Wikileaks - MLXXIX
157768 6/11/2008 17:51 08USNATO206 Mission USNATO CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN VZCZCXRO6869 OO RUEHFL RUEHLA RUEHMRE RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHNO #0206/01 1631751 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 111751Z JUN 08 FM USMISSION USNATO TO RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1969 INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNOSC/ORG FOR SECURITY CO OP IN EUR COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA PRIORITY 0319 RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA PRIORITY 0588 RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD PRIORITY 0561 RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN PRIORITY 0747 RUEHBS/AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS PRIORITY 6550 RUEHBM/AMEMBASSY BUCHAREST PRIORITY 2439 RUEHJB/AMEMBASSY BUJUMBURA PRIORITY 0048 RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 0387 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 0534 RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 0939 RUEHKH/AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM PRIORITY 0398 RUEHLJ/AMEMBASSY LJUBLJANA PRIORITY 1216 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 0438 RUEHMD/AMEMBASSY MADRID PRIORITY 0825 RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA PRIORITY 0639 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 0538 RUEHPG/AMEMBASSY PRAGUE PRIORITY 4044 RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME PRIORITY 0776 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL PRIORITY 0374 RUEHGP/AMEMBASSY SINGAPORE PRIORITY 0173 RUEHTC/AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE PRIORITY 1035 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 0698 RUEHWR/AMEMBASSY WARSAW PRIORITY 4157 RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON PRIORITY 0237 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0694 C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 USNATO 000206
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E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/10/2018 TAGS: NATO, PREL, AF SUBJECT: CORRECTED COPY: NORTH ATLANTIC COUNCIL READOUT - JUNE 11, 2008
Classified By: A/DCM W. S. Reid, III, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (U) This corrected copy is being circulated to include information on the Medium-Term Resource Plan.
2. (C/NF) Summary from the NAC Meeting:
-- Afghanistan: The Chairman of the Military Committee (CMC) again urged more action on providing embedded trainers (OMLTs). SHAPE reported a 45 percent increase in theater-wide activity levels in May 2008, with the vast majority occurring in the south and east. Ambassador Nuland highlighted the First Lady's recent trip to Afghanistan. Canada noted a government report, "Setting a Course to 2011," was submitted June 10 to Parliament.
-- Balkans: The SYG mentioned the uncertainty surrounding the UNMIK reconfiguration and the upcoming entry into force of the Kosovo Constitution on June 15. KFOR continues to maintain an increased operations tempo and is taking a pro-active approach in the run-up to this weekend. Ambassador Nuland urged Allies to support UN SYG Ban when he sends his UNMIK reconfiguration plan to the UN Security Council.
-- Africa - Support to the AU: Two officers from JFC Lisbon have been identified to work in the AU HQ in Addis Ababa. SHAPE has sent to the National Military Representatives (NMRs) an AU request for airlift support to transport a Burundian battalion from Bujumbura to Somalia as part of the Africa Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM).
-- Iraq: No discussion.
-- 2009 - 2013 Medium-Term Resource Plan: The NAC approved the 2009 NATO Security Investment Program (NSIP) budget ceiling and military budget allocations, including a 9.3 percent increase for military headquarters and agencies. Ambassador Nuland criticized Allies for failing to fully fund NATO operations and missions (which will mean there must be a supplemental later in the year to cover the shortfall), for failing to reduce costs by closing redundant headquarters, and for forcing the Alliance to turn to expensive outsourcing due to their failure to provide sufficient forces and capabilities.
-- Statements on Political Subjects: Slovenia briefed Allies on the topics discussed at the U.S.-EU Summit in Brdo. Ambassador Nuland informed Allies of the UN Security Council's recent discussions on Iran's nuclear program and Iraq.
-- AOB: The Polish PermRep reported on Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski's visit to Afghanistan last week, where he met with President Karzai, the First Deputy President, and the Foreign Minister
END SUMMARY.
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Afghanistan
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3. (C/NF) Secretary General de Hoop Scheffer informed the Council he would see Pakistan FM Qureshi, Australian FM Smith, Acting Canadian FM Emerson, and hopefully, UN SYG Ban Ki-Moon on June 12 on the margins of the Paris Support Conference.
4. (C/NF) Chairman of the Military Committee (CMC) Henault again reminded Allies of the importance of fulfilling NATO's Operational Mentor Liaison Team (OMLT) commitment to the Afghan National Army (Comment: NATO's current OMLT shortfall is 22, projected to decrease to only 19 by March 2009. End comment.) Noting the key role of OMLTs, he stated that two ANA kandaks are at Capability Milestone-1 (CM-1), (fully capable to plan, execute, and sustain operations); 18 are at CM-2 (need coalition support); 16 are at CM-3 (partially capable); four are at CM-4 (formed but not capable), and nine required kandaks are yet to be formed.
5. (C/NF) SHAPE DCOS for Plans and Policy BG Simon Porter provided the operational brief, citing a forty-five percent increase in theater-wide activity levels in May 2008. Over 1,000 of the month's 1,153 recorded incidents occurred in the south and east. BG Porter cited a high ISAF operational tempo, the conclusion of the poppy harvest, and continued infiltration of Opposing Militant Forces (OMF) from Pakistan as causes. He cited a doubling in activity levels in RC-E among provinces not on the Pakistani border.
6. (C/NF) In southern Helmand, he noted the U.S. 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, Afghan Border Police, and elements of a UK battlegroup are continuing operations in and around Garmsir, and in stark contrast to 2006-2007, OMF in northern Helmand no longer "stand up and fight" against ISAF operations there. In RC-West, ISAF's operational focus has been on Farah, where the ANA 207 Corps, Italian and Spanish forces, and the 2nd Battalion/7th Marine Regiment (2/7) have enabled the insertion of ANP into Bakwa district, as part of the FDD program. In RC-E, the 2nd Battalion/506th Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division ) currently ISAF's Theater Task Force - has deployed to Paktika from Kandahar.
