VZCZCXRO1223
OO RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHUP #0076/01 0181058
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 181058Z JAN 07
FM AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0645
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 0076

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BUDAPEST 000076 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT PLEASE PASS TO NSC FOR ADAM STERLING 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/16/2017 
TAGS: PREL PGOV MOPS EAID
SUBJECT: MFA LOOKS FORWARD TO JANUARY 26 NATO MINISTERIAL 
DISCUSSION OF AFGHANISTAN AND KOSOVO 
 
REF: A) STATE 4834 B) BUDAPEST 70 C) STATE 5652 D) 
 
     STATE 5256 
 
Classified By: POL/C Eric V. Gaudiosi; Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
¶1. (U) This is an action message.  Please see para xxx for 
action request. 
 
¶2.  (C) Ambassador Foley reviewed the latest USG thinking on 
Afghanistan and Kosovo with MFA Political Director Ivan 
Udvardi in preparation for the upcoming meeting of NATO 
Foreign Ministers in Brussels January 26. 
 
AFGHANISTAN: HAPPY WITH PROGRESS; UNHAPPY WITH PROCESS 
 
¶3.  (C) Ambassador Foley outlined our objectives for 
ministerial discussion per ref a guidance, emphasizing the 
need to maintain the momentum from Riga.  She particularly 
highlighted the importance of additional IC assistance, more 
robust counternarcotics efforts, and improved IC 
coordination.  She made clear that the US is preparing to 
commit additional resources in Afghanistan, noted the recent 
shipment of Hungary's donation of over 20,000 assault rifles 
to Afghan Security Forces as a welcome example of the GoH's 
efforts.  We are looking to Allies to do what they can in 
keeping with the priority and the urgency of the issue. 
 
¶4.  (C) Recently returned from a prolonged and serious bout 
of pneumonia, Udvardi made clear his intention to take the 
lead on Afghanistan in keeping with his responsibility for 
NATO and security issues.  He expressed his dissatisfaction 
with efforts to coordinate all aspects of the PRT initiative 
thus far, confiding that the MFA had proposed to PM Gyurcsany 
that the Ministry take the lead on civilian implementation 
efforts.  He noted that the MFA has had responsibility in 
fact but not authority in name thus far, and clearly wants 
the Ministry to be in a position to "task and not just ask" 
other agencies to act.  He is hopeful the Prime Minister will 
be receptive to their appeal, and reiterated State Secretary 
Varkonyi's recent prediction that GoH projects will be on 
line in March (ref b).  Although his health prohibits him 
from travelling for the time being, Udvardi was extremely 
receptive to our suggestion that the GoH build public support 
for the PRT mission by encouraging parliamentary and press 
visits to the PRT. 
 
¶5.  (C) With particular regard to the EU's police training 
mission in Afghanistan, Udvardi referred to ongoing 
discussion of ESDP considerations within the Union but 
emphasized the GoH's support for a flexible approach that 
would promote cooperation among international organizations 
on the ground. 
 
¶6.  (C) Udvardi applied the same pragmatic approach to 
efforts to promote foreign participation in Hungary's PRT. 
He hopes the inclusion of military contingents from other 
nations in the PRT will pave the way for foreign NGO's to 
participate, reiterating Hungary's commitment to "do our best 
within our budgetary constraints."  He expressed particular 
hope in the prospect of enlisting Czech and Serbian support, 
and has invited his Slovak counterpart to visit to discuss 
cooperation in Afghanistan as a way to "let some fresh air 
into our bilateral relationship." 
 
KOSOVO: ON THE BORDER, ON THE SAME PAGE 
 
¶7.  (C) Turning to the Balkans, Udvardi noted that the GoH is 
watching developments in Kosovo closely.  He expressed "frank 
concerns" about the current situation, emphasizing the 
importance of moving forward in a way that enforces rather 
than undermines regional stability.  He cited recent US 
decisions, particularly our support for a PfP invitation to 
Serbia, as "very, very clever," and indicated that Hungary is 
pressing the EU to move forward on resuming SAA talks with 
Belgrade in order to avoid the "perfect storm" of "losing 
Kosovo and the prospect of European integration."  Although 
he is cautiously optimistic regarding the upcoming elections 
in Serbia - and made a particular point of noting Budapest's 
strong ties to President Tadic - he warned that leaving 
Belgrade "punished and isolated" would have "decades of 
consequences."  Udvardi also expressed concern over Moscow's 
attitude, stating that the IC must resist Russian efforts to 
use a Kosovo settlement as a "universal precedent." 
 
¶8.  (C) Udvardi welcomed the Ambassador's review of recent 
guidance (refs c and d), particularly our commitment to a 
continued civilian and military presence in Kosovo and to 
close US-EU coordination.  He suggested further discussions 
on Kosovo in the weeks ahead, and specifically invited a 
 
BUDAPEST 00000076  002 OF 002 
 
 
high-level official from the Department to stop in Budapest 
for more detailed consultations.  Speaking more in 
disappointment than in anger, he contrasted our openness with 
Special Envoy Ahtisaari's attitude, noting Ahtisaari's 
decision to "exclude" input from Hungary and other new EU 
member states.  (Note: Udvardi provided a copy of a 
food-for-thought paper on the Balkans prepared in cooperation 
with Austria, the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, and 
Slovenia, which we have e-mailed to EUR/SCE.  End Note.)  "We 
support his efforts," Udvardi stressed, "but we believe we 
could have helped him ... and we know we'll have to live with 
the consequences." 
 
¶9.  (C) Comment:  Udvardi's return gives the MFA a stronger 
hand in managing the Afghan and Balkan accounts.  Known 
throughout their bureaucracy as an effective bureaucratic 
operator, he brings an open and results-oriented approach to 
the PRT, which has been hampered by weak management from the 
Prime Minister's Office.  Although the MFA is making a 
concerted effort to take the lead, others tell us that the PM 
"never deals with personnel" and may be unlikely to make a 
change.  Udvardi and the MFA will be further constrained by 
Hungary's budgetary situation, which leaves initiatives 
beyond their PRT dependent largely on international funding 
sources.  On the Balkans, Udvardi has highlighted 
long-standing Hungarian concerns about instability in 
neighboring Serbia ... and disappointment over their 
perceived exclusion from international diplomatic efforts. 
That said, they recognize where we are headed on Kosovo, and 
we will continue to keep them closely briefed in the weeks 
ahead.  End Comment. 
 
¶10.  (C) Action Request: Post strongly supports State 
Secretary Udvardi's invitation for a high-level Department 
 
SIPDIS 
official to visit Budapest for consultations with GoH 
officials as we move forward on Kosovo status. 
 
Minimize Considered. 
 
FOLEY