Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09USNATO286
2009-07-02 12:03:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Mission USNATO
Cable title:  

EAPC SECURITY FORUM TRIES TO MUSTER SUPPORT FOR

Tags:  NATO PREL MOPS XG ZJ ZK 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO4925
RR RUEHIK RUEHPOD RUEHSL RUEHYG
DE RUEHNO #0286/01 1831203
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 021203Z JUL 09
FM USMISSION USNATO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3141
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE
RUEHAH/AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT 4819
RUEHTA/AMEMBASSY ASTANA
RUEHKB/AMEMBASSY BAKU 0114
RUEHSW/AMEMBASSY BERN 0422
RUEHEK/AMEMBASSY BISHKEK 4804
RUEHCH/AMEMBASSY CHISINAU 0142
RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE 0012
RUEHNT/AMEMBASSY TASHKENT 0018
RUEHYE/AMEMBASSY YEREVAN 0079
RUEHBS/USNMR BRUSSELS BE
RHMFIUU/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RUEHNO/USDELMC BRUSSELS BE
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 USNATO 000286 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: NATO PREL MOPS XG ZJ ZK
SUBJECT: EAPC SECURITY FORUM TRIES TO MUSTER SUPPORT FOR
AFGHANISTAN, ENERGY SOLUTIONS

USNATO 00000286 001.2 OF 002


UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 USNATO 000286

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: NATO PREL MOPS XG ZJ ZK
SUBJECT: EAPC SECURITY FORUM TRIES TO MUSTER SUPPORT FOR
AFGHANISTAN, ENERGY SOLUTIONS

USNATO 00000286 001.2 OF 002



1. (U) SUMMARY: On June 24 and 25 the Euro-Atlantic
Partnership Council (EAPC) Security Forum met in Astana,
Kazakhstan, to discuss Afghanistan and other regional issues
and energy security. This was the first-ever EAPC event in a
former Soviet state. Allied nations called on Partners to
take greater ownership of the EAPC, contribute to the
international community's efforts in Afghanistan, and help
build capabilities in the region. On energy security, EAPC
member countries called for diversification of energy sources
and supplies, as well as the need to invest in modernization
of pipelines. The seminar was an opportunity for the U.S. and
its NATO allies to underscore their interest in expanding
engagement with Central Asian partners, while stressing to
the Russians that this is not a zero-sum game. END SUMMARY.

--------------
Heads of Delegation Working Dinner
--------------


2. (U) At the June 24 Working Dinner, Allies stressed that
the 22 EAPC Partner nations should be more proactive within
the partnership framework. Allies advocated for a greater
use of informal discussions, for Partners to be more
forthcoming with their opinions, and for them to provide
input to the formulation of NATO's new Strategic Concept.
Belarus Ambassador Gapeev stated that every country should
give input to the EAPC, but also advocated that the same
rules should be observed by all member countries. Azerbaijan
Ambassador Khasiyev called on members to evaluate the
conceptual direction of the EAPC, which he said might require
updating the forum's founding documents. Swiss Ambassador de
Dardel warned against the artificial separation of Partner
countries into different camps.


3. (U) Assistant Secretary of Defense for International
Security Affairs Alexander Vershbow, the U.S. delegation
head, acknowledged the efforts of EAPC member countries to
stabilize Afghanistan, noting that many had also contributed
to Balkans stabilization efforts in the 1990s. He stated
that Afghanistan will require a broad international effort,
combining military power with a robust civilian strategy.
Dr. Davood Moradian, Senior Advisor to Afghanistan's Foreign
Minister, argued that there were two Afghanistans -- the one

portrayed in the media as facing significant challenges and
the one that was emerging as a functioning state. Allies
called on Central Asian Partners to assist Afghanistan's
regional integration.


4. (U) Ambassador Vershbow said that the August 2008 conflict
in Georgia showed that the work NATO began in the 1990s to
create an integrated European security system was still
unfinished. Acknowledging that there was room for many
regional and subregional organizations, he said that nations
needed to evaluate how to make the European security
architecture more effective -- a discussion that would be
launched at the OSCE Ministerial in Corfu. Russian Deputy
Minister Denisov reflected that the "sad events" of August
2008 led to a loss of confidence in the Euro-Atlantic region
and called for confidence to be restored. German PermRep
Brandenburg called on member countries to create synergy
between the EAPC and the Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). Kazakhstan Foreign Minister
Tazhin also cited the relevance of other bodies such as the
Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and the Collective
Security Treaty Organization (CSTO),while stressing
Kazakhstan's commitment to EAPC and PFP.


5. (U) Armenian Minister of Defense Ohanyan stated that his
country was committed to peaceful resolution of all disputes
with Azerbaijan. Turkish Deputy Undersecretary for Political
Affairs Cevikoz, alluding to his country's rapprochement with
Armenia, intervened that his country encourages resolution of

USNATO 00000286 002.2 OF 002


Nagorno-Karabakh. Serbian Assistant Minister for NATO and
Defense Affairs Vujic said that Serbia would do everything
within its power to safeguard its territorial integrity and
characterized Kosovo's independence as a factor for
instability in the region. In response to Serbia, Albanian
PermRep Kuko said that "the train has left the station,"
adding that recognizing Kosovo's independence was the right
decision.

-------------- ---
Afghanistan, Regional Issues and Energy Security
-------------- ---


6. (U) During the panel discussions on June 25, EAPC member
countries agreed on the importance of a positive outcome on
Afghanistan for the region as a whole and expressed concerns
about the drug trade in Central Asia. Dr. Moradian
identified Pakistan as the main hurdle to achieving peace in
Afghanistan. Ambassador Vershbow called on EAPC Partners to
contribute to NATO Trust Funds developed for Afghanistan and
to look for areas where they could assist economic and
capacity building efforts. UK PermRep Eldon argued that
efforts in Afghanistan should be enhanced by partnership, not
undermined by competition.


7. (U) Member countries agreed that trafficking in arms and
persons contributes to instability in Central Asia, called
for greater cooperation on water issues, and acknowledged the
need to help build capabilities in the region. They also
agreed that in the Caucasus it was critical to use regional
fora such as the OSCE's Minsk Group and the Geneva Process to
solve disputes, while at the same time also
concluding that countries were responsible for the
maintenance of order within their borders.


8. (U) On energy security, member countries roundly called
for diversification of energy sources and supplies, with some
calling special attention to the need to promote energy
savings. Czech Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Pojar
drew attention to the need to invest in modernization of
pipelines. Some countries argued that forming public-private
partnerships is less important than forging strategic
alliances. Led by Allies from Europe's east, a number of
participants stressed the importance of diversifying away
from purely Russian sources. They also argued that the
increasing role of China in energy markets needed to be
considered.

--------------
Comment
--------------


9. (U) In choosing to hold the EAPC Security Forum for the
first time outside of Europe, NATO attempted to send a
message of support to its Central Asia and Caucasus Partner
countries. What remains to be seen is if those Partner
countries seize the initiative and move their relationships
with NATO forward in an active way, with concrete results. A
bad sign was the absence of representatives from Turkmenistan
and Tajikistan. Whatever the outcome of this particular
event, however, NATO must continue to find ways to reach out
to the countries on its periphery.


10. (U) This message was cleared by Assistant Secretary of
Defense Vershbow.
DAALDER