VZCZCXRO2359
OO RUEHPW
DE RUEHBY #0120/01 0350628
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 040628Z FEB 09
FM AMEMBASSY CANBERRA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0950
INFO RUCNAFG/AFGHANISTAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CANBERRA 000120 
 
NOFORN 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/03/2019 
TAGS: MARR PREL AS
SUBJECT: AUSTRALIAN AND DUTCH FOREIGN MINISTERS DISCUSS 
AFGHANISTAN 
 
Classified By: Political Counselor James F. Cole for reasons 1.4 (b) an 
d (d) 
 
¶1.  (C/NF)  SUMMARY:  Netherlands Foreign Minister Maxime 
Verhagen and Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith shared 
views on future engagement in Afghanistan in meetings January 
18-21 in Australia.  Both Ministers shared the view that more 
than one year after significant meetings in Bucharest and 
Paris, little progress has been made on the National 
Development Strategy for Afghanistan.  They also noted the 
variability in NATO contributions with the training of the 
Afghan National Army (ANA) and OMLT deployments falling 
further behind.  Both Ministers expect requests from the U.S. 
for additional support and will give those full 
consideration.  They also anticipate an increased U.S. 
presence in RC-South, including a possible U.S. PRT 
leadership role.  FM Smith advised FM Verhagen that Australia 
has taken a proactive approach to an anticipated U.S. request 
and is estimating what additional support can be provided, 
including enabling contributions for areas other than 
RC-South.  They agreed to explore opportunities for civilian 
development, including police training.  While the Dutch are 
supportive of an Afghan component to the NATO Summit in 
Strasbourg, they are unlikely to take an advocacy role.  End 
Summary. 
 
AFGHANISTAN DOMINATES DISCUSSIONS 
---------------- 
 
¶2.  (C/NF) Neil Hawkins, Assistant Secretary, and Jon 
Merrill, Director, of the Afghanistan and Iraq Branch, 
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, briefed Embassy 
Poloff on the Ministerial meetings on February 4.  Merrill 
indicated that the meeting between the Ministers was 
dominated by Afghan issues, with discussions focused on how 
current operations are tracking and plans for future 
engagement.  Both Ministers reaffirmed a commitment to 
assisting the Afghans, although Merrill stated that the Dutch 
focus is on assistance to the Afghan people and not on 
preventing a safe haven for terrorism.  Both countries 
recognized the need for more security forces to support 
civilian activities and are exploring opportunities to work 
together on justice and security, reform capacity-building, 
and police training. 
 
FUTURE PLANS FOR AFGHANISTAN 
--------------------- 
 
¶3.  (C/NF) Merrill shared that the Dutch are holding firm on 
their planned withdrawal of military leadership from RC-South 
in Oruzgan Province in August 2010, expressing a view that 
the Province will be fully civilianized by then.  FM Smith is 
reported to have reacted skeptically, characterizing this as 
an incredibly optimistic outlook, given current security 
trends.  Australia urged the Dutch not to withdraw too 
quickly and to coordinate with the Australians and the U.S. 
FM Verhagen acknowledged the optimistic outlook and advised 
that the withdrawal will be a sensitive operation.  He noted 
that troop rotation is running behind schedule, as forces 
promised by other NATO and ISAF contributing nations to 
relieve Dutch forces have not materialized as promised.  FM 
Verhagen shared that the public narrative on PRT leadership 
withdrawal does not preclude a continued Dutch military 
presence in Afghanistan, but that domestic coalition 
political issues still need to be worked out.  Merrill noted 
that "pride of ownership" for Dutch accomplishments in the 
province and a desire to see those accomplishments 
maintained, may influence Dutch troop withdrawal and future 
civilian contributions. 
 
STRASBOURG NATO SUMMIT 
QSTRASBOURG NATO SUMMIT 
------------------ 
 
¶4.  (C/NF) While it has no objections to including an ISAF 
component at the Strasbourg NATO Summit, The Netherlands is 
unwilling to advocate for expansion of the Summit for its 
inclusion.  Merrill shared that The Netherlands listened 
politely to Australia's concerns, but suggested that perhaps 
the Summit hosts have a different view. 
 
¶5.  (C/NF) Merrill acknowledged to Poloff that Australia has 
more work to do to get Afghanistan front and center with 
non-NATO countries and in the UN and that they are working 
these issues.  Hawkins indicated that it would be 
unsatisfactory to hold an ISAF meeting of Foreign and Defense 
Ministers at some date after the Summit, as the Summit 
provides the international platform from which to send a 
strong message to the Taliban of global commitment and 
resolve.  He expressed concern that the absence of 
 
CANBERRA 00000120  002 OF 002 
 
 
Afghanistan from the Summit agenda would indicate a lack of 
urgency and reach. 
 
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN AUSTRALIA AND THE DUTCH 
--------------------- 
 
¶6.  (C/NF) Merrill described the relationship between the 
countries as working well but noted it has not progressed 
beyond their military cooperation in RC-South.  He commented 
that the Dutch acknowledged they do not have a leadership 
role in the EU or NATO and are looking for active UN 
engagement in Afghanistan, including opening of the promised 
UN regional office in Oruzgan.  Merrill reported that the 
Dutch view themselves as a "good example" but not in a 
leadership role. 
 
U.S. SUPPORT OF AUSTRALIAN MISSION IN KABUL 
----------------------- 
 
¶7.  (C/NF) Separately, Hawkins took the opportunity to 
express the thanks of the Government of Australia for 
continued U.S. support of the Australian diplomatic mission 
in Kabul.  He said they were very grateful for the all the 
U.S. has done to ensure continuity in their diplomatic 
operations. 
 
CLUNE