7. (C/NF) Ambassador Nuland highlighted the First Lady's recent trip to Afghanistan as a demonstration of U.S. commitment to "soft power," education, and to Afghanistan and its women. Canadian PermRep McRae briefed that on June 10, his government sent to Parliament its inaugural report to Parliament on Canada's engagement in Afghanistan. The report, "Setting a Course to 2011," fulfills a March 13 commitment to Parliament, and responds directly to a recommendation outlined in the Independent Panel of Canada's Future Role in Afghanistan (a.k.a. the "Manley Panel").
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Balkans
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8. (C/NF) The SYG briefly mentioned the uncertainty surrounding the UNMIK reconfiguration and the upcoming entry into force of the Kosovo Constitution on June 15. He
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informed the Council that he hopes to speak to UN SYG Ban-Ki Moon during tomorrow's Conference on Afghanistan in Paris to seek more clarity. Lastly, the SYG mentioned that UN SYG is close to informing the UN Security Council of UNMIK's reconfiguration. BG Porter, providing the situational and operational update, said that the impending entry into force of the constitution could lead to increased tensions. He informed the Council that KFOR continues to maintain an increased operations tempo and is taking a pro-active approach in the run-up to this weekend. Of note, he said that KFOR has increased security around Gate 1 in the north and around the Mitrovica Court House. He also provided a short brief on the status of Kosovo's electricity supply saying that recent shortages due to equipment failure could also exacerbate tensions. Ambassador Nuland concurred with the SYG regarding the impending report on UNMIK's reconfiguration to the Security Council. She also called on Allies and other members of the Security Council to fully support the UN SYG when he forwards his UNMIK reconfiguration plan to the UNSC. Spain fully supported U.S. remarks highlighting the importance of the UN SYG's request to the EU to work in Kosovo as part of the reconfiguration.
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Africa - Support to the AU
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9. (C/NF) The CMC informed the NAC that two officers have been identified from JFC Lisbon to provide air movement and personnel management support at the AU HQ in Addis Ababa, as requested by the AU and approved by the NAC. One officer will arrive on June 16, the other on July 7.
10. (C/NF) The CMC also reported that SHAPE has sent to the National Military Representatives (NMRs) an AU request for airlift support to transport a Burundian battalion from Bujumbura to Somalia as part of the Africa Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM). He noted that this was the first time the AU had made such a request for support for AMISOM to NATO.
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2009 - 2013 Medium-Term Resource Plan
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11. (C/NF) The NAC approved a NATO Security Investment Program (NSIP) budget ceiling of 640.5 million Euro and an allocation of 1,274 million Euro amongst the military headquarters and agencies, a 9.3 percent increase over last year's figures. The Senior Resource Board chairman noted that additional Afghanistan and KFOR operational requirements are under development and will likely lead to a supplementary budget request during the year. Ambassador Nuland chastized nations for not fully funding Alliance Operations and Missions, recognizing that we are at the highest optempo in the history of the Alliance, that common funding saves all member nations money, and that a supplemental will be required during the year. She insisted that the Middle East Faculty of the NATO Defense College and PfP activities be fully funded per the agreement of Heads of State and Government at the Bucharest Summit. She also expressed disappointment that Allies were unable to agree to close
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redundant static headquarters as part of the Peacetime Establishment (PE) review, thus diverting scarce resources unnecessarily and said that nation's unwillingness to provide forces and capabilities for operations has led to expensive outsourcing contracts. Most nations advocated for outsourcing to be used only as a last resort and pushed for improvements in priority setting by NATO Military Authorities. The Netherlands and the Czech Republic called for a review of NATO funding practices to provide financial incentives for nations to provide capabilities and forces for operations. Germany, France, Belgium, and Romania raised concerns about the dramatic increases in costs for operations that continue to exceed the planning figures.
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Statements on Political Subjects
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12. (C/NF) The Slovenian PermRep briefed Allies on the topics discussed at the U.S.-EU Summit in Brdo, where President Bush and EU leaders discussed the Middle East, Kosovo, Iran, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Additionally, they discussed non-security related issues such as climate change, free trade, and the free movement of people.
13. (C/NF) Providing an update on upcoming events at the UN Security Council, Ambassador Nuland previewed the July 13 meeting on Iran sanctions, and the June 13 mid-year review of the Multi-National Force ) Iraq (MNF-I), and Secretary Rice's planned attendance at the June 19 thematic debate on women, peace and security at which the U.S. would seek a resolution calling for an end to the use of sexual violence against civilians as a weapon of war.
--- AOB ---
14. (C/NF) The Polish PermRep reported on Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski's visit to Afghanistan last week where he met with President Karzai, the First Vice President Ahmad Zia Massoud, and Foreign Minister Spanta. In their talks, the officials focused on Polish-Afghan cooperation in Ghazni Province and discussed the training of Afghan soldiers, diplomats, and experts in agriculture. During a ceremony that attracted a large amount of media attention, Sikorski unveiled a plaque commemorating the 1987 death of Andy Skrzypkowiak, a cameraman working with Sikorski who was a journalist the time, at the hands of fighters under Gulbuddin Hekmatiyar. Sikorski called for Hetmatiyar to be brought to justice, provoking a response from a Hekmatiyar spokesman that Hekmatiyar forces would increase attacks against Polish forces. Although Sikorski's remarks will likely increase the danger to Polish troops, the PermRep said that it was more important to expose war crimes and seek justice against those with past blood on their hands. Ambassador Nuland added that Hekmatiar has a lot of more recent blood on his hands as well. NULAND
