Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09USNATO346
2009-08-13 17:59:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Mission USNATO
Cable title:
AUGUST 12 MEETING OF THE NORTH ATLANTIC COUNCIL
how-toVZCZCXRO4892 OO RUEHAG RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHMRE RUEHNP RUEHPW RUEHROV RUEHSL RUEHSR DE RUEHNO #0346/01 2251759 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 131759Z AUG 09 FM USMISSION USNATO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3289 INFO RUCNAFG/AFGHANISTAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNOSC/ORG FOR SECURITY CO OP IN EUR COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHAD/AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI PRIORITY 0267 RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA PRIORITY 0533 RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 0656 RUEHDR/AMEMBASSY DAR ES SALAAM PRIORITY 0054 RUEHDJ/AMEMBASSY DJIBOUTI PRIORITY 0045 RUEHHE/AMEMBASSY HELSINKI PRIORITY 0912 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 0822 RUEHKH/AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM PRIORITY 0606 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PRIORITY 6488 RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI PRIORITY 0021 RUEHYN/AMEMBASSY SANAA PRIORITY 0040 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL PRIORITY 0631 RUEHGP/AMEMBASSY SINGAPORE PRIORITY 0430 RUEHSM/AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM PRIORITY 0806 RUEHSI/AMEMBASSY TBILISI PRIORITY 5840 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 0955 RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON PRIORITY 0054 RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA PRIORITY 0069 RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 1013 RUEHNO/USDELMC BRUSSELS BE PRIORITY RHMFISS/USNMR SHAPE BE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 USNATO 000346
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/13/2019
TAGS: PREL NATO EWWT MARR MOPS AF PK RS TZ XW
SUBJECT: AUGUST 12 MEETING OF THE NORTH ATLANTIC COUNCIL
USNATO 00000346 001.2 OF 003
Classified By: A/PolAd A. "Hoot" Baez. Reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 USNATO 000346
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/13/2019
TAGS: PREL NATO EWWT MARR MOPS AF PK RS TZ XW
SUBJECT: AUGUST 12 MEETING OF THE NORTH ATLANTIC COUNCIL
USNATO 00000346 001.2 OF 003
Classified By: A/PolAd A. "Hoot" Baez. Reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C/REL NATO) Summary of the August meeting of the North
Atlantic Council:
-- AFGHANISTAN: NATO will release its media coordination
plan for Afghan elections on August 12. PermReps requested
information about ad-hoc community guards to be hired by the
Afghanistan Ministry of Interior for additional elections
security. Germany announced a joint initiative with Russia
which refurbish and delivered two medical evacuation
helicopters to the Afghan Ministry of Interior. Montenegro
will begin procedures to become an ISAF troop contributing
nation with an initial offer of 40 soldiers. The Deputy
SecGen confirmed that the Commander of the
NATO-led International Security Assistance Force will not
deliver his 60-day assessment of the situation in Afghanistan
until after August 20 Afghan elections. The report of the
SecGen's visit to Afghanistan has been circulated
to nations (e-mailed to EUR/RPM).
-- COUNTER-PIRACY: The Deputy Secretary General reported that
on August 10 the NAC approved the Execution Directive for the
Ocean Shield Operations Plan (OPLAN 10710) and the associated
Rules of Engagement (ROE). This will allow for the immediate
implementation of escort/deterrence operations and capacity
building efforts.
-- RUSSIA: The UK noted concern regarding the murder on
August 10 of two human rights supports in Chechnya and asked
whether thought had been given to the possibility of a NATO
statement on the issue. After Canada asked for a readout of
the Secretary General's first meeting with Ambassador
Rogozin, the Deputy Secretary General said that a report of
the meeting was being distributed to nations. (Note: The
meeting report, as well as an attached non-paper which
Rogozin delivered to Rasmussen, were e-mailed to EUR/RPM).
-- BALKANS: Secretary General Rasmussen will travel to Kosovo
on August 13; a full trip report will follow. SHAPE will
host a Force Balancing Conference on September 8.
END SUMMARY
Afghanistan/Pakistan
--------------
2. (C/NF) Afghanistan: Trip Report and Media Plan: Deputy
SecGen Claudio Bisogniero (D/SYG) said the trip
report from Secretary General Rasmussen's first visit to
Afghanistan was now available (report e-mailed to EUR/RPM).
He said NATO headquarters was also working on a coordinated
media strategy for the Afghan elections period and would
release an initial plan August 12. The U.S. welcomed work to
coordinate elections messages, noted that Washington and
Embassy Kabul would have 24-hour operations centers, and said
USNATO 00000346 002.2 OF 003
the U.S. mission would share as much information as possible
with the NATO spokesman for dissemination to Allies and ISAF
partners.
