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RUCNOSC/ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY COOPERATION IN EUROPE PRIORITY
RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA PRIORITY 0344
RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD PRIORITY 0251
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RUEHDO/AMEMBASSY DOHA PRIORITY 0089
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RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 0161
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RUEHPG/AMEMBASSY PRAGUE PRIORITY 3934
RUEHTC/AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE PRIORITY 0872
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0361

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 USNATO 000137 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NOFORN 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/28/2017 
TAGS: NATO PREL AF
SUBJECT: NORTH ATLANTIC COUNCIL READOUT FEBRUARY 28, 2007 
 
REF: CABLE ON ESDP USNATO 128 
 
Classified By: AMB Victoria Nuland for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
¶1. (C) SUMMARY: 
 
-- Afghanistan:  SYG announced 7,000 soldiers force generated 
since the Riga Summit, and that he intends to invite SACEUR 
to brief the NAC soon.  Deputy Chairman of the Military 
Committee (D/CMC) stressed the importance of the on-going 
negotiations with Qatar regarding the status of NATO 
personnel and the potential loss of the ISAF cell at 
CENTCOM,s Qatar Combined Air Operations Center (CAOC) would 
have a significant negative impact on ISAF operations.  The 
International Military Staff (IMS) noted that despite public 
announcements, SHAPE lacks formal confirmation of force 
offers from many nations.  Ambassador Nuland highlighted Vice 
President Cheney,s travel to Pakistan and Afghanistan. 
Germany and France called for greater NAC oversight of ISAF 
military operations. 
 
-- Kosovo:  Ambassador Nuland informed NAC that U.S. is 
considering whether to participate in ESDP rule of law 
mission (reftel).  D/CMC updated NAC on ongoing military 
planning for KFOR post-status.  SYG announced his visit to 
Belgrade on March 8. 
 
-- Darfur:  SYG confirmed that AU PSC Commissioner Djinnit 
will address NAC on March 2.  Sudanese foot-dragging in 
providing visas to AU officers delays NATO-AU &lessons 
learned8 team. 
 
-- Iraq:  Ambassador Nuland outlined U.S. intention to 
participate in &Neighbors Conference8 on Iraq. 
 
-- Missile Defense:  Under AOB, Ambassador Nuland continued 
USG engagement on missile defense and confirmed that Director 
of the Missile Defense Agency, LTG Obering, who briefed the 
NATO-Russia Council (NRC) later in the afternoon, was willing 
to participate in a NRC-Reinforced in April, (date TBD). 
 
-- Central Europe Pipeline System (CEPS):  The Chairman of 
the Central Europe Pipeline Management Organization Board of 
Directors (CEPMO BOD), and the General Manager of the Central 
Europe Pipeline Management Agency (CEPMA), assured the 
Council that CEPS remains a vital NATO asset for military 
bulk fuel storage and distribution in Central Europe, and 
encouraged the NAC to endorse the NATO Capability Package. 
 
END SUMMARY. 
 
Afghanistan 
----------- 
¶2. (C)  SYG de Hoop Scheffer announced that he will soon 
invite SACEUR to a coffee with PermReps to discuss force 
generation.  He added that since the Riga Summit, 7,000 
additional soldiers have been offered against the CJSOR.  De 
Hoop Scheffer touched on his recent trip with SACEUR to 
Afghanistan (report emailed to EUR/RPM).  Noting his 
admiration of the men and women of ISAF ) &a credit to all 
our nations8 ) he reassured the NAC that ISAF was making a 
real difference in Afghanistan, and having seen the progress 
at the Kajaki dam, Jalalabad, and Tarin Kowt, he stated that 
if Allies make the necessary efforts, NATO will succeed.  The 
SYG flagged continuing staffing problems in the ISAF X HQ, 
noting that the Counter IED branch, of utmost importance to 
the safety of ISAF soldiers, was still only staffed at the 
 
USNATO 00000137  002 OF 004 
 
 
50% level. 
 
¶3. (C)  In the context of ongoing NATO negotiations with 
Qatar over the status of NATO personnel working in the ISAF 
liaison cell at CENTCOM,s Combined Air Operations Center 
(CAOC) at al-Udeid airbase in Qatar, D/CMC Baptiste outlined 
the liaison cell,s critical role supporting ISAF. 
Describing how the cell articulates the ISAF mission and 
priorities within a CAOC responsible for air operations 
throughout the entire CENTCOM AOR, including minute-by-minute 
visibility of ISAF priorities, D/CMC told PermReps that a 
Qatari eviction of the NATO personnel would have a major 
impact to ISAF across all the CAOC,s functional areas, and 
degrade the CAOC,s support to COMISAF.  Ambassador Nuland 
also encouraged nations with political representation in 
Qatar to engage the Qataris on the importance of maintaining 
the ISAF presence in Qatar; the multinational aspect that the 
ISAF cell brought to the CAOC was too important to lose. 
 
