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FM USMISSION USNATO
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INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUCNOSC/ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY COOPERATION IN EUROPE PRIORITY
RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA PRIORITY 0315
RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD PRIORITY 0207
RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT PRIORITY 0067
RUEHBW/AMEMBASSY BELGRADE PRIORITY 1305
RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN PRIORITY 0482
RUEHUP/AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST PRIORITY 0088
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 0227
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 0481
RUEHKH/AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM PRIORITY 0091
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 0118
RUEHMD/AMEMBASSY MADRID PRIORITY 0565
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 0223
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME PRIORITY 0471
RUEHSQ/AMEMBASSY SKOPJE PRIORITY 3269
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0307

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 04 USNATO 000684 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NOFORN 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/23/2016 
TAGS: NATO PREL
SUBJECT: NORTH ATLANTIC COUNCIL READOUT - NOVEMBER 22, 2006 
 
 
Classified By: DCM Richard G. Olson for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
(C) SUMMARY: 
 
-- Afghanistan:  Defense Chiefs agree on need for burden 
sharing, but force generation comes up short; ISAF assisting 
flood relief in northwest Afghanistan; PM Blair,s visit to 
Afghanistan will inform his Riga intervention. 
 
-- Pakistan:  Pakistani Chairman of Joint Chiefs has 
first-ever meeting with NATO SYG, SHAPE;  he reiterated value 
of the Tripartite Commission, commitment to working with 
ISAF, and the importance of Afghanistan,s security to 
Pakistan,s security; he also requested technical 
capabilities to better monitor the Pak-Afghan border. 
 
-- Condemnation of Lebanese Minister Gemayal Assassination: 
SYG to issue statement condemning Lebanese Minister Gemayal 
assassination; France expresses hesitation and wants to refer 
the issue to capitals (statement was issued). 
 
-- Iraq:  Deputy Prime Minister Salih underscored to the SYG 
the importance of NTM-I training and the need for further 
capacity building of Iraqi security forces; he asserted that 
conflict was between extremists and moderates, not sects, and 
fears Iraq is falling off international community,s radar 
screen due to the high levels of violence. 
 
-- Defense Against Terrorism Initiatives:  ASYG Billingslea 
highlights cutting-edge Defense Against Terrorism initiatives 
that will help ISAF in Afghanistan, including countering IEDs 
and mortar attacks and protecting helicopters from RPGs. 
 
--  Medium-Term Financial Plan:  NAC endorses Medium-Term 
Financial Plan for 2007-2011; U.S. objects to "zero real 
growth policy;" SYG highlights need to address CNAD budget. 
 
END SUMMARY. 
 
-------------- 
Afghanistan 
-------------- 
(C) SYG de Hoop Scheffer told Council that NATO,s 
Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Center (EADRCC) 
is in contact with ISAF, monitoring the floods in 
northwestern Afghanistan, and ready to respond to any Afghan 
requests for assistance.  Following a Belgian break of 
silence, he urged the Military Committee to find a pragmatic 
way ahead to approve outline advice on ANA training so that 
the NAC could consider it prior to Riga.  The SYG stated that 
the NATO military chain is looking into an EU request to NATO 
to provide logistical and security assistance for the 
upcoming EU planning mission to Afghanistan.  He also noted 
that COMISAF and NATO Senior Civilian Representative Everts 
intend to travel to Islamabad soon. 
 
(C)  CMC Henault gave a brief rundown of conclusions from the 
November 15 Chiefs of Defense meeting, highlighting that 
CHODs agreed on the need for political and military cohesion, 
equitable burden sharing, and the need to intensify efforts 
and improve ISAF,s communication strategy both inside and 
outside Afghanistan.  CHODs agreed that Afghanistan had made 
security and development progress, but that timelines for 
progress were long, and that military means alone would not 
bring stability to Afghanistan.  They called for better 
international coordination of reconstruction and development. 
 IMS Operations AD MG Fenton gave the NAC a preliminary 
readout of the November 21 force generation conference.  He 
said the conference was "disappointing;" while two training 
teams and additional air assets were offered, ISAF CJSOR 
shortfalls for a theater task force and three new PRTs 
remain.  The SYG followed up forcefully, stating that the 
results were very unimpressive. 
 
