Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09USNATO349
2009-08-16 14:34:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Mission USNATO
Cable title:
NATO SECGEN RASMUSSEN MAKES STATEMENT ON
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 USNATO 000349
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/16/2019
TAGS: PREL NATO MARR MOPS AF PK UK XG
SUBJECT: NATO SECGEN RASMUSSEN MAKES STATEMENT ON
CASUALTIES IN AFGHANISTAN
REF: KABUL 2359
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 02 USNATO 000349
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/16/2019
TAGS: PREL NATO MARR MOPS AF PK UK XG
SUBJECT: NATO SECGEN RASMUSSEN MAKES STATEMENT ON
CASUALTIES IN AFGHANISTAN
REF: KABUL 2359
Classified By: A/PolAd A. "Hoot" Baez. Reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (U) On August 16, Secretary General Rasmussen released a
statement on casualties in Afghanistan. In the
statement--which was posted on the NATO website--Rasmussen
expressed sadness in the face of casualties, but argued that
the "biggest tribute we can make to those who have lost their
lives" is to help the Afghans "take greater control of their
own destiny" and to work toward "achieving sustained peace
and security in Afghanistan and the region." Reiterating
NATO's resolve, he also stressed that "(s)tabilising
Afghanistan to prevent the return of terrorism that threatens
us all remains a critical security task."
2. (C/REL ISAF) The statement comes on the heels of two
reminders of the dangers faced by the 42 NATO and non-NATO
troop contributing nations that participate in the NATO-led
International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). On the
morning of August 15, a suicide vehicle-borne improvised
explosive device (VBIED) detonated near the entrance to ISAF
headquarters (reftel). While it appears that ISAF personnel
were not among those killed in the explosion, the NATO
Situation Centre reported that among those injured were
Canadian, Dutch, French (including a French civilian
interpreter),Italian, Macedonian, and U.S. ISAF personnel.
In addition, British deaths in Afghanistan passed the 200
mark over the weekend. Doubtless recognizing the political
significance in the UK of this tragic milestone, Rasmussen
began his statement with a special focus on the British
losses.
3. (U) The full text of the Secretary General's statement
follows:
BEGIN TEXT
16 Aug. 2009
Press Release: (2009) 117
Statement by the Secretary General of NATO on casualties in
Afghanistan
As NATO Secretary General, it is with great sadness that I
recognise that over 200 brave and professional British
servicemen and women have now lost their lives in Afghanistan.
I feel these losses keenly, as I feel the losses of other
nations serving in the NATO-led International Security
Assistance Force. My thoughts go out to all the families
affected, as does my gratitude to the troop contributing
nations as a whole for the essential contribution they are
USNATO 00000349 002 OF 002
making to the international effort in Afghanistan.
This is indeed a heavy price to pay. Even in this time of
sadness, I hope people can understand that these losses are
suffered in a cause vital to the security of each of the 42
nations who comprise the NATO-led ISAF. ISAF now stands at
over 64000 personnel and the Afghan National Security Forces
continue to grow in strength and stature, taking an
ever-increasing responsibility for their own security. They,
and many of our ISAF Allies, have also suffered losses for
which we share both pride and sorrow.
Stabilising Afghanistan to prevent the return of terrorism
that threatens us all remains a critical security task. In
recent months, the hard work and sacrifice of ISAF nations in
support of the Afghan National Security Forces has focused on
improving security to allow Afghans to participate in
elections to be held on August 20. Helping Afghans to take
greater control of their own destiny is both the right thing
to do and is an important step in ensuring our shared goal of
achieving sustained peace and security in Afghanistan and the
region. This will be the biggest tribute we can make to
those who have lost their lives. NATO's resolve will remain
strong in the challenging months ahead.
END TEXT
DAALDER
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/16/2019
TAGS: PREL NATO MARR MOPS AF PK UK XG
SUBJECT: NATO SECGEN RASMUSSEN MAKES STATEMENT ON
CASUALTIES IN AFGHANISTAN
REF: KABUL 2359
Classified By: A/PolAd A. "Hoot" Baez. Reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (U) On August 16, Secretary General Rasmussen released a
statement on casualties in Afghanistan. In the
statement--which was posted on the NATO website--Rasmussen
expressed sadness in the face of casualties, but argued that
the "biggest tribute we can make to those who have lost their
lives" is to help the Afghans "take greater control of their
own destiny" and to work toward "achieving sustained peace
and security in Afghanistan and the region." Reiterating
NATO's resolve, he also stressed that "(s)tabilising
Afghanistan to prevent the return of terrorism that threatens
us all remains a critical security task."
2. (C/REL ISAF) The statement comes on the heels of two
reminders of the dangers faced by the 42 NATO and non-NATO
troop contributing nations that participate in the NATO-led
International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). On the
morning of August 15, a suicide vehicle-borne improvised
explosive device (VBIED) detonated near the entrance to ISAF
headquarters (reftel). While it appears that ISAF personnel
were not among those killed in the explosion, the NATO
Situation Centre reported that among those injured were
Canadian, Dutch, French (including a French civilian
interpreter),Italian, Macedonian, and U.S. ISAF personnel.
In addition, British deaths in Afghanistan passed the 200
mark over the weekend. Doubtless recognizing the political
significance in the UK of this tragic milestone, Rasmussen
began his statement with a special focus on the British
losses.
3. (U) The full text of the Secretary General's statement
follows:
BEGIN TEXT
16 Aug. 2009
Press Release: (2009) 117
Statement by the Secretary General of NATO on casualties in
Afghanistan
As NATO Secretary General, it is with great sadness that I
recognise that over 200 brave and professional British
servicemen and women have now lost their lives in Afghanistan.
I feel these losses keenly, as I feel the losses of other
nations serving in the NATO-led International Security
Assistance Force. My thoughts go out to all the families
affected, as does my gratitude to the troop contributing
nations as a whole for the essential contribution they are
USNATO 00000349 002 OF 002
making to the international effort in Afghanistan.
This is indeed a heavy price to pay. Even in this time of
sadness, I hope people can understand that these losses are
suffered in a cause vital to the security of each of the 42
nations who comprise the NATO-led ISAF. ISAF now stands at
over 64000 personnel and the Afghan National Security Forces
continue to grow in strength and stature, taking an
ever-increasing responsibility for their own security. They,
and many of our ISAF Allies, have also suffered losses for
which we share both pride and sorrow.
Stabilising Afghanistan to prevent the return of terrorism
that threatens us all remains a critical security task. In
recent months, the hard work and sacrifice of ISAF nations in
support of the Afghan National Security Forces has focused on
improving security to allow Afghans to participate in
elections to be held on August 20. Helping Afghans to take
greater control of their own destiny is both the right thing
to do and is an important step in ensuring our shared goal of
achieving sustained peace and security in Afghanistan and the
region. This will be the biggest tribute we can make to
those who have lost their lives. NATO's resolve will remain
strong in the challenging months ahead.
END TEXT
DAALDER