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DE RUEHNO #0641/01 3001049
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FM USMISSION USNATO
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RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUCNOSC/ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY COOPERATION IN EUROPE PRIORITY
RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA PRIORITY 0306
RUEHTH/AMEMBASSY ATHENS PRIORITY 0110
RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD PRIORITY 0195
RUEHBW/AMEMBASSY BELGRADE PRIORITY 1293
RUEHBS/AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS PRIORITY 6130
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 0468
RUEHKH/AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM PRIORITY 0079
RUEHMD/AMEMBASSY MADRID PRIORITY 0553
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PRIORITY 5620
RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA PRIORITY 0439
RUEHSI/AMEMBASSY TBILISI PRIORITY 5474
RUEHTC/AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE PRIORITY 0859
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0295
RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE  PRIORITY 0378

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 04 USNATO 000641 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NOFORN 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/26/2016 
TAGS: NATO PREL
SUBJECT: NORTH ATLANTIC COUNCIL READOUT OCTOBER 25, 2006 
 
Classified By: DCM Richard G. Olson for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
¶1. (C) SUMMARY: 
 
-- Belgian FM De Gucht, addressing the NAC in his capacity as 
the OSCE Chairman-in-Office (CIO), highlighted the OSCE,s 
intermediary role between Russia and Georgia, saying that 
there was "almost open conflict" between the two countries 
over South Ossetia, and argued for "addressing this issue at 
the highest levels."  He added that the Russia "doesn't like" 
the OSCE and is using South Ossetia and the other frozen 
conflicts for their "nuisance value." 
 
-- Afghanistan: Secretary General elaborated upon the 
November 2 informal NAC to discuss the possible development 
of an international mechanism a monitor the progress of 
reconstruction and development efforts.  He also encouraged 
quick NAC approval enabling ISAF to replace Combined Forces 
Command-Afghanistan (CFC-A) in its Tripartite Commission. 
Canadians deplore the UNHCR decision to end repatriation. 
 
-- Kosovo:  Chairman of the Military Committee (CMC) reports 
on Military Committee's visit to Kosovo, reporting that KFOR 
is working closely with UNMIK and Kosovo police to provide 
security during the referendum period. 
 
-- Darfur:  Deputy Assistant Secretary General (DASG) Jochems 
will travel to New York this week to discuss NATO-UN 
cooperation in Darfur.  NAC also discussed expulsion of SRSG 
Pronk. 
 
-- Iraq:  CMC details upcoming Force Protection Exercise, 
while also noting the Force Protection report to be issued in 
December. 
 
END SUMMARY. 
 
------- 
OSCE 
------- 
¶2. (SBU)  De Gucht said his year as C-I-O has not been "clear 
sailing along well-known coasts."  He was particularly 
frustrated with frozen conflicts in Nagorno-Karabakh,  South 
Ossetia, and Transnistria, and said OSCE had tried to resolve 
these conflicts, but had not made much progress.  As a 
result, OSCE had been "taken hostage" by issues beyond its 
control.  Regarding Nagorno-Karabakh, he said Azerbaijani and 
Armenian leaders are not compromising for fear of being 
perceived as weak, and that both countries have been 
"limiting their options," making the conflict even more 
difficult to resolve.  On South Ossetia, he urged all nations 
to return to the negotiating table, and noted that he had 
made the OSCE,s good offices available to both the Georgians 
and the Russians.  Tensions between Moscow and Tiblisi were 
"sky-high and explosive."  He reported that the conflict in 
Transnistria is "at a standstill," but that he foresees a 
political agreement supported by an international military 
force, which in turn would be complemented by a non-military 
component. 
 
¶3. (SBU)  De Gucht said that Russia doesn't like the OSCE and 
seeks limits on what the OSCE can do.  The west needs to be 
aware of this and to be firm with the Russians, while also 
being flexible, so as not to provide easy excuses for Russia 
to try to block OSCE field missions.  The key was to preserve 
the OSCE "for better times."  At the same time, Russia at 
times finds the OSCE useful; for example, Russia asked the 
OSCE for help in gaining the release from Georgia of its 
arrested military officers.  De Gucht noted Russia is using 
the frozen conflicts for their "nuisance value," in order to 
affect other issues such as Kosovo, although comparisons with 
Kosovo were "dangerous and ludicrous."  He said there was 
"almost open conflict" between the Russians and the Georgians 
over South Ossetia, and that Russia had taken the recent 
 
USNATO 00000641  002 OF 004 
 
 
apprehension of its alleged spies personally.  These issues 
needed to be addressed "at the highest levels." 
 
