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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 USNATO 000701 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NOFORN 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/06/2016 
TAGS: NATO PREL
SUBJECT: NORTH ATLANTIC COUNCIL READOUT - DECEMBER 06, 2006 
 
Classified By: DCM Richard G. Olson for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
¶1. (C) SUMMARY: 
 
-- Afghanistan:  SYG conveyed the strong political 
convictions expressed by NATO Allies at the Summit in support 
of NATO's Afghanistan operations.  He also cited the recent 
reduction in the overall level of violence in Afghanistan and 
the Hungarian donation of 20,000 rifles to the ANA as very 
encouraging developments.  Although SACEUR highlighted the 
progress at Riga in reducing the number of Allies, caveats, 
the CMC stated that major shortfalls remain in Operational 
Mentor Liaison Teams.  Ambassador Nuland urged better public 
diplomacy efforts especially in telling "NATO's many success 
stories." 
 
-- Balkans/Kosovo:  Deputy Assistant SYG stressed the need 
for enhanced NATO-EU coordination regarding the way forward 
on post-status Kosovo, as the SYG noted the strong NATO 
support at Riga for President Ahtisaari.  PermReps welcomed 
the PfP decision at Riga, acknowledging its positive effects 
on Serbia's accession talks with the EU in particular, and on 
the region as a whole, but also highlighting the obligation 
of Serbia and Bosnia to live up to their ICTY commitments. 
 
-- Darfur: SYG described a "deteriorating security 
situation," noting that the AU has approved a six-month 
extension of the AMIS mission, and that NATO awaits an AU 
request to extend assistance into 2007. 
 
-- Iraq:  Force generation for 30-man internal security 
platoon fails; contract guard service extended for six months. 
 
-- Strategic Resource Board (SRB):  NAC endorsed the SRB 2006 
Annual Report and agreed on Policy Guidance for military 
common funding for 2008-2012. 
 
-- Farewell to SACEUR: On behalf of the NAC, the SYG bid a 
heartfelt farewell to SACEUR General Jones. 
 
END SUMMARY. 
 
Afghanistan 
-------------- 
¶2. (C) SYG de Hoop Scheffer told the NAC that he left the 
Riga Summit with renewed optimism following the strong 
expressions of political commitment by Allied leaders to 
succeed in Afghanistan.  The challenge now, according to the 
SYG, is to turn the statements into action on resources, 
caveats and operational flexibility.  The SYG thanked Hungary 
for its recent donation of 20,000 assault rifles to the ANA. 
He also welcomed the EU rule of law assessment mission 
currently in Afghanistan, and hoped it would result in more 
EU involvement.  The SYG encouraged NATO's Policy 
Coordination Group to conclude work on the ISAF Periodic 
Mission Review (PMR) quickly.  Per Ambassador Nuland,s 
suggestion at the PermReps December 5 lunch, the SYG stated 
that he intends to organize a Reinforced NAC in January at 
the Political Directors level on Afghanistan and Kosovo. 
 
¶3. (C) SACEUR told the NAC that SHAPE would issue a revised 
caveats matrix to reflect progress made at Riga.  Overall, he 
stated, Riga had resulted in a 15% reduction in the 50 
operationally significant caveats affecting ISAF.  Chairman 
of the Military Committee General Henault stated that 
Operational Mentor Liaison Teams (OMLT) formed the most 
important element of NATO's training assistance to the ANA, 
and despite some new commitments at Riga, major shortfalls 
remained.  Of the requirement for 46 NATO OMLTs, only 19 are 
filled, with 5 more being partially filled, augmented by U.S. 
Embedded Training Teams. 
 
