THIRTEENTH MEETING OF THE AFGHAN JOINT COORDINATION AND

UNCLAS KABUL 000246 SIPDIS DEPT FOR S/SRAP, SCA/FO, SCA/RA, SCA/A, E.O. 12958 N/A TAGS: ECON EAID PGOV AF SUBJECT: THIRTEENTH MEETING OF THE AFGHAN JOINT COORDINATION AND MONITORING BOARD (JCMB) ¶1. (U) SUMMARY: The Joint Coordination and Monitoring Board (JCMB) is the central platform for strategic coordination, joint policy formulation, problem solving and mutual accountability between the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (GIRoA) and the international community (IC). The agenda for the thirteenth meeting of the JCMB included the presentation of a series of papers focused on setting clear security, governance, and development priorities in preparation for the January 28, 2010 London conference and a subsequent spring Kabul conference. ¶2. (U) JCMB-XIII decided to endorse: i) three GIRoA policy papers in preparation for the London and Kabul Conferences: An Integrated Plan for Economic Development (a.k.a. the cluster paper); More Effective Afghan Aid; and the Afghan Peace and Reintegration Program; ii) an Afghan National Army (ANA) increase up to 171,600 by October 2011; and iii) an Afghan National Police (ANP) increase up to 134,000 by October 2011. Both ii) and iii) also called for international support to train and equip these levels. The GIRoA requested comments from the international community on the Afghan National Police Strategy and Anti-Corruption and Governance (Rule of Law and Human Rights) papers for donor endorsement prior to the London Conference. During the JCMB session, the GIRoA and IC repeatedly stressed the importance of translating the London discussions and broad frameworks into action plans including specific benchmarks for the Kabul conference tentatively slated for the Spring. END SUMMARY. ¶3. (U) JCMB-XIII convened January 20, 2010 in Kabul, co-chaired by Finance Minister Omar Zakhilwal and UN SRSG Kai Eide. The U.S. was represented by Ambassador Karl Eikenberry, Ambassador Anthony Wayne, Coordinating Director for Development and Economic Affairs, and William Frej, USAID Director. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND AID EFFECTIVENESS ¶4. (U) The Integrated Plan for Economic Development (a.k.a. Cluster paper) and More Effective Afghan Aid papers presented by Finance Minister Zakhilwal were well received by the IC. The plans focus on building Afghan capacity, improving budget execution rates in key spending ministries, tackling corruption, and creating an enabling environment for donors to channel more resources on budget. Specifically, the Cluster approach aims to consolidate coordination within the GIRoA. The previous 17 Inter-Ministerial Committees were excessive - with too many focal points for donors. The new proposed clusters are: i. Agriculture and Rural Development ii. Human Resource Development iii. Infrastructure and Economic Development. The JCMB approved plans to add a Governance cluster. Finance Minister Zakhilwal also proposed that donors utilize the Civilian Technical Assistance Program to coordinate their efforts to improve the capacity of government departments to boost their low budget execution rates for national programs. ¶5. (U) In terms of aid effectiveness, Finance Minister Zakhilwal requested that the IC increase the percentage of aid channeled through the budget, highlighting significant progress made in the area of Public Financial Management. GIRoA committed to working with donors to strengthen its efforts to improve the transparency of public expenditures, including internal and independent audit functions, and increasing the capacity and accountability of its management systems at sub-national levels. Ambassador Eikenberry indicated that the U.S. plans to channel significantly more assistance through the government's budget, compared to the past year (Note: The U.S. aim is to increase the percentage of U.S. assistance that flows directly through GIRoA institutions to 40 percent by FY 2011. End note.). THE AFGHAN PEACE AND REINTEGRATION PLAN ¶6. (U) Special Advisor to the President on Internal Security, Mohammad Massoom Stanekzai presented the Afghan-led Peace and Re-integration program. The aim of this Program is to promote peace through a political process and encourage Taliban fighters and leaders to renounce violence. The program mirrors President Karzai's vision outlined in his second inauguration speech, and is split into two broad categories: a) the tactical and operational level; and b) the strategic reconciliation level. ¶7. (U) Key points made on the Peace and Reintegration program included the need for: i) a communications strategy; ii) a donor funding mechanism approved in London; iii) clear identification of a lead agency/individual; and iv) further engagement with regional neighbors. The GIRoA committed to publicly announce the program prior to the London Conference as a signal