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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 USNATO 000060 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NOFORN 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/31/2017 
TAGS: NATO PREL AF
SUBJECT: NORTH ATLANTIC COUNCIL READOUT JANUARY 31, 2007 
 
Classified By: DCM Richard G. Olson, for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
¶1. (C) SUMMARY: 
 
-- Afghanistan: Secretary General (SYG) provided a readout of 
JCMB meeting in Berlin. The International Military Staff 
(IMS) Operations Director highlighted the need for more 
troops, the poor progress on staffing of ISAF X composite HQ, 
and the concern that misunderstandings about &ROE 
Escalations8 is causing an increase in civilian casualties. 
 
-- Kosovo: The Chairman of the Military Committee (CMC) 
informed the NAC that KFOR is conducting increased presence 
operations at least through February 9, as UN Special Envoy 
Ahtisaari prepares to present his proposal to Belgrade and 
Pristina. Ahtisaari will brief PermReps on February 16. 
 
-- Darfur: Secretary General (SYG) noted African Union (AU) 
summit outcomes, and stated that NATO stands by to assist AU 
on Somalia. 
 
-- Iraq: SHAPE provided initial assessment on gendarmerie 
training, with the Italian report expected by the end of 
February. SHAPE appeals to nations for an internal security 
platoon for Ar-Rustimayah. 
 
-- Moldova: Moldovan Foreign Minister Stratan and Defense 
Minster Plesca address Moldova,s Individual Partnership 
Action Plan (covered septel). 
 
-- Terrorist Threat Intelligence Unit, (TTIU): The Director 
of the NATO Office of Security briefed the NAC on the TTIU,s 
2006 activities, and highlighted 2007 goals and objectives. 
 
END SUMMARY. 
 
Afghanistan 
----------- 
¶2. (C) SYG de Hoop Scheffer welcomed the discussion of a 
comprehensive approach to Afghanistan during the January 26 
Foreign Ministers meetings at NATO, but reminded that fully 
adopting such an approach meant working at all levels, not 
just endorsing a concept among ministers.  The SYG conveyed a 
readout on the January 30 Joint Coordination and Monitoring 
Board (JCMB) Political Directors meeting in Berlin that he 
had received from German Political Director Michael Schaefer 
prior to the NAC: the group endorsed the JCMB as a successful 
central coordinating body; agreed to strengthen further the 
JCMB where necessary; acknowledged the need to increase 
Afghan governing capacity and efforts to train Afghan 
National Security Forces; discussed human rights and the 
Afghan constitution; and called for political and security 
support for Afghanistan from its neighbors. 
 
¶3. (C) The SYG termed the January 30 NAC with Pakistan PM 
Aziz (septel) an important opportunity to engage with a 
nation crucial to NATO,s success, and informed the Council 
that based on the NATO Legal Adviser,s discussions in 
Islamabad last week, Pakistan welcomes a more formal 
NATO-ISAF presence in Islamabad.  He previewed that a 
Pakistani chop on a draft transit agreement with NATO was 
expected shortly, and urged Allies to respond quickly once 
the draft agreement was received. 
 
¶4. (C) CMC Henault updated on the status of ISAF X composite 
headquarters manning, which still suffers shortfalls.  The HQ 
is currently at a 68% staffing level, which will pose 
difficulty if not resolved by the end of February.  He 
reiterated that SHAPE has called for nations to step up their 
games and resolve the &unhealthy8 situation.  In addition 
to low staffing levels, only 39% of the expected 206 
participants in February battle staff training in Stavanger 
have registered. 
 
 
USNATO 00000060  002 OF 003 
 
 
¶5. (C) IMS Operations Director MG Fenton informed the NAC 
that SHAPE had submitted its revised Combined Joint Statement 
of Requirements to NATO HQ and touched on the key 
adjustments.  Past shortfalls remain, including the need for 
two strategic reserve battalions and one operational reserve 
battalion, an enabled battalion to serve as a theater task 
force, and PRTs and maneuver forces for Nimroz and Dai Kundi 
provinces.  SACEUR will now also ask to upgrade the QRF 
companies in RC-S and RC-W to full battalions, and seek two 
additional battalions to focus on border and LOC issues in 
RC-S and RC-E. 
 
