AUSTRALIA TO BACK U.S. POSITIONS AT LONDON

C O N F I D E N T I A L CANBERRA 000064

SIPDIS
NOFORN

S/SRAP FOR JARRETT BLANC AND SCA/A FOR TOM GRAMAGLIA AND
CAROLYN COBERLY

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/25/2020
TAGS: PREL PGOV ECON EFIN AF AS
SUBJECT: AUSTRALIA TO BACK U.S. POSITIONS AT LONDON
CONFERENCE

REF: A. STATE 6355

B. CANBERRA 63

Classified By: Acting Pol Counselor James Applegate for reasons 1.4(b)(
d)


1. (C/NF) SUMMARY: Australia supports the positions
outlined in reftel demarche (ref A). While Australia backs a
reintegration policy and expects to donate to the trust fund,
officials would like more information about exactly how the
fund will be structured. AusAID officials welcomed the
conference's focus on civilian coordination. Australia has
already pledged to increase its civilian presence in
Afghanistan, although details have yet to emerge. End
Summary.

Broad Support for U.S. Positions
--------------


2. (C/NF) Australia is happy with the direction of Afghan
policy and hopes to use the London Conference as a forum to
express their support for the goals outlined in reftel
demarche (ref A). Australia also hopes to highlight what
they have done in Afghanistan to further these goals. Paul
Noonan, Afghanistan section director for the Department of
Foreign Affairs and Trade, said that the United States can
count on Australia to support the American positions at the
London Conference. Both Foreign Minister Stephen Smith and
Special Envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan Ric Smith will be
briefed on the substance of the demarche prior to traveling
to London.

On Reintegration
--------------


3. (C/NF) Australia is eager to hear from the Afghan
government and international partners on their plans to
address reintegration. Noonan said that Australia supports a
reintegration policy, but would like to hear more about the
mechanics of how the trust fund will work. Australia plans
on making a contribution to the fund at some point in the
near future, but Noonan doubted that any specific pledge
would be announced in London.

Better Civilian Coordination Needed
--------------


4. (C/NF) Australia is strongly supportive of improving
civilian coordination in Afghanistan. Sonia Litz,
Afghanistan Section Director for AusAID, is eager to hear
more about plans for donor coordination. She feels that
UNAMA has done a good job of coordination at higher levels,
but that more oversight is needed at the operational level.
Australia is skeptical about channeling aid programs through
the Afghan government agencies until accountability and
oversight is improved.

Increasing Civilian Assistance
--------------


5. (C/NF) In November, Australia announced that it would
increase its civilian effort in Afghanistan. The plan is to
send more police trainers, diplomats, and aid workers, but
Cabinet negotiations on what the exact contributions are
likely to be are ongoing and details have yet to emerge (ref
B). Both Noonan and Litz told us not to expect a final
announcement before March at the earliest.

BLEICH