¶4. (C) SHAPE J3 MG Stein briefed decreases in insurgent 
attacks, Operation "Oqab" (Eagle), flood relief in the 
northwest, the ANP, and the status of the composite HQ being 
 
USNATO 00000701  002 OF 004 
 
 
established for ISAF X.  MG Stein stated that aggressive 
action by ISAF and the ANSF in RC-Capital resulted in a 
decrease in IED attacks from eight in September to only one 
in November.  Violent incidents had decreased by 63% from 
August-November in RC-South, and by 47% from 
September-November in RC-East.  He attributed this to 
successful ISAF operations, political changes in-country, 
helpful Pakistani actions on the border, and seasonal 
factors.  Noting a high potential for renewed violence in the 
spring, he told the NAC that Phase One of Operation Oqab was 
ongoing to secure freedom of movement along Highway 1 and to 
help the Afghan government extend its reach throughout the 
country.  Phase Two would seek to disrupt planning and 
execution of insurgent operations against ISAF and GOA, and 
be timed to head off a spring resurgence.  On ANP, MG Stein 
highlighted a dysfunctional Ministry of Interior, and 
stressed the need for more investment and direct mentor 
support of the ANP.  Finally, 128 posts remain to be filled 
by nations in the ISAF X HQ. 
 
¶5. (C) Ambassador Nuland noted that while the USG was pleased 
with the many positive statements on Afghanistan by Heads of 
State and Government behind closed doors at Riga, we were 
disappointed that some leaders returned home publicly 
describing how they had "resisted pressure" at the Summit. 
All Allies need to be openly defending the strategic 
importance of NATO's mission in Afghanistan, said Nuland. 
She highlighted President Bush's pledge to seek approval from 
Congress of a 20% increase in our already substantial 
financial commitment to Afghanistan to strengthen the ANA and 
ANP, build roads, fight drugs, and aid good governance.  The 
Ambassador asked that the International Staff compile a list 
of Allies, additional contributions, as many offers occurred 
during the closed Heads of State dinner.  She encouraged NATO 
to work to get the word out on successes like Operation Oqab, 
and asked that NATO's public diplomacy office provide the NAC 
a weekly fact sheet.  She also highlighted the Afghanistan 
portion of SecDef-designate Gates, Congressional testimony, 
noting his support for ISAF, concern about Allied caveats, 
and intent to travel soon to Kabul should he be confirmed. 
 
¶6. (C) Italy's PermRep informed Council that Italian forces 
were now patrolling the Musayi Valley area of RC-C, which had 
previously been identified by SACEUR as an insurgent 
safehaven due to the refusal of RC-C forces to patrol.  The 
Czech Republic announced a contribution of 175,000 euros to 
the ISAF Post-Operations Humanitarian Relief Fund, which was 
recently established by COMISAF. 
 
Kosovo 
--------- 
¶7. (SBU) The SYG told the NAC that at Riga, Allies had 
reaffirmed their support for President Ahtisaari and 
confirmed NATO's readiness to play its part in the 
implementation of post status security provisions.  Deputy 
Assistant SYG Pardew briefed the NAC on the NATO-EU planning 
process for post-status Kosovo, updating PermReps on the 
current status of technical talks between NATO and the EU 
Planning Team (EUPT).  Pardew noted information sharing 
between the two organizations had been taking place since 
July and stressed that closer coordination was essential 
going forward.  Areas of common concern have been identified 
and discussions are moving forward to resolve any operational 
gaps that could develop following UNMIK,s withdrawal. 
Pardew noted that the EU,s concept of operations for the 
Kosovo mission would provide more information on the ESDP 
mission, but would not be finished until January 2007.  He 
said another working level meeting on technical issues was 
scheduled for 11 January.  Both the SYG and the PermReps 
deplored the lack of NATO-EU planning on Kosovo at the 
political level and the SYG said he would work for closer 
consultation with the EU.  The CMC noted that the German ORF 
battalion has completed its mission at Camp Nothing Hill in 
northern Kosovo and is being replaced by two maneuver 
companies from Multi-National Task Force South. 
 