3. (C/NF) Elections Security: Responding to the weekly
written report from the ISAF Senior Civilian Representative
(sent separately by e-mail Spain and Germany requested more
information about "ad hoc militias" hired by the Afghan
Ministry of Interior (MoI) to provide additional election
security. Both nations raised concerns about the quality of
recruits, reliability of ad hoc forces, and the number of
districts where such "militias" may be present. SHAPE Deputy
Chief of Staff for Operations Major General Rudy Wright
emphasized that the hiring of these groups was an exclusively
Afghan-led MoI initiative. He said that the MoI planned to
hire temporary community guards or pursue some form of
negotiated cease-fires with local insurgents in up to 240 (of
nearly 400) districts. Wright said that the final list of
polling stations that could not open or would be relocated or
consolidated would come out August 14. He estimated that
around 400 stations may not open due to security or
inaccessibility.
4. (C/REL NATO) Delay of 60-day assessment: In response to a
question from the Netherlands, the Deputy Secretary General
confirmed that GEN McChrystal, the Commander of the NATO-led
International Security Assistance Force, would not deliver
his 60-day assessment of the situation in the country until
after the upcoming elections.
5. (C/REL ISAF) Requests for Briefings: Germany asked for an
update on the Baghdis province cease-fire between the Afghan
government and local insurgents and a broader discussion on
reconciliation options following the elections. Canada
requested a post-election brief on the pattern of Afghan
National Security Force deployment. In response to a Dutch
request, the Director of the International Military Staff
said that an analysis of insurgents' improvised explosive
device (IED) capabilities would be presented at the next
meeting of the Council.
6. (C/REL ISAF) New Contributions: The Deputy Secretary
General said Montenegro had offered 40 troops to be deployed
under ISAF and would begin the standardized procedures to
officially become an ISAF troop contributing nation. Germany
announced a joint initiative with Moscow which had resulted
in the turning over of two overhauled Mi-8 helicopters to the
Afghan Ministry of Interior for use as medical evacuation
assets in support of Afghan National Police. The German
PermRep added that this was evidence that Allies could find
practical means of cooperating with Russia on this issue.
7. (C/REL ISAF) Operations Update: SHAPE Major General Rudy
Wright noted that while indirect fire by insurgents was down
over last year, there were more IED and direct fire
incidents, resulting in an overall 71 percent increase in
insurgent-initiated violence over the last year. Wright said
USNATO 00000346 003.2 OF 003
that there would probably be a surge in violence toward late
summer (consistent with annual trends),adding that could
coincide with Afghan presidential elections. He said that
the reported death of Baitullah Mehsud in Pakistan was still
unconfirmed.
Counter-Piracy
--------------
8. (C/REL NATO) The Deputy Secretary General reported that on
August 10 the NAC approved the Execution Directive for the
Ocean Shield Operations Plan (OPLAN 10710) and the associated
Rules of Engagement (ROE). This will allow for the immediate
implementation of escort/deterrence operations and capacity
building efforts. The Supreme Allied Commander Europe must
inform Allies when he believes he has sufficient means to
perform two additional tasks. The Deputy Secretary General
also said that the NATO Legal Advisor was continuing his
efforts to establish a legal framework for the detention of
captured pirates.
Russia
--------------
9. (C/REL NATO) The UK noted concern regarding the murder on
August 10 of two human rights supports in Chechnya and asked
whether thought had been given to the possibility of a NATO
statement on the issue. After Canada asked for a readout of
the Secretary General's first meeting with Ambassador
Rogozin, the Deputy Secretary General said that a report of
the meeting was being distributed to nations. (Note: The
meeting report, as well as an attached non-paper which
Rogozin delivered to Rasmussen, were e-mailed to EUR/RPM).
The Balkans
--------------
10. (C/REL NATO) Secretary General Rasmussen will travel to
Kosovo on August 13; a full trip report will follow. SHAPE
will host a Force Balancing Conference on September 8.
DAALDER
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/13/2019
TAGS: PREL NATO EWWT MARR MOPS AF PK RS TZ XW
SUBJECT: AUGUST 12 MEETING OF THE NORTH ATLANTIC COUNCIL
USNATO 00000346 001.2 OF 003
Classified By: A/PolAd A. "Hoot" Baez. Reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C/REL NATO) Summary of the August meeting of the North
Atlantic Council:
-- AFGHANISTAN: NATO will release its media coordination
plan for Afghan elections on August 12. PermReps requested
information about ad-hoc community guards to be hired by the
Afghanistan Ministry of Interior for additional elections
security. Germany announced a joint initiative with Russia
which refurbish and delivered two medical evacuation
helicopters to the Afghan Ministry of Interior. Montenegro
will begin procedures to become an ISAF troop contributing
nation with an initial offer of 40 soldiers. The Deputy
SecGen confirmed that the Commander of the
NATO-led International Security Assistance Force will not
deliver his 60-day assessment of the situation in Afghanistan
until after August 20 Afghan elections. The report of the
SecGen's visit to Afghanistan has been circulated
to nations (e-mailed to EUR/RPM).
-- COUNTER-PIRACY: The Deputy Secretary General reported that
on August 10 the NAC approved the Execution Directive for the
Ocean Shield Operations Plan (OPLAN 10710) and the associated
Rules of Engagement (ROE). This will allow for the immediate
implementation of escort/deterrence operations and capacity
building efforts.
