Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09USNATO550
2009-11-26 12:58:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Mission USNATO
Cable title:  

SYG'S LETTER TO THE SECRETARY REGARDING THE

Tags:  PREL NATO OVIP OPDC MOPS MCAP MARR XG RS AF 
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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


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