¶4. (SBU)  Amb. Nuland thanked De Gucht for his efforts in 
resolving frozen conflicts, including encouraging the parties 
to talk, and for playing the role of honest broker between 
the Russians and the Georgians.  She suggested a third 
"pillar" for the OSCE, that of democracy support and 
transparency.  The Spanish PermRep said that Spain, taking 
over as Chairman-in-Office in 2007, will strive to increase 
the political dialogue between NATO and the OSCE, as well as 
coordination at the operational level. 
 
¶5. (SBU)  In response to a question from Nuland, De Gucht 
noted that the OSCE and NATO were working together well in 
Kosovo and that the OSCE, which currently has 1,000 personnel 
in Kosovo, would have a major role post-status.  He also said 
the OSCE could contribute to increased border security in 
Afghanistan in cooperation with others, but would need 
funding. 
 
-------------- 
Afghanistan 
-------------- 
¶6. (S/NF)  The SYG said he saw a need for an international 
mechanism in Afghanistan that would provide a consolidated 
overview of reconstruction and development progress since 
2001 and guide future efforts.  He intends to discuss this 
idea in the informal November 2 NAC with Senior Civilian 
Representative (SCR) Everts, which will include reps from the 
UN, World Bank, and EU.  He encouraged quick NAC approval of 
military advice that would enable ISAF to replace CFC-A in 
its Tripartite Commission coordinating, noting that the next 
TPC meeting was scheduled for November 11.   Chairman of the 
Military Committee (CMC) Henault informed the NAC on progress 
in standing up ISAF X,s Composite HQ, which will come fully 
on-line in February 2007 when U.S. General McNeill takes over 
as COMISAF.  The HQ was making steady progress in training, 
although nations had yet to fill 15% of the HQ,s authorized 
963 military slots.  CMC again noted the problems that 
national caveats and the unfilled Stage III CJSOR presented 
to COMISAF.  IMS BG Fenton provided the weekly operational 
update and threat assessment, reiterating that upcoming 
Operation Eagle (formerly called "Argus Resolve") aimed to 
enable the establishment of Afghan Development Zones and 
reconstruction throughout winter, with a focus on enabling 
freedom of movement nationwide around Highway 1. 
 
¶7. (C)  Canadian PermRep briefed the NAC on the recent visit 
to Afghanistan by Canadian Development Minister Verner, 
including two new programs focusing on women and girls in 
society.  He deplored the fact that UNHCR had ended its 
repatriation program of Afghan refugees, despite the fact 
that nearly 2.5 million refugees remained in Pakistan, and 
urged governments to work this issue hard at the UN. 
 
--------- 
Balkans 
--------- 
¶8. (SBU)  The SYG briefed the NAC on the October 21 Contact 
Group meeting in Vienna and reiterated Special Envoy 
Ahtisaari,s concern about the impact of the 28-29 October 
Serbian constitutional referendum vote on the security 
situation in Kosovo.  The CMC briefed that the military 
committee's visit to Kosovo last week provided a clearer 
picture of the security situation and its linkage to both the 
upcoming vote and a possible delay in status resolution.  The 
CMC stated that Serbia is planning for 261 polling stations 
in Kosovo for an estimated 97,000 Kosovo Serb registered 
voters.  KFOR is working in close coordination with UNMIK and 
the Kosovo local police to identify potential trouble spots 
and to provide security during the voting.  COMKFOR is also 
reinforcing Multi-National Task Forces Centre, East, and 
North during the referendum period with one maneuver company 
 
USNATO 00000641  003 OF 004 
 
 
each drawn from the West and South.  COMKFOR requested a 
further extension of the operational reserve battalion to 
remain deployed north of the Ibar until December 15. 
 
