MALTA'S RESPONSE TO PRESIDENT OBAMA'S MESSAGE ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L VALLETTA 000525 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/03/2019 TAGS: KPAL PREL PMIL IS MT AF SUBJECT: MALTA'S RESPONSE TO PRESIDENT OBAMA'S MESSAGE ON AFGHANISTAN REF: A. STATE 122234 ¶B. STATE 122731 Classified By: Ambassador Douglas Kmiec, Reasons 1.4(b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Summary: Ambassador briefed MFA Permanent Secretary Cecelia Attard-Pirotta on December 1 concerning the substance of the President's Afghan policy speech to be delivered later that day. She expressed the GOM's interest in the new strategy but had no comment concerning GOM commitments for future assistance. Following the speech, initial press reactions have been generally positive and objective with a focus on the President and Ambassador's request for additional support. End Summary ¶2. (C) On December 1, per reftel (a),Ambassador Douglas Kmiec called on MFA Permanent Secretary Cecelia Attard-Pirotta to brief her on the outlines of the President's upcoming speech on "The Way Forward in Afghanistan and Pakistan." The Ambassador stressed that he recognized that the GOM's constitutional requirement on neutrality, as some broadly interpret it, had prevented it from previously providing assistance to the NATO effort in Afghanistan, but pointed out that a major element of the new strategy will be for civilian assistance in projects to eliminate corruption, to revitalize the economy, especially the agricultural sector, and to help rebuild civil society. Ms. Attard-Pirotta responded that the GOM would look with interest at President Obama's new proposals, military and humanitarian, but that she could make no commitment concerning if or how the GOM might respond to new initiatives. With the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister traveling this week there may be a delay before the GOM provides a more substantive response. ¶3. (U) On December 2 the Ambassador held a press conference at his residence to discuss the President's speech and answer questions. He pointed out important aspects of President Obama's strategy and the U.S. and mulit-national commitment to defeat the Taliban and Al Qa'ida. In response to press questions about a role for Malta in Afghanistan, Ambassador Kmiec recognized that Malta's neutrality clause prevents military operations but he underscored the contribution Malta could still make by providing agricultural and governance expertise and other support to the Afghan people. ¶4. (SBU) At a conference for the 20th anniversary of the historically significant Malta summit between President George H W Bush and Mikhail Gorbachev sponsored by MEDAC (the Mediterranean Diplomatic Academy) (December 4, 2008),the Ambassador noted that "while 43 countries have 'boots on the ground' as part of ISAF, there is no reason many more countries could not step up to extend a hand of assistance." Malta Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Tonio Borg was on the same panel and gave the impression of concurrence. ¶5. (C) At the same conference, during Ambassador's private conversation with other members of the diplomatic corps, and in comments from the stage, Ambassador was told that Secretary Clinton's recent statements interpreting current Israeli settlement practice as representing an "unprecedented" opportunity to jump start conflict resolution in the Middle East were "seriously mistaken", turning back the clock," when bold new thinking is needed to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli dispute. This point was made as well by the Honorable John H. Sununu, former Chief of Staff to the first President Bush who stated to a seminar held at the CMR in conjunction with the MEDAC anniversary that such statements are causing Europe to see "Obama as just another American politician favoring the Israeli side." ¶6. (U) Meanwhile, press coverage of the President's speech and the Ambassador's press conference has been widespread and generally positive in the local media. KMIEC