ENCOURAGING SENIOR-LEVEL PARTICIPATION IN THE PRT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 003595 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL NATO AF SUBJECT: ENCOURAGING SENIOR-LEVEL PARTICIPATION IN THE PRT CONFERENCE IN PRAGUE REF: 09 PRAGUE 731 ¶1. Action request for Embassies in countries that lead or significantly contribute to Provincial Reconstruction Teams and USNATO in paragraph 5. ¶2. The Czech Republic and Embassy Prague are co-organizing an international conference on the work of Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) in Afghanistan January 25-27 (reftel). S/SRAP views the forum as a unique opportunity to strengthen coordination in capitals of the numerous PRT-contributing countries on key areas of the international assistance strategy, including: sub-national governance, agricultural development and job creation, communications and counter-propaganda, civilian-military coordination, and, common measures of effectiveness. S/SRAP would like to use the Prague Conference to hold a closed session for Deputy SRAPs, senior NATO officials, and civilian and military officials from the field to discuss concrete ways to achieve unity of effort among PRTs. This would complement ongoing PRT coordination in Kabul. End Summary. -------------- Background -------------- ¶3. The January 25-27 PRT Conference in Prague aims to bring together senior- and working-level civilians, military, and NGO leaders from Afghanistan and ISAF countries involved in PRT operations. Thus far, more than 145 invitees have already confirmed their participation. The Afghan government has indicated it would send a high-level delegation led by the Minister of the Independent Directorate for Local Governance Jalani Popal. ¶4. Deputy Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Paul Jones is looking forward to leading an interagency team to Prague. Specifically, he would participate in a closed pre-conference session on January 25 to help reach agreement in capitals on concrete measures for deepening coordination among Allies on the modus operandi and priorities of PRTs. S/SRAP would like PRT-contributing countries to send their Deputy SRAPs or appropriate senior Afghanistan-Pakistan policy-maker to Prague for this closed pre-conference session on January ¶25. -------------- Demarche Request -------------- ¶5. For Capitals and USNATO: Washington requests that Embassies in countries that lead or significantly contribute to PRTs convey the following points: -- In previous international conferences on Afghanistan we have discussed the need for better coordination of our security and civilian assistance. -- PRTs have proven to be an essential stabilization and reconstruction tool in Afghanistan since 2001, and the international community's renewed focus on governance and development in provinces and districts means that PRTs will play an even more vital role in the coming months. -- The PRT Conference in Prague represents a unique opportunity for policy-makers and practitioners to deepen our coordination on specific PRT activities in such areas as sub-national governance, agricultural development and job creation, communications and counter propaganda, and civilian-military coordination. -- Deputy Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Paul Jones is considering leading a robust interagency team to Prague to hold talks with counterparts on possible ways to strengthen unity of effort. -- SRAP Ambassador Holbrooke strongly encourages Deputy SRAPs or appropriate senior official and a senior official from NATO to make plans to travel to Prague for these STATE 00003595 002 OF 002 talks. -- D/SRAP Jones extends his best wishes to [name of Deputy SRAP or senior official] and hopes to meet with [him/her] in person at the closed pre-conference session with other Deputy SRAPs and the opening session of the conference the evening of January 25. ¶6. Please send in your responses by January 20 to S/SRAP (POC: S/SRAP Senior Advisor Dereck Hogan) and Embassy Prague (POC: Acting DCM John Law). CLINTON