USNATO 00000684  002 OF 004 
 
 
 
(C)  MG Fenton stated that insurgent attacks were again on 
the rise in RC-E, and that ISAF assessed insurgents were 
exploiting the "permissive border" as a result of the 
Pakistan government,s North Waziristan agreement.  MG Fenton 
briefed on flood relief efforts in the northwest.  ISAF was 
working with the GOA and UNAMA, helping to deliver food, 
water, blankets, and other supplies from PRTs in Meymana and 
Qal-e Now to Badghis province.  ISAF fixed-wing and 
rotary-wing assets had been redeployed to assist, resulting 
in the postponement of other security and reconstruction 
operations. 
 
(S)  Spain noted that its PRT in Qal-e Now had provided 52 
tons of disaster aid, and that the governor of Badghis was 
dealing with the flood crisis competently.  Germany argued 
that the Afghan Development Zones (ADZ) concept was not 
relevant nationwide and should not be applied to northern 
areas where the security picture was more stable and 
development was more advanced.  The UK PermRep briefed on PM 
Blair,s November 20 trip to Afghanistan.  Noting themes that 
he said would likely influence Blair,s Riga intervention, he 
stated real progress had been made since the PM,s last visit 
in January 2002, but that continuing threats from the 
Taliban, narcotics and corruption must be tackled firmly.  PM 
Blair had found President Karzai confident, realistic, and 
cautiously optimistic. 
 
---------- 
Pakistan 
---------- 
(C) Visit of Pakistani Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff: 
 The SYG described his November 17 meeting with Pakistani 
CJCS General ul-Haq as productive, with an open exchange of 
views.  The meeting convinced the SYG that Allies needed 
unity of messaging with the Pakistani government, and he 
stated his intent to return to this subject with the NAC at a 
later date.  CMC noted that General ul-Haq,s meetings with 
the Military Committee and at SHAPE were the first-ever by a 
Pakistani CHOD.  He said that ul-Haq made an insightful 
presentation on the regional situation, reiterated that 
Pakistan values the Tripartite Commission and is committed to 
working with ISAF, and that Pakistan views security in 
Afghanistan as fundamental to Pakistan,s security.  Ul-Haq 
made a strong pitch for technical capabilities, from NATO or 
others, to help monitor the border with Afghanistan. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ------------- 
Assassination of Lebanese Minister Gemayel 
--------------------------------------------- ------------- 
(U) Deploring the murder of Minister Pierre Gemayel in 
Lebanon, the SYG asked PermReps whether he should issue an 
SYG statement, or a statement on behalf of the NAC.  The US, 
UK, SP, IT, CA, BU, GR and Portugal all spoke in favor of 
issuing a strong condemnation.  French Ambassador Duqu, 
however, said that this issue was "so sensitive and the risk 
of misinterpretation so great," that he could not authorize a 
NAC statement until "capitals were consulted."  Questioning 
what risk a NATO statement could pose in light of the UN and 
EU's own statements of condemnation, Ambassador Nuland urged 
the SYG to issue a statement condemning the assassination as 
an act of terror, and to express NATO solidarity with the 
Lebanese people. 
 
