SYG'S LETTER TO THE SECRETARY REGARDING THE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 USNATO 000550 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL NATO OVIP OPDC MOPS MCAP MARR XG RS AF BK, MW, UP, GG SUBJECT: SYG'S LETTER TO THE SECRETARY REGARDING THE DECEMBER FOREIGN MINISTERIAL REF: USNATO 535 USNATO 00000550 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. (SBU) On November 24, NATO Secretary General Rasmussen provided us with a copy of a letter to the Secretary regarding NATO's December 3-4 Foreign Ministerial (letter e-mailed to EUR/RPM). The text of the Secretary General's letter to the Secretary follows: BEGIN TEXT SG(2009)0932 24 November 2009 Dear Madam Secretary, At the upcoming NATO Foreign Ministers' meeting in Brussels on Thursday 3 and Friday 4 December I propose that we focus our attention on a limited number of topics: first and foremost Afghanistan, but also Open Door issues, relations with Russia, Missile Defence, and NATO's new Strategic Concept. The main topic of the meeting will be Afghanistan ) with our NAC in ISAF Format on Friday 4 December as our principal forum for discussing the issue. In light of the unique circumstances, including the ongoing formation of a new Afghan government and our discussion of strategy and resources, this meeting will include ISAF troop contributing nations to facilitate open and frank discussion. Since the submission of COMISAF's recommendations, broad agreement has emerged in favour of General McChrystal's approach. It is now time to provide the necessary resources to carry it out. I have written to the Heads of State and Government of all ISAF contributors, and I encourage nations to consider additional manoeuvre forces and trainers in advance of our meeting and the Force Generation conference at SHAPE on 7 December. Our results will send a signal about NATO's commitment in Afghanistan and about transatlantic solidarity and the balance within our Alliance. The ministerial also presents an opportunity to deliver a clear message to the Afghan government that our shared success and transition to Afghan leadership will depend on improved Afghan performance, especially with regard to governance. We must hold the Afghan government to account. Our long-term commitment cannot be in doubt, and new civilian resources will be needed as well, as part of a better-structured international engagement. Among other goals, our civilian and military engagement should support Afghan-led efforts at reconciliation and reintegration. Our Ministerial will open on 3 December with a Working Lunch to discuss Open Door issues, in particular regarding the MAP applications we received from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro. We will decide on whether to extend invitations to either or both of these countries to join the Membership Action Plan. Following this Working Lunch, we will hold a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Commission to discuss progress in the implementation of Ukraine's Annual National Programme for 2009 and questions of regional security. We will then hold a meeting of the NATO-Georgia Commission to discuss the evolving security situation on the ground in Georgia and Allies' assessment of Georgia's implementation of its first Annual National Programme. USNATO 00000550 002.2 OF 002 We will close the day with the usual Transatlantic dinner, kindly hosted by Belgium. Following the NAC in ISAF format, which will be the first meeting on Friday, 4 December, we will continue with a NAC working session, concentrating on relations with Russia, Missile Defence, and our new Strategic Concept. Work on the Strategic Concept is a major priority in the run up to the next year's Lisbon Summit. In line with the Summit tasking to keep the Council involved, I will provide an interim progress report on the work of the experts. Another key issue is the ongoing work within NATO on Missile Defence, including in light of the new phased adaptive approach to Missile Defence in Europe announced by the Unites States on 17 September. I hope you will welcome this new approach and note that with it NATO is put at the core of deliberations on Missile Defence in Europe. Resetting co-operation with Russia is another key Alliance priority. Without compromising on any of our positions of principle, such as Georgia, we need to identify areas where dialogue and cooperation with Russia further NATO's interests. In the first formal NATO-Russia Council meeting in Foreign Ministers' format since December 2007, which will be organized as a working lunch, we will address key political dialogue topics, including those on which we disagree, as well as possibilities for additional NRC cooperation, on the basis of common interest. Allies may wish to encourage Russia to deliver more on Afghanistan, Operation Active Endeavour, and military-to-military co-operation as tangible signs of Russia's commitment to reengage with NATO. In addition, the meeting will hopefully allow us to agree on some key deliverables, such as the NRC Ministerial tasking on the "Joint Review of 21st Century Common Security Challenges", ways to reinvigorate and reform the NRC structures, and the work plan for 2010. I look forward to welcoming you in Brussels for a focused, interactive and productive meeting. Yours sincerely, //s// Anders Fogh Rasmussen END TEXT ¶2. (SBU) Note: The letter to Heads of State and Government referenced in para three of Rasmussen's letter to the Secretary was reported -- in the version addressed to President Obama -- reftel. DAALDER