Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09UNVIEVIENNA20
2009-01-22 08:58:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
UNVIE
Cable title:
NEW AFGHAN AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES FRIENDS GROUP, IAEA
how-toVZCZCXYZ0007 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHUNV #0020 0220858 ZNR UUUUU ZZH (CCY AD20B473 UTS4392-695) R 220858Z JAN 09 FM USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8914 RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 0252 AFGHA/AFGHANISTAN COLLECTIVE RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 0081 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1446
UNCLAS UNVIE VIENNA 000020
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
C O R R E C T E D COPY CAPTION
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SNAR KCRM PREL EUN NATO AF IR JA PK UN
SUBJECT: NEW AFGHAN AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES FRIENDS GROUP, IAEA
ISSUES
UNCLAS UNVIE VIENNA 000020
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
C O R R E C T E D COPY CAPTION
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SNAR KCRM PREL EUN NATO AF IR JA PK UN
SUBJECT: NEW AFGHAN AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES FRIENDS GROUP, IAEA
ISSUES
1. (SBU) Ambassador and DCM met with new Afghanistan ambassador
Abdul Shoogufan on January 16 to discuss the Friends of Afghanistan
Group, and UNODC and IAEA issues. Shoogufan stressed that most of
Afghanistan's problems have been imported from neighbors and spoke
at length about the challenge of controlling porous borders that
often bisect tribal and cultural groups. He thanked the U.S. for
all the sacrifices it had made for his country, and asserted that
Afghanistan needs U.S. political, economic, and military support to
deal with two "difficult" neighbors, Pakistan and Iran. Asked about
Iran's role on counter-drug issues, he expressed skepticism about
Iran's regional role. Shoogufan said that the Friends group
provides opportunities to approach European states reluctant to
provide military assistance to instead support institution-building
in Afghanistan. He also noted that Minister of Counternarcotics
General Khodaidad, Deputy Minister of Interior General Daud Daud,
who attended the Paris Pact meeting in December, would return for
the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) in March.
2. (SBU) On IAEA issues, Shoogufan noted that the GOA had not
officially endorsed either DG candidate. Japan has been a major
donor to Afghanistan in recent years, but Afghanistan would be
pressured by fellow developing countries to support the South
African candidate, Abdul Minty. He said no decision had been made
yet, but emphasized that Kabul looked positively on Amano's
candidacy. He didn't foresee any problems agreeing to a two-term
limit for the DG, and agreed that the selection should be completed
as quickly as possible to avoid the potentially distracting
politicization of a prolonged campaign. (Japan subsequently told us
that Kabul has pledged their vote in writing.)
3. (SBU) Comment. Shoogufan came across as clear-eyed and willing
to challenge Iran on all aspects of Tehran's problematic regional
role. End Comment.
Schulte
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
C O R R E C T E D COPY CAPTION
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SNAR KCRM PREL EUN NATO AF IR JA PK UN
SUBJECT: NEW AFGHAN AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES FRIENDS GROUP, IAEA
ISSUES
1. (SBU) Ambassador and DCM met with new Afghanistan ambassador
Abdul Shoogufan on January 16 to discuss the Friends of Afghanistan
Group, and UNODC and IAEA issues. Shoogufan stressed that most of
Afghanistan's problems have been imported from neighbors and spoke
at length about the challenge of controlling porous borders that
often bisect tribal and cultural groups. He thanked the U.S. for
all the sacrifices it had made for his country, and asserted that
Afghanistan needs U.S. political, economic, and military support to
deal with two "difficult" neighbors, Pakistan and Iran. Asked about
Iran's role on counter-drug issues, he expressed skepticism about
Iran's regional role. Shoogufan said that the Friends group
provides opportunities to approach European states reluctant to
provide military assistance to instead support institution-building
in Afghanistan. He also noted that Minister of Counternarcotics
General Khodaidad, Deputy Minister of Interior General Daud Daud,
who attended the Paris Pact meeting in December, would return for
the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) in March.
2. (SBU) On IAEA issues, Shoogufan noted that the GOA had not
officially endorsed either DG candidate. Japan has been a major
donor to Afghanistan in recent years, but Afghanistan would be
pressured by fellow developing countries to support the South
African candidate, Abdul Minty. He said no decision had been made
yet, but emphasized that Kabul looked positively on Amano's
candidacy. He didn't foresee any problems agreeing to a two-term
limit for the DG, and agreed that the selection should be completed
as quickly as possible to avoid the potentially distracting
politicization of a prolonged campaign. (Japan subsequently told us
that Kabul has pledged their vote in writing.)
3. (SBU) Comment. Shoogufan came across as clear-eyed and willing
to challenge Iran on all aspects of Tehran's problematic regional
role. End Comment.
Schulte