USNATO 00000701  003 OF 004 
 
 
 
Balkans/PfP 
-------------- 
¶8. (SBU) The Italian PermRep provided a readout of his 
Foreign Minister's recent trip to Belgrade, where he met with 
the Serbian Prime Minister and FM.  All Serbian officials 
welcomed Serbia's invitation into PfP and the positive 
effects this will have on resuming accession talks with the 
EU.  PM Kostunica reiterated Kosovo,s status as part of 
Serbia and the potential for unrest in the region.  The 
Italian PermRep stated the importance of not losing sight of 
the political differences in Kosovo and said that Italy is 
convinced that a compromised solution is the only way 
forward.  PermReps from Norway, Hungary, Spain, and Greece 
thanked Allies for their flexibility on reaching a decision 
at Riga to invite Bosnia, Serbia, and Montenegro into PfP and 
noted that the decision will have a positive influence in the 
region, particularly as Serbian elections draw closer. 
PermReps from the Netherlands and UK stated that NATO needs 
to ensure through PfP instruments that Serbia and Bosnia live 
up to their commitments on ICTY.  Ambassador Nuland said the 
decision was an investment of confidence in Serbian 
reformers, particularly President Tadic, and noted the 
positive influence that the Riga Summit was already having on 
Tadic,s electoral campaign.  She called on EU colleagues to 
push for NATO-EU discussion on Kosovo during the upcoming EU 
Summit. 
 
Darfur 
-------- 
¶9. (SBU) The SYG described a "deteriorating security 
situation" in Darfur and noted the November 30 PSC meeting at 
which the AU approved a six-month extension of the AMIS 
mission.  He said the PSC had also approved the three-phased 
approach to AU/UN cooperation in Darfur (as originally agreed 
November 16 in Addis Ababa), but added that the extent to 
which the Sudanese government would support the agreement was 
unclear.  Remaining questions over force levels and who would 
command the force would give the Bashir an opportunity to 
obstruct implementation of the agreement.  The SYG said he 
expects to receive a request from the AU to continue support 
for AMIS into 2007.  Once this request is received, he 
expects rapid agreement among Allies. 
 
Iraq 
----- 
¶10. (C) CMC Henault reported the extension of contract guard 
service for six months at Ar-Rustimayah because SHAPE was 
unable to generate the 30-man internal security platoon as 
outlined in the new CJSOR.  He also reported that 
Ar-Rustimayah continues to be regularly targeted by rockets, 
but that training at Ar-Rustimayah has not been affected. 
The security situation has, however, slowed the Iraqi 
bureaucratic approval process for participants in 
out-of-country training, resulting in the cancellation of one 
course at Oberammergau. 
 
SRB Annual Report 
------------------------ 
¶11. (SBU) The NAC agreed to the proposed policy guidance for 
NATO military common funding for the 2008-2012 planning 
period and noted and endorsed the conclusions of the SRB,s 
2006 Annual Report.  The NAC noted with concern that manning 
of military posts remains a problem that increases 
outsourcing costs and that the implementation of some ISAF 
projects has been too slow.  Efforts are underway to increase 
implementation rates. 
 
¶12. (SBU) DK, UK, NL, CZ, NO and the SYG stressed the need to 
reach early agreement on the formulation of the proposed NATO 
Office of Resources (NOR).  (Comment: Italy is currently 
blocking SRB agreement.  If the blockage is not removed by 
December 14, there will likely be a SRB Chairman's report to 
the Council on the issue.  End comment.) 
 
 
USNATO 00000701  004 OF 004 
 
 
NAC Says Farewell to SACEUR 
--------------------------------------- 
¶13. (SBU) On behalf of the NAC, the SYG bid a fond farewell 
to SACEUR General Jones, describing him as "no ordinary 
General."  The SYG noted that General Jones, expeditionary 
spirit and expertise have been invaluable to the Alliance. 
General Jones declared that ISAF was the hallmark of what 
NATO stands for and what it was willing to do.  The General 
emphasized four specific challenges facing the Alliance in 
the period ahead: energy security, stability and 
reconstruction operations, terrorism and proliferation.  The 
NAC also bid farewell to ASG Marshall Billingslea and Turkish 
PermRep Pamir. 
 
 
NULAND