¶9. (SBU) The D/SYG noted that on 23 October, the Council 
agreed on an exchange of letters with Montenegro on air 
transit and lines of communication agreements and mentioned 
that negotiations would begin soon.  The Italian and Spanish 
PermReps stated their desire for the Balkans to be a focus in 
the SYG,s meetings this week in Berlin, Moscow, and 
Washington, and requested that the scheduled PermRep 
discussion on the Western Balkans be moved up on the calendar 
from the third week in November.  The Italian PermRep said he 
was not convinced that a delay in Kosovo,s status resolution 
would be destabilizing and suggested giving a positive 
message to Serbia on PfP membership. 
 
-------- 
Darfur 
-------- 
¶10. (SBU)  D/SYG Rizzo noted the recent expulsion of UN 
Special Representative of the Secretary General (SRSG) Pronk 
by the Government of Sudan.  Rizzo informed PermReps that 
DASG Jochems will travel this week to New York to discuss 
UN-NATO cooperation in Darfur.  CMC Henault said the AU note 
verbale on "lessons learned" trainers has been received, and 
that the first team from NATO will arrive in Addis Ababa 
later this week. 
 
¶11. (SBU) Ambassador Nuland asked for an update on the NATO 
Legal Advisor de Vidts, preparation of a draft agreement 
between NATO and the AU, which had been proposed at the 
October 18 NAC.  D/SYG Rizzo said he had no update, but would 
inquire.  The French PermRep noted that, at the Oct. 18 NAC, 
the SYG had proposed discussing the idea of a political 
agreement at a PermRep coffee or lunch.  The Dutch PermRep 
called the expulsion of SRSG Pronk a setback for the 
international community's efforts in Darfur and said that the 
timing was not coincidental; rather, it was meant to hamper 
any attempt to implement UNSCR 1706. 
 
---- 
Iraq 
---- 
¶12. (U) CMC noted that a Force Protection assessment at 
Ar-Rustamiyah, including NTM-I, will conclude in 
mid-November, with the report to be completed by 15 December. 
 He also noted that a Force Protection exercise will be held 
at NTM-I in November.  The Czech and Norwegian PermReps 
informed the NAC of their respective countries, ongoing 
contributions to NTM-I training programs. 
 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
Crisis Management Exercise (CMX-06) 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
¶13. (SBU)  PermReps agreed that CMX-06 was generally 
successful in providing a mechanism to exercise existing NATO 
crisis response capabilities, while testing evolving 
concepts.  However, the lack of Generic Contingency Operation 
Plans (GCOPS), along with exercise debates over whether a UN 
resolution would be required for NATO to act, slowed the 
planning process to the point that the NATO Initiating 
Directive (NID) could not be agreed upon.  This meant that 
the "Fast Track" process to speed-up operational planning was 
not practiced, which was a major U.S. concern.  Several 
PermReps (SP, IT, FR, GE) spoke of NATO's need to streamline 
the framework and better coordinate NATO's "Fast Track 
decision process" using generic operational plans, and to 
clarify the legal basis and functional role of the NATO 
Response Force (NRF). 
 
--------------------- 
Political Subjects 
-------------------- 
 
USNATO 00000641  004 OF 004 
 
 
¶14. (SBU)  UNSC to Send Delegation to Afghanistan:  The 
Slovak PermRep reported that the Japanese UN PermRep will 
lead a delegation of 10 UNSC PermReps to Pakistan and 
Afghanistan November 10-17. 
 
------------------------ 
Any Other Business 
------------------------ 
¶15. (SBU) - NAC WMD Seminar:  The D/SYG announced the NAC 
annual WMD Seminar is scheduled for November 8.  The seminar 
will focus on the WMD maritime threat.  The French PermRep 
asked the IS to reconsider the timing of the seminar in the 
busy run-up to Riga and proposed conducting it after the 
Summit. 
 
¶16. (S)  U.S. to Circulate Report on Iran:  DCM Olson 
announced that the U.S. delegation will circulate an 
intelligence report on the Iranian government's efforts to 
control internal dissent.  (Note: The report is classified 
releasable to NATO.) 
 
OLSON