¶4. (C)  In response to requests from several PermReps, IMS AD 
for Operations MG Fenton said that SHAPE was working on a 
post-Seville update to the ISAF CJSOR.  However, despite 
prominent announcements of force contributions (note: 
implying the U.S. and UK), SHAPE had received no formal force 
prep or transfer messages, and could not formally count the 
pledges against the CJSOR.  Once these notes were received, 
SHAPE would issue the update.  MG Fenton noted an uptick in 
enemy activity in RC-South over the past week.  Looking at 
Helmand province, he briefed on the success of UK ISAF forces 
in the Garmser district and in dislodging insurgents at the 
Kajaki dam.  In Musa Qala, he assessed that while the Taliban 
still dominates the district center, the elders have been 
negotiating and have the popular support.  The Afghan 
government has not asked ISAF to take action. 
 
¶5. (C)  Ambassador Nuland noted Vice President Cheney,s 
recent travel to Pakistan and Afghanistan, citing the 
Islamabad stop as a continuation of our Riga Summit pledge to 
intensify high-level dialogue with Pakistan.  In Kabul, VP 
Cheney briefed an upbeat President Karzai on his Pakistan 
stop and discussed economic development, the cross-border 
jirga initiative, and national reconciliation, among other 
issues.  He reassured President Karzai of the U.S. long-term 
commitment to Afghanistan. 
 
¶6. (C)  The German Ambassador expressed objection to plans by 
the Policy Action Group in Kabul to establish an Afghan 
Development Zone in RC-North, saying that troop contributors 
should be consulted before any decision to establish an ADZ 
in regions other than the south.  Germany, supported by 
France, also advocated greater NAC oversight of military 
planning, to include assurances that NMAs were suitably 
incorporating NATO,s &Comprehensive Approach8 into both 
operations planning, and in delivering aid following 
operations.  The Dutch echoed concerns regarding the 
comprehensive approach.  The SYG said he would raise the 
issue at a PermReps lunch or coffee in the future. 
Ambassador Nuland and the UK Ambassador welcomed detailed NAC 
political discussion of operations, but cautioned against the 
NAC micromanaging military operations.  The Danish Ambassador 
briefed that his Prime Minister will begin negotiating within 
the government to send approximately 200 soldiers returning 
from Iraq to Afghanistan in August 2007.  Denmark will also 
donate 250,000 euros to the trust fund recently established 
on behalf of NATO equipment support for the ANA. 
 
Kosovo 
 
USNATO 00000137  003 OF 004 
 
 
------ 
¶7. (C)  The SYG viewed as productive the NAC-PSC discussions 
with the EU held on February 26 and thanked Allies on their 
flexibility in allowing a discussion of Kosovo in the 
&informal8 part of the meeting.  He said he will encourage 
further dialogue with the EU at all levels and will make this 
point to EU Defense Ministers when he joins them for their 
March 1 informal ministerial in Germany.  The SYG provided an 
update on status process saying that Belgrade and Pristina 
remain far apart in the ongoing consultations on U.N. Special 
Envoy Ahtisaari,s status proposal in Vienna.  The SYG 
mentioned he will travel to Belgrade on March 8. 
 
¶8. (C)  D/CMC updated the NAC on NATO,s ongoing military 
planning regarding the military aspects of Ahtisaari,s 
proposal.  The planning envisions three phases for KFOR: 
immediate, transition, and implementation.  These phases have 
no fixed dates, but rather have triggers that would lead to 
the next phases.  He told the Council that we currently are 
in the immediate phase, which started with the Ahtisaari 
status proposal announcement.  Trigger points to move to the 
next phases are a new U.N. Security Council Resolution and 
the start of the international civilian presence to replace 
UNMIK.  NATO planning foresees two documents to provide 
guidance to NATO forces during the transition and 
implementation phases: a transition directive that would give 
COMKFOR the tools to face any difficulties during the 
transition phase; and a full revision of the current 
operational plan that would allow NATO to begin implementing 
any new missions such as standing up the new Kosovo Security 
Forces.  The transition directive will need to be approved by 
the NAC, and revising the OPLAN will require NAC political 
guidance in the form of a NAC initiating directive (NID). 
 
