AFGHANISTAN CONFERENCE: POINTS FOR USE WITH HOST

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 STATE 024422

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/09/2019
TAGS: PREL AF PK IR UN
SUBJECT: AFGHANISTAN CONFERENCE: POINTS FOR USE WITH HOST
GOVERNMENTS

Classified By: ACTING ASSISTANT SECRETARY DON CAMP


1. (U) This is an action request. Please see paragraph 5.


2. (U) The following contains guidance for posts in
conjunction with the March 31 International Conference on
Afghanistan to be hosted by The Netherlands at The Hague.
The one-day event will include 89 countries and international
organizations, and will be co-chaired by the UN, The
Netherlands, and Afghanistan. The conference will be opened
by UNSYG Ban Ki-Moon and Afghan President Karzai, and chaired
by UN SRSG for Afghanistan Kai Eide, Dutch Foreign Minister
Verhagen, and Afghan Foreign Minister Spanta. Our primary
purpose in employing these points is to convey complete
support for The Netherlands as conference host and to urge
ministerial-level participation from the invitees.


STATE 00024422 002 OF 004



3. (C/REL NL) Posts should seek appropriate opportunities to
raise below points, bearing in mind that the USG is a
participant at the conference and not an organizer. To the
extent possible, posts are encouraged to coordinate with
their Dutch counterparts.


4. (U) Begin points:

-- Secretary Clinton proposed a Ministerial-level gathering
focused on Afghanistan while meeting with NATO colleagues in
Brussels on March 5.

-- The Government of The Netherlands has generously agreed to
host this event in The Hague on March 31, titled,
"International Conference on Afghanistan - A Comprehensive
Strategy in a Regional Context."

-- The goal of the conference is to seek broad strategic
consensus on the way forward and to refocus international
attention on Afghanistan and the region with a greater
emphasis on the civilian dimension. This event will not be a
pledging conference.

STATE 00024422 003 OF 004


-- The United Nations, The Netherlands, and Afghanistan will
co-chair the conference. UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon
and President Hamid Karzai of the Islamic Republic of
Afghanistan will open the meeting and then the proceedings
will be led by Kai Eide, UN Special Representative to the
Secretary General, Maxim Verhagen, Foreign Minister of The
Netherlands, and Dr. Rangin Spanta, Foreign Minister to the
Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.

-- SRSG Eide will produce a chairman's statement reflecting
the outcomes of the conference in close coordination with the
co-chairs.

-- The intent is for a "big tent" conference representing not
only NATO allies, ISAF member nations, and financial donors,
but also key international institutions and other
stakeholders in peace and stability in Afghanistan, the
region, and beyond.

-- Pakistan, Iran, Russia, India, and China have been invited
as well and we believe their active participation will be

STATE 00024422 004 OF 004


important.

-- Secretary Clinton and Special Representative for
Afghanistan and Pakistan Holbrooke will participate in the
conference, and we strongly urge your government to
participate at the ministerial level as well.

-- We encourage you to contact the Government of The
Netherlands for more details.


5. Action request: In coordination with the Dutch where
possible, posts are requested to query host government
counterparts to determine whether and at what level they will
participate. Additional details, including delegation
composition, would be appreciated if available. Please email
responses to Colin Guest (guestcc@state.gov) and Raphael
Carland (carlandr@state.gov).
CLINTON