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