MACEDONIA PLEDGES SUPPORT FOR AFGHANISTAN

UNCLAS SKOPJE 000587

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/FO, EUR/SCE, EUR/RPM
STATE PLEASE PASS NSC HOVENIER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL MOPS NATO AF MK
SUBJECT: MACEDONIA PLEDGES SUPPORT FOR AFGHANISTAN


1. This is an action request - please see para. 4.


2. In response to President Obama's speech on the way forward in
Afghanistan and Pakistan, President Ivanov wrote a letter addressed
to the President (shared with the media here) in which he commended
President Obama for his leadership in this important effort. The
letter also documented Macedonia's continual support for the ISAF
Mission from 2002, highlighting that over 1100 soldiers have served
there, including the current deployment of 163. President Ivanov
added that 79 more soldiers will join the current contingent at the
beginning of 2010 in a joint mission with the Vermont National
Guard. Full text in para. 6.


3. Macedonia's soldiers have served with distinction in ISAF (and
with no caveats),and have received numerous medals from NATO
allies. They also were one of our allies in Iraq until the new
U.S.-Iraq Status of Forces Agreement ended their deployment at the
end of 2008. Their distinguished service there resulted in 163
medals including eight Bronze Stars.


4. Action request: Post requests a letter from President Obama
thanking Macedonia for its continued support for ISAF and for
agreeing to send more troops in 2010. We believe their
distinguished service and further commitment merit this attention.
Additionally, Macedonia not only continues to be blocked from
joining the Alliance pending a solution to the "name issue" with
Greece, but we anticipate that the same issue will prevent the Dec
10-11 European Council from giving Macedonia a date to commence EU
accession talks. A letter from the President would help boost
Macedonian morale among both the government and the people, as well
as reinforce the importance of our joint efforts to succeed in
Afghanistan.


5. Suggested Text: Thank you for your letter expressing Macedonia's
continuing support for our joint effort to stabilize Afghanistan.
On behalf of the American people, I want to express my gratitude for
your efforts thus far and for your increased commitment in this
critical period.

Since the tragic events of September 11, 2001, we have been able to
count on the people of Macedonia to stand by us and defend the cause
of freedom. I salute the willingness of your people to stand with
us, our Allies, and the Afghan people.

End text.



6. Text of letter from President Ivanov to President Obama (courtesy
translation provided by the GOM):

BEGIN TEXT

Skopje, 2 December 2009

Honorable Mr. President,

Allow me to greet you cordially and to extend my assurances of
highest appreciation to you and your great nation.

Mr. President, with reference to the announcement of the new
Strategy on Afghanistan, I feel obliged to address you in order to
reaffirm my strong support and the support of the Republic of
Macedonia within this context.

I would like to assure you that the Republic of Macedonia and I
personally highly appreciate your role on the global level, as well
as your paramount contribution in making the world safer and more
democratic. From the outset the Republic of Macedonia demonstrated
its solidarity and contribution towards the
joint mission in Afghanistan, and I hereby assure you of my
country's commitment to remain with you, shoulder to shoulder, until
the final goal is achieved.

Honorable Mr. President, we are fully aware that sustainable peace
and stability can only be attained through providing not only for
the national, but also through contributing to regional and to
global security. The contribution of the Republic of Macedonia to
the ISAF mission began symbolic?lly back in 2002.
Gradually, the contribution evolved into a rotation of a total of
1109 Macedonian peacekeepers. Today, our national contribution
represents one of the largest (per capita) national contributions to
the mission in Afghanistan. Currently, the
Republic of Macedonia contributes with a total of 163 soldiers
deployed in the ISAF mission.

Honorable Mr. President,

I am proud to confirm that the Republic of Macedonia will
additionally increase its contribution to Afghanistan as of February
2010, with additional 80 soldiers. The Macedonian soldiers, embedded
with the US National Guard of Vermont, will take part in the
training and mentorship mission of the Afghan
security forces. This significant increase of contribution of almost
50% will amount to a total of 260 deployed troops, which represents
4% of the land forces of the Army of the Republic of Macedonia,
making my country one of the leading nations contributing to ISAF.
Furthermore, allow me to inform you that the Republic of Macedonia
is to gradually further increase its contribution to international
operations up to 8% of its land forces by 2018.

I welcome the new approach of the United States in consolidating the
situation in Afghanistan, announced at your address yesterday at the
West Point Military Academy, and I assure you that my country shall
provide an active contribution in this direction.

Honorable Mr. President, with regard to the foregoing, the Republic
of Macedonia reaffirms its devotion to the Euro-Atlantic values and
goals, it reaffirms its compatibility with the NATO standards and
already acts as a full-fledged member. I am convinced that the day
when the Republic of Macedonia will formally occupy its place within
the big Euro-Atlantic family is not far away, a place it genuinely
deserves.

With such fervor, please, accept warm and sincere regards from the
Republic of Macedonia.

Dr. Gjorge Ivanov

END TEXT

NAVRATIL