-- RUSSIA: The UK noted concern regarding the murder on
August 10 of two human rights supports in Chechnya and asked
whether thought had been given to the possibility of a NATO
statement on the issue. After Canada asked for a readout of
the Secretary General's first meeting with Ambassador
Rogozin, the Deputy Secretary General said that a report of
the meeting was being distributed to nations. (Note: The
meeting report, as well as an attached non-paper which
Rogozin delivered to Rasmussen, were e-mailed to EUR/RPM).
-- BALKANS: Secretary General Rasmussen will travel to Kosovo
on August 13; a full trip report will follow. SHAPE will
host a Force Balancing Conference on September 8.
END SUMMARY
Afghanistan/Pakistan
--------------
2. (C/NF) Afghanistan: Trip Report and Media Plan: Deputy
SecGen Claudio Bisogniero (D/SYG) said the trip
report from Secretary General Rasmussen's first visit to
Afghanistan was now available (report e-mailed to EUR/RPM).
He said NATO headquarters was also working on a coordinated
media strategy for the Afghan elections period and would
release an initial plan August 12. The U.S. welcomed work to
coordinate elections messages, noted that Washington and
Embassy Kabul would have 24-hour operations centers, and said
USNATO 00000346 002.2 OF 003
the U.S. mission would share as much information as possible
with the NATO spokesman for dissemination to Allies and ISAF
partners.
3. (C/NF) Elections Security: Responding to the weekly
written report from the ISAF Senior Civilian Representative
(sent separately by e-mail Spain and Germany requested more
information about "ad hoc militias" hired by the Afghan
Ministry of Interior (MoI) to provide additional election
security. Both nations raised concerns about the quality of
recruits, reliability of ad hoc forces, and the number of
districts where such "militias" may be present. SHAPE Deputy
Chief of Staff for Operations Major General Rudy Wright
emphasized that the hiring of these groups was an exclusively
Afghan-led MoI initiative. He said that the MoI planned to
hire temporary community guards or pursue some form of
negotiated cease-fires with local insurgents in up to 240 (of
nearly 400) districts. Wright said that the final list of
polling stations that could not open or would be relocated or
consolidated would come out August 14. He estimated that
around 400 stations may not open due to security or
inaccessibility.
4. (C/REL NATO) Delay of 60-day assessment: In response to a
question from the Netherlands, the Deputy Secretary General
confirmed that GEN McChrystal, the Commander of the NATO-led
International Security Assistance Force, would not deliver
his 60-day assessment of the situation in the country until
after the upcoming elections.
5. (C/REL ISAF) Requests for Briefings: Germany asked for an
update on the Baghdis province cease-fire between the Afghan
government and local insurgents and a broader discussion on
reconciliation options following the elections. Canada
requested a post-election brief on the pattern of Afghan
National Security Force deployment. In response to a Dutch
request, the Director of the International Military Staff
said that an analysis of insurgents' improvised explosive
device (IED) capabilities would be presented at the next
meeting of the Council.
6. (C/REL ISAF) New Contributions: The Deputy Secretary
General said Montenegro had offered 40 troops to be deployed
under ISAF and would begin the standardized procedures to
officially become an ISAF troop contributing nation. Germany
announced a joint initiative with Moscow which had resulted
in the turning over of two overhauled Mi-8 helicopters to the
Afghan Ministry of Interior for use as medical evacuation
assets in support of Afghan National Police. The German
PermRep added that this was evidence that Allies could find
practical means of cooperating with Russia on this issue.
7. (C/REL ISAF) Operations Update: SHAPE Major General Rudy
Wright noted that while indirect fire by insurgents was down
over last year, there were more IED and direct fire
incidents, resulting in an overall 71 percent increase in
insurgent-initiated violence over the last year. Wright said
USNATO 00000346 003.2 OF 003
that there would probably be a surge in violence toward late
summer (consistent with annual trends),adding that could
coincide with Afghan presidential elections. He said that
the reported death of Baitullah Mehsud in Pakistan was still
unconfirmed.
Counter-Piracy
--------------
8. (C/REL NATO) The Deputy Secretary General reported that on
August 10 the NAC approved the Execution Directive for the
Ocean Shield Operations Plan (OPLAN 10710) and the associated
Rules of Engagement (ROE). This will allow for the immediate
implementation of escort/deterrence operations and capacity
building efforts. The Supreme Allied Commander Europe must
inform Allies when he believes he has sufficient means to
perform two additional tasks. The Deputy Secretary General
also said that the NATO Legal Advisor was continuing his
efforts to establish a legal framework for the detention of
captured pirates.
Russia
--------------
9. (C/REL NATO) The UK noted concern regarding the murder on
August 10 of two human rights supports in Chechnya and asked
whether thought had been given to the possibility of a NATO
statement on the issue. After Canada asked for a readout of
the Secretary General's first meeting with Ambassador
Rogozin, the Deputy Secretary General said that a report of
the meeting was being distributed to nations. (Note: The
meeting report, as well as an attached non-paper which
Rogozin delivered to Rasmussen, were e-mailed to EUR/RPM).
The Balkans
--------------
10. (C/REL NATO) Secretary General Rasmussen will travel to
Kosovo on August 13; a full trip report will follow. SHAPE
will host a Force Balancing Conference on September 8.
DAALDER