---- 
Iraq 
---- 
(C)  The SYG noted that the tasking for NMAs to provide 
options regarding Prime Minister Maliki,s request for 
gendarmerie training had gone forward, and that discussion on 
the Fall 2006 PMR began last week.  The SYG also reported on 
his November 21 meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Barham 
Salih.  Salih underscored the importance to Iraq of the 
 
USNATO 00000684  003 OF 004 
 
 
training done at the NTM-I, and the need for further capacity 
building of Iraq,s security forces, including paramilitary 
training.  Salih characterized the conflict in Iraq as 
between moderates and extremists, rather than between 
religious sects.  Salih expressed concern that Iraq might be 
falling off the radar screen of international organizations; 
he hopes they can look beyond the violence to the larger 
goals and Iraq,s progress.  He assessed that the 
assassination of Pierre Gemayel in Lebanon may have grave 
negative affects on regional stability. 
 
--------- 
Balkans 
--------- 
(SBU)  The SYG noted issuance of SG(2006)0830, a paper on the 
status of NATO preparations for post-settlement Kosovo, 
including its technical talks with the EU. The SYG reminded 
Council that planning and close consultation with other 
international organization was critical.  CMC noted that 
November 28 was Albanian Flag Day, which is often used by 
ethnic Albanians to underscore their aspirations for 
independence. He assured PermReps of KFOR,s readiness to 
deter or deal with any incidents that may occur in 
conjunction with Albanian Flag Day. 
 
-------- 
Darfur 
-------- 
(SBU) The SYG noted the outcome of the November 16 meeting in 
Addis Ababa on Darfur, including a possible "hybrid" UN-AU 
force for Darfur.  The Sudanese government is expected to 
formally offer its views prior to the November 29th AU PSC 
meeting, and the PSC is expected to extend the mandate of 
AMIS for six months beyond the end of the 2006.  The SYG also 
told PermReps that all parties to the conflict are scheduled 
to meet soon, under AU-UN auspices, to try to resolve 
outstanding issues.  CMC noted the strategic military order 
for NATO assistance to AMIS expires December 31.  If AMIS is 
extended, and the AU asks for support, this military order 
will need to be readdressed. 
 
------------------------------------------- 
CNAD and NC3 Board Meetings 
------------------------------------------- 
(C) ASYG for Defense Investment Marshall Billingslea 
emphasized that CNAD and NATO C3 Board's work efforts 
continue to be focused on providing maximum support to ISAF. 
He noted "significant advances" in developing information and 
communication systems capabilities, with NATO's new equipment 
increasingly mobile and deployable.  Billingslea reviewed 
NATO's progress-to-date on various Defense Transformation 
initiatives, including the CNAD "Defense Against Terrorism" 
initiatives.  He stressed that new, cutting-edge technologies 
were being developed to address major threats, including to 
counter IEDs and mortar attacks, as well as helicopter and 
large body armaments for protection against RPGs.  He 
reviewed the Afghan Force Tracking System, noted that the 
C-17 initiative was moving forward, and said that NATO hopes 
to sign its first AGS contract by March 2007. 
 
----------------------------------- 
Medium-Term Financial Plan 
----------------------------------- 
(SBU) The SYG noted that the Civil Budget Committee (CBC) had 
presented its report with recommendations (C-M(2006)0125), 
while noting that the caveats that nations have placed on 
certain issues will require further discussion by the CBC or 
an appropriate NATO committee.  A large number of PermReps 
spoke up in favor of accepting the CBC report as a compromise 
solution (GE, UK, BE, FR, IT, TU, CZ).  Portugal opposed zero 
real growth policy, and Italy criticized the cuts in NATO's 
Security Through Science Program.  Ambassador Nuland said 
that the U.S. accepted the CBC recommendations, as a bare 
 
USNATO 00000684  004 OF 004 
 
 
minimum, but that "zero real growth policy" was not the way 
for NATO to focus on the future, especially in light of 
NATO's global role.  She advised that the U.S. would seek to 
revisit this issue after Riga.  The SYG said that unresolved 
issues concerning a requested Euro 10 million budget for 
CNAD's "Defense Against Terrorism Initiatives" needed to be 
studied to determine where such funding should come from, and 
that he would take this up after Riga. 
 
 
NULAND