence better access to information and intelligence that would identify footsoldiers and leaders ready for reconciliation. He noted that the process should remain Afghan-led, but that ISAF units and Embassies could help. Frattini and Ambassador Daalder agreed that NATO PermReps should work on language for the December Ministerial that would render ISAF's political role more explicit. NATO's Role in Promoting a World Free of Nuclear Weapons - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶5. (C) Minister Frattini and Ambassador Daalder also had an exchange over the need for NATO to participate and contribute to President Obama's vision of a world free of nuclear weapons, and agreed that an appropriate place to start was in the elaboration of the new NATO Strategic Concept. Frattini reiterated Italy's strong endorsement of this goal and appreciation of the President's leadership on the issue, which Italy had sought to incorporate in the 2009 G8 agenda. ¶6. (U) Ambassador Daalder has cleared this message. THORNE