Engaging Allies to Conclude MOUs on Life Support

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 KABUL 000437 DOD FOR USDP FLOURNOY USNATO FOR AMB IVO DAALDER ISTANBUL PASS TO US DEL AT NATO DEFMIN CONFERENCE DEPARTMENT FOR SRAP, SCA/FO, SCA/A, EUR/PPD STATE PASS TO AID FOR ASIA/SCAA USFOR-A FOR POLAD SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: MOPS MARR PREL EAID PHUM SNAR PINR PTER AF SUBJECT: Engaging Allies to Conclude MOUs on Life Support REF: (A) 10 Kabul 376, (B) 09 Kabul 4152, (C) 09 Kabul 3981, (D) 09 Kabul 3870, (E) 09 State 129187, (F) 09 Vilnius 709, (G) 09 Stockholm 797, (H) 09 Stockholm 796, (I) 09 wellington 329, (J) 09 Oslo 784, (K) 09 Madrid 1202, (L) 09 Paris 1726 KABUL 00000437 001.2 OF 003 ¶1. (U) This is an action request - see paragraphs 5 and 6. Background: -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Embassy Kabul is in the process of significantly increasing the number of USG civilians at Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) and other field locations, particularly District Support Teams (DSTs). Of the 27 PRTs in Afghanistan, 14 are ISAF Coalition-led. There are more than 75 U.S. civilians based at Coalition-led locations, and we hope to deploy far more in the coming months. In order to facilitate this increase, we are trying to conclude MOUs with Coalition partners that will support such deployments. To date, arrangements for accommodation and support of USG civilians at partner PRTs have been ad hoc and informal with no reimbursement. ¶3. (SBU) Draft MOUs were initially presented in November to coalition partner Ambassadors based in Kabul by Ambassador Mussomeli (ref D). Since then, we have been working via U.S. embassies in capitals as well as in Kabul to finalize the text of the MOUs, which have political rather than legal weight. Most ISAF contributing governments have agreed in principle to sign MOUs with the USG, but thus far we have only concluded an MOU with the UK. We are seeking to complete MOUs with the governments of Canada, Italy, New Zealand, Lithuania, France, Hungary, Germany, Norway, Spain, Sweden and, if possible, Turkey. We are seeking to conclude these agreements in Kabul. ¶4. (SBU) One of the key concerns among partners is that they may be unable to support large U.S. civilian contingents. To address this concern, we have worked with governments to identify the maximum number of civilians that they could support at present, with an additional clause that would allow for further consultations if our governments wish to revise these projected numbers. This language has satisfied most of our coalition partners. Additionally, we have worked with partners to remove or revise language requiring them to provide a minimum number of ground movements for our personnel. This requirement has limited impact in the West and most of the North of Afghanistan where the relatively permissive security environment enables U.S. civilian officers to drive themselves rather than rely on military transport and security. ¶5. (U) We ask that you look for opportunities to use the following talking points on the margins of the NATO Defense Ministerial: General Talking Points: - The deployment of civilians with expertise in governance, agriculture and development is key to the success of our efforts in Afghanistan. - The United States has been working with your government to conclude an MOU on Life Support for U.S. civilians at coalition-led bases. - This agreement, while not legally binding, would establish a framework for cooperation for support to U.S. civilians at coalition-led Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRT) or other facilities. - Our cooperation until now has been under largely ad hoc arrangements that have not been funded. This MOU will provide a mechanism for USG payment to coalition partners for support services provided to USG civilians at PRTs or other facilities. - Negotiations to date have taken into account concerns about over-burdening coalition partners in terms of numbers of civilians and support for mobility outside the base. We believe the revised language we have worked out with each government provides adequate flexibility and consultations, and should address any concerns in this regard. - The UK and the U.S. signed an MOU on January 23. KABUL 00000437 002.2 OF 003 - We encourage your government to finalize your review so that we can conclude the MOU as quickly as possible. ¶6. (U) Country Specific Talking Points: (For Italy) - We have engaged with the Italian Ministry of Defense on the draft MOU and the initial response was positive, including in response to our request for support from the RC-West Quick Reaction Force and MEDEVAC services. - The MOD has told our Embassy that they will forward any suggested changes after they go over it with MFA. - The interlocutors in Rome did not foresee any problem with delegating the signing authority to the Italian Ambassador in Kabul. - One point that the Italian MOD has stressed is that the Italians would like to see even closer coordination of USAID, Italian Development Officials, and Italian Civil-Military Coordination (CIMIC) officers on the ground as a result of this MOU. As this is our goal as well, this MOU will certainly facilitate this kind of cooperation. (For Canada) - We understand that your Embassy in Kabul is reviewing changes sent from Ottawa and has in turn forwarded the document to your PRT in Kandahar. We would encourage your Embassy and PRT to finalize your review so that we can conclude the MOU as quickly as possible. (For Lithuania) - We understand that your Ministry of National Defense, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, our Embassy in Vilnius and our staff in Kabul and Herat had a very successful video conference call January 27, which resulted in bringing the two sides closer to reaching agreement on the substance of the MOU. - Once the final language is agreed to, we would request that the clearance of the MOU on behalf of the Lithuanian ministries be expedited so that we can sign the final agreement as soon as possible. (For Norway) - We appreciate the Norwegian Government's efforts to work with us on placing USG civilians on your PRT and to amend the MOU to address the issues of mobility and the ordering of containerized housing units for our personnel. In particular, we appreciate your government's agreement to allow our USDA expert to move to the PRT without the MOU being concluded. We encourage you to finalize your review of the document so that we can conclude the MOU as soon as possible. (For Germany) - We are pleased that your government welcomes the additional USG civilians on the German facilities in RC-North. - We recently provided a revised draft MOU to both your MoD in Berlin and your personnel at the PRT. - We hope that this revised version of the MOU will resolve any outstanding issues and we can move quickly to conclude the agreement. (For Hungary) - We have been working with your Ministry of Defense in Budapest to resolve issues related to mobility and the number of personnel located at the PRT. - Currently we have one USAID development advisor located at your PRT. Although U.S. Forces will be moving into Kilagai, there is still a need to place additional USG civilians at the PRT given its KABUL 00000437 003.2 OF 003 close location to the provincial capital and important Afghan officials. - We hope that the revised version of the MOU resolves your governments concerns so that we can move quickly to conclude the agreement. (For Spain and France) - In November, Ambassador Mussomeli presented your Ambassador with a copy of the MOU we are entering into with our coalition partners to place USG civilians at their facilities. - However, there has been no response from your Embassy or Ministry on the MOU. - We have reached out to our Embassies in (Madrid) and (Paris) to work with your Ministry on the MOUs. In addition, Deputy Secretary Lew has offered to call your Minister of Foreign Affairs to encourage them to review the substance of the documents in cooperation with the Ministry of Defense. - We hope that we will be able to move forward on these documents quickly. Our staff in Kabul stand ready to address any concerns or questions you may have on the agreements. (For Turkey) - In December, we presented to your Embassy a courtesy copy of the MOU we are entering into with our ISAF partners. - Although we have not placed any USG civilians at the Turkish facilities, we hope that as we increase the number of our USG civilians in the field and as Turkey establishes new facilities, we will be able to closely coordinate U.S. and Turkish activities in the field. - We would welcome the opportunity to place USG civilians at your facilities and conclude an MOU to provide for their life support needs. ¶7. (U) Post appreciates Department and USNATO's assistance in this request. POC's for questions or comments on the MOUs are Ann Marie Yastishock at Kabul/USAID and Patricia McNerney at Kabul/IPA. EIKENBERRY