BRIEFING THE HUNGARIANS ON U.S. DESIRED OUTCOMES

UNCLAS BUDAPEST 000038 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/CE JAMIE MOORE, S/SRAP JARRETT BLANC, AND SCA/A TOM GRAMAGLIA AND CAROLYN COBERLY. E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL ECON AF HU SUBJECT: BRIEFING THE HUNGARIANS ON U.S. DESIRED OUTCOMES FROM THE LONDON CONFERENCE REF: STATE 06355 ¶1. (SBU) POL/ECON Counselor briefed Peter Sztaray, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Director for Security Policy and Non-Proliferation, January 25 on desired U.S. outcomes from the January 28 London Conference on Afghanistan. Sztaray, who is accompanying Foreign Minister Balazs to the conference and the subsequent NATO Defense Ministerial meeting in Istanbul, welcomed the London conference as a practical means to enhance international coordination on Afghanistan, noting that it would "bring together all the players." Hungarian objectives coincided with those of the United States in terms of outcomes from the conference, Sztaray said. ¶2. (SBU) On specific points, Sztaray agreed that while reintegration of insurgents was very complex, it had to be pursued. "Without this, there is no solution," he stated. The U.S. plan of step-by-step, gradual transition of provinces to an Afghan lead represented the right approach, Sztaray said, adding, "The better the preparations, the better the result." ¶3. (SBU) Sztaray said the Hungarians hoped they would have the opportunity to take the floor at the conference. While understanding that with 77 delegations this might not prove feasible, Sztaray said that, having furnished Provincial Reconstruction and Operational Mentor and Liaison teams, Hungary believed it had something to contribute. KOUNALAKIS