¶9. (C)  PermReps emphasized the importance of close 
coordination with the EU and concern over a perceived UNMIK 
drawdown.  The Norwegian PermRep suggested that the NAC-PSC 
should meet with representatives of UNMIK present in order to 
address the perceived drawdown.  The SYG and D/CMC stated 
that, based on NATO prodding, the EU verified with UNMIK that 
there is no drawdown occurring and that UNMIK police will 
maintain their current levels until the standing up of the 
ESDP mission. The D/CMC responded to the Italian,s inquiry 
over Kosovo Protection Corps (KPC) disbandment and who should 
lead the process by saying that the process will require 
close coordination with the new civilian representative and 
the EU, but that NATO should have the lead.  Ambassador 
Nuland emphasized that NATO,s planning has to evolve sooner 
rather than later on KPC disbandment and building of the 
Kosovo Security Force, otherwise we cannot move forward with 
other partners. 
 
¶10. (C)  The Spanish PermRep gave a read out of Foreign 
Minister Moratinos, recent trip to Belgrade and Pristina in 
his capacity as the OSCE representative, saying that the FM 
had encouraged both sides to adopt a constructive approach 
and move toward a compromise.  The FM impressed upon 
President Tadic the need to form a new government as quickly 
as possible, thereby moving Serbia toward Euro-Atlantic 
integration and further compliance with ICTY.  The Spanish FM 
said that the OSCE remains committed to its role in Kosovo 
and asked that Kosovo Albanians demonstrate political unity 
and patience. 
 
¶11. (C)  Ambassador Nuland updated the Council on potential 
U.S. involvement in the future EU ESDP rule of law mission in 
Kosovo, saying that our participation on a bilateral basis is 
 
USNATO 00000137  004 OF 004 
 
 
being reviewed at senior levels, but that no decision has 
been taken.  (Details reported reftel, USNATO 128.) 
 
Darfur 
------ 
¶12. (SBU)  The SYG confirmed African Union PSC Commissioner 
Djinnit will address the NAC on March 2.  He hopes this visit 
will clarify the way ahead for NATO support to the AU in 
Darfur, and perhaps the AU mission to Somalia as well.  The 
SYG also anticipates a discussion on the overall &rapport8 
between the two organizations.  UK PermRep noted the AU 
contingent of the NATO sponsored &lessons learned8 team for 
AMIS has not been able to get Sudanese visas.  Eldon asked if 
it would be possible to apply leverage on the Sudanese 
government to provide visas to the AU officers. The SYG said 
he would raise the issue with Djinnit as an initial step. 
 
Iraq 
---- 
¶13. (SBU)  Ambassador Nuland said that Iraq has announced its 
intention to hold a &Neighbors Conference8 at sub-cabinet 
level in March, then at ministerial level in April.  She 
confirmed that the U.S. plans to participate.  She also noted 
Secretary Rice,s call for all of Iraq,s neighbors to come 
 
SIPDIS 
prepared to work for a better Iraq. 
 
Ambassador Continues US Engagement on Missile Defense 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
¶14. (SBU)  Under AOB, Ambassador Nuland said the U.S. was 
committed to fully discussing missile defense issues in that 
afternoon's NRC.  She confirmed that LTG Obering was willing 
to participate in a NRC-Reinforced in April, (date TBD). 
 
Central Europe Pipeline System 
------------------------------ 
¶15. (C)  The Chairman, Central Europe Pipeline Management 
Organization Board of Directors (CEPMO BOD), Major General 
Michel Bergeret (FR), and the General Manager (GM), Central 
Europe Pipeline Management Agency (CEPMA), Lieutenant General 
Hedwig VanRemoortel (BE) presented the state of the Central 
Europe Pipeline System (CEPS), assured the Council that the 
CEPS remains a vital NATO asset for military bulk fuel 
storage and distribution in Central Europe, and encouraged 
the NAC to endorse NATO Capability Package (CP) 9A0980 &Bulk 
Fuel Assets in the Northern Area of NATO8 on its submission 
to the Council for approval, later this year.  CEPS member 
nations include Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, the 
Netherlands, and the United States.  Not surprisingly, the 
Belgium, Dutch, French and German PermReps all endorsed the 
strategic importance of the CEPS and the need to approve CP 
9A0980 once submitted to the NAC.  The Czech PermRep 
commented that the CEPS could support Alliance efforts in the 
domain of Energy Security and suggested that, perhaps, 
consideration should be given to linking the CEPS with the 
Czech Republic pipeline system. 
 
 
NULAND