of Afghan-ownership and to help mobilize financial and political support in donor capitals. AFGHAN NATIONAL ARMY AND AFGHAN NATIONAL POLICE GROWTH RATES AND REFORMS ¶8. (U) Minister of Defense, General Abdul Raheem Wardak and Minister of Interior, Hanif Atmar presented the growth rates and reform agenda of the ANA and ANP, respectively. JCMB endorsed the following growth rates: i) the ANA reaching 134,000 and the ANP 109,000 by October 2010; and ii) the ANA growing to 171,600 and the ANP to 134,000 by Oct 2011. It is important to note that JCMB approval will enable ISAF/NTM-A to plan and acquire the necessary equipment and infrastructure to support the forces as they grow. The IC requested additional time for comments on the overall strategy and frameworks, particularly concerning the ANP strategy. ¶9. (U) Key points on ANA and ANP growth rates and reforms included: i) establishing a timeline for transition; ii) the importance of linking the ANP strategy to the rubric of an overall National Security Strategy with a long term vision for securing Afghanistan; iii) strengthening police capability in COIN; iv) developing a robust civilian policing capacity; and v) linking initiatives to national development programs. The JCMB also noted positive signals in Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) progress, highlighting the effective ANSF-led responses to the January 18 attacks in Kabul - quelled within a five-hour timeframe. GOVERNANCE, RULE OF LAW AND HUMAN RIGHTS ¶10. (U) General Director of IDLG, Jelani Popal presented a revised governance paper. The paper prioritized five areas of governance: i) national governance and policy coordination; ii) civil service reform; iii) sub-national governance, iv) rule of law; and v) human rights. The IC broadly welcomed the revised governance paper. Ambassador Wayne expressed strong support for the follow-on London discussion of these topics, followed by the development of specific action plans, commitments and realistic benchmarks for the Kabul Conference. Key recommendations made during the governance presentation included: i) additional review of international treaties to avoid potential conflicting legislation; ii) consultations with GIRoA on projects and programs, as opposed to having all projects and programs jointly approved; and iii) the incorporation of additional language related to women and vulnerable groups, specifically in terms of implementation of the National Action Plan for Women. REGIONAL COOPERATION ¶11. (U) The JCMB took note of the regional cooperation concept paper presented by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Enayatullah Nabiel. The paper addresses regional challenges including terrorism, extremism, militancy, narcotics production and trafficking and organized crime. The IC welcomed a focus on regional economic cooperation, specifically the government's commitment to sign the Afghanistan Pakistan Trade and Transit Agreement (APTTA) before the up-coming Kabul Conference. A notable comment was made by Iran, typically silent at past JCMBs, seeking clarification on what role NATO/ISAF and the EU play in regional interventions. THE GOVERNMENT'S ANTI-CORRUPTION REFORM AGENDA ¶12. (U) Dr. Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai outlined steps to combat corruption, noting four key principles that will guide the process of reform: i) the cabinet will be relied upon as the key organization for ensuring the collective responsibility of the executive branch; ii) the GIRoA will work closely with Parliament to create the legal foundation of a system of governance committed to accountability and transparency; iii) the GIRoA will work closely with the Supreme Court to transform the judiciary into the trusted instrument for delivery of justice and the ultimate national organ for upholding and enforcing the rule of law; iv) all three branches of the state will reach out to Afghan citizens to provide them with meaningful channels and mechanism for voicing their grievances and to participate in government. ¶13. (U) The anti-corruption plan calls for the President to create an Independent Oversight Board by decree to oversee the functions of the HOO. The President will order that the special anti-corruption offices in the Attorney General's Office, the Auditor General's office, and the Major Crimes Task Force are transferred to HOO to ensure coordinated action. The GIRoA will assign priority during 2010 to legislating law on an Anti-Corruption Penal Code for the purpose of expanding provisions related to asset declaration by public officials. The GIRoA's anti-corruption paper was well received by donors. Co-chairs Eide and Zakhilwal requested comments and endorsement of the overall anti-corruption framework prior to the London conference, with specific actions, benchmarks, and commitments to be fleshed out before the Kabul conference. EIKENBERRY