¶6. (C) Fenton also briefed the Council that ISAF was deep 
into planning a follow-on operation to Oqab (Eagle), which 
would occur in the March-May timeframe and aim to preempt and 
dislocate any insurgent spring offensive attempts.  The 
operation would involve close liaison with the Pakistani 
military.  Fenton noted that ISAF is trying to transfer 
security responsibilities in the Panjwayi area of RC-S to 
ANSF so that high-end ISAF forces can be freed for other more 
demanding missions, but insufficient numbers of ANSF hamper 
the effort.  He stated that by March, 700 auxiliary police 
should be on duty in Kandahar province.  Finally, he briefed 
that COMISAF is concerned by the growing number of &ROE 
escalations,8 noting that civilian casualties impact the 
mood of the Afghan people.  Following requests for 
clarification by the U.S., Latvia, and Norway, Fenton 
indicated that the Afghan people often do not understand the 
ROE escalation process (e.g. warning shouts, warning shots, 
then engagement) which ISAF soldiers use, and expressed hope 
that if ISAF gets the word out better, incidents where ISAF 
forces fire on civilians in self-defense can be reduced. 
Fenton noted that the ROE are classified and will not be 
released. 
 
¶7. (C) Germany offered to bring Political Director Shaefer to 
brief the NAC on the JCMB, which Ambassador Nuland welcomed. 
The Ambassador also asked the IMS for updates on operations 
in the Sangin Valley and Kajaki Dam areas, security in 
Kandahar city, and any possible measures ISAF could take to 
protect Afghan parliamentarians.  She asked for a status 
report prior to the Seville ministerial on NATO,s progress 
to help equip the ANA.  Finally, she informed colleagues that 
she and the UK ambassador were working together to set up a 
briefing on Afghan counter-narcotics priorities for the NAC. 
 
Kosovo 
------ 
¶8. (SBU) The SYG briefly mentioned the January 26 Contact 
Group meeting and stated the need for continued unity within 
the international community on Kosovo status.  He said that 
UN Special Envoy Ahtisaari is preparing to travel to the 
region on February 2 to present his proposal to Belgrade and 
Pristina and will come to the NAC on February 16 to address 
PermReps.  The CMC briefed that KFOR is conducting increased 
presence operations through at least February 9 to deter any 
violence during this period. 
 
Darfur 
------ 
¶9. (SBU) The SYG noted the AU Summit, and reported that the 
rotating chairmanship had been awarded to Ghana instead of 
Sudan.  It remains to be seen what impact this might have on 
President Bashir,s policies towards Darfur.  The SYG said 
there is still a &difference of opinion8 between the UN and 
Sudan over the role of the UN in Darfur, noting the UN 
Secretary General did not get a formal authorization from 
 
SIPDIS 
Bashir for a &hybrid8 force in Darfur.  The Sudanese, 
however, have agreed to the &light8 and &heavy8 
assistance packages.  The SYG reported that Somalia was 
discussed at the summit, but African leaders had so far only 
committed 4,000 soldiers for that mission.  The SYG committed 
to monitoring preparations to deploy the force and will keep 
PermReps informed of any AU requests made to NATO for 
 
USNATO 00000060  003 OF 003 
 
 
assistance. 
 
Iraq 
---- 
¶10. (SBU) CMC Henault noted that on Jan 30, NATO HQ received 
SHAPE,s preliminary assessment on gendarmerie training.  A 
full report from the Italian-led scoping mission is expected 
at the end of February.  SHAPE will provide a more detailed 
assessment after receiving the Italian report.  He also drew 
PermReps, attention to the need to provide an internal 
security platoon for Ar-Rustimayah.  This requirement was not 
filled at the November 2006 force generation conference, and 
subsequently was outsourced through May 31, 2007.  SHAPE is 
requesting offers to provide an internal security platoon be 
provided by February 28. 
 
Terrorist Threat Intelligence Unit 
---------------------------------- 
¶11. (SBU) In 2006, the TTIU provided support to ten 
committees and issued 44 reports, increasing cooperation with 
NATO Allies and partners.  In 2007, the TTIU will focus on 
emerging CT threats in areas of interest to NATO members and 
solicit a more give-and-take relationship with MED Dialogue 
and ICI countries.  Ambassador Nuland encouraged the NATO 
Office of Security to be aggressive in pushing down 
classification levels where appropriate so that partners can 
access relevant information. 
 
NULAND