ENCOURAGING SENIOR REPRESENTATION AT THE

S E C R E T STATE 115549 E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/03/19 TAGS: KDEM PGOV PREL AF SUBJECT: ENCOURAGING SENIOR REPRESENTATION AT THE AFGHAN PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURATION AND ENHANCING DIPLOMATIC REPRESENTATION (U)CLASSIFIED BY RICHARD C. HOLBROOKE, SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR AFGHANISTAN AND PAKISTAN FOR REASONS 1.4 B AND D REF: KABUL 3365 ¶1. (U) This is an action request (see paras 3 -5). ¶2. (S) Decisions in coming weeks will shape the priorities of and composition of the Afghan government. We are coordinating closely with our partners to ensure that President Karzai uses the occasion of his inauguration -- currently scheduled for November 19 -- to establish a clear vision for what the Afghan government plans to accomplish over the next five years. The Secretary is considering attending the inauguration, but has not yet made a decision; Special Representative Holbrooke will attend. We share the current Afghan Government's concerns that strategically important countries, including Afghanistan's neighbors in the region and influential Muslim-majority nations, have not yet indicated plans for senior-level representation at the inauguration. Furthermore, many of these countries do not have resident ambassadors assigned to Kabul. These countries' high-level representation at Afghanistan's inauguration and their appointment of resident ambassadors to Kabul would signal international support for the new Afghan government, and also help refute Taliban claims that it is illegitimate and a puppet of Western interests. ¶3. (U) Posts are requested to deliver the following talking points to their respective host governments, at the appropriate level, requesting that they send a senior government representative to the November 19 inauguration in Kabul. We have made a similar request of our Coalition Allies and partners. Embassies are also encouraged to contact Afghan Ambassadors in your host countries to ensure parallel requests to the inauguration are made by Afghan counterparts. BEGIN TALKING POINTS: -- Hamid Karzai has been certified as the next Afghan President and will be inaugurated on November 19. -- Depending on availability, the U.S. delegation will be led by a very senior representative. --We urge your government to send a senior-level delegation to signal its support for the Afghan government. --The attendance of a senior-level delegation will underline the international community's commitment to supporting the new Afghan government and its promise to improve security, stability, and governance for the Afghan people. END TALKING POINTS ¶4. (C/REL) Embassies are also requested to impress upon senior interlocutors that assigning an Ambassador to Kabul is of great importance to the Afghan government. Strengthened diplomatic ties with other Muslim-majority nations, particularly Arab states, would counter Taliban/al-Qaeda claims that the Afghan government is only supported by "infidel governments." No demarche is necessary in countries where the host government already has Ambassadorial representation in Afghanistan. ¶5. (SBU) For Riyadh: The Department requests Post to encourage King Abdullah to name a Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan. More than 25 nations have done this. Special Representatives, including major donors, key allies and strategic partners, meet approximately monthly to ensure close international coordination on efforts to promote stability and development in the region. It is an ideal forum for building at least the beginning of a broad international consensus on critical issues such as reconciliation/reintegration, regional diplomatic engagement, assistance strategies, et cetera. The UAE, Egypt, and Turkey are currently the only three Muslim nations who have nominated SRAP-equivalents and have participated in the SRAP meetings. (The Saudis have attended some meetings, but not all.) The UAE will be hosting an SRAP meeting soon, currently scheduled for early next year. Post is requested to underscore at appropriate levels the U.S. desire to intensify consultations with the Saudi leadership on Afghanistan and Pakistan as part of our broader dialogue on regional security, counterinsurgency, and counterterrorism. CLINTON