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PP RUEHIK RUEHPOD RUEHYG
DE RUEHNO #0186/01 1331333
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RUEHBS/AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS PRIORITY 6660
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 0743
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 1205
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME PRIORITY 0810
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RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/CJCS WASHDC PRIORITY
RHMFIUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2951
AMB

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 USNATO 000186 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: MOPS NATO PREL
SUBJECT: AFGHAN GOVERNORS REMIND EUROPEANS WHY THEY ARE 
FIGHTING IN AFGHANISTAN 
 
REF: ROME 000456 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary.  The governors of Afghanistan's Bamian and 
Farah Provinces visited Brussels 23-24 April on the final leg 
of a week long program sponsored jointly by USNATO, and 
Embassies Kabul, The Hague and Rome.  Over the course of two 
days in Brussels, the governors gave first-hand accounts of 
progress, hopes and needs in Afghanistan in separate meetings 
with European Union (EU) and NATO officials, the media and at 
a think tank event.  European publics and officials rarely 
get an unfiltered view of Afghanistan, and this program gave 
them that.  The exceptional turnout at all events and the 
keen media interest in the governors point to the hunger 
there is in Europe for these kinds of voices.  The meetings 
provided clear indication that putting a face on Afghanistan 
through direct contact between Afghans and Europeans is an 
effective communication tool in encouraging European 
assistance in Afghanistan.  End Summary. 
 
¶2. (SBU) Governor Habiba Sarabi of Bamian Province and 
Governor Roohul Amin of Farah Province visited Brussels on 
23-24 April on a USNATO-and Embassy Kabul-sponsored tour of 
three European Capitals.  At an event hosted by the U.S. 
Mission to the European Union (USEU), they met with more than 
thirty EU representatives, including EU Political and 
Security Committee (PSC) ambassadors, Permanent 
Representatives to the EU, diplomats, and Belgian MFA 
officials.  These high-level participants who deal with 
Afghanistan related issues on a regular basis were 
enthusiastic for both the initiative and the information it 
brought them, especially as the EU was undergoing 
"soul-searching" and policy reviews on how to help in 
Afghanistan.  They described the opportunity to speak 
directly with Afghans as "rare."  One PSC ambassador 
complimented the governors for "a most refreshing and 
encouraging discussion," and said to be able to talk about 
the successes of construction infrastructure and developing 
tourism, as the governors did, was a real confidence builder. 
 
¶3. (U) The Carnegie Institute of Europe hosted a discussion 
attended by more than 60 individuals from European 
institutions, prominent Brussels think-tanks, NATO 
international staff, journalists and others.  Moderated by 
Shada Islam of the European Policy Center, the event opened 
with briefings by the governors on their respective 
provinces, noting areas of progress and issues of lingering 
concern.  Governor Sarabi highlighted Bamian Province's 
successes in areas such as health care and reduction of poppy 
production but recognized the province still suffers from 
extreme poverty, is geographically isolated and is still in 
need of greater international aid.  Governor Amin noted the 
improving security situation in Farah Province and the good 
coordination between the International Security Assistance 
Force (ISAF) and the Afghan National Army (ANA) but 
acknowledged the major issue of continued poppy production in 
Farah and its links to the Taliban.  On the upcoming 
elections, both governors were optimistic that successful, 
transparent, elections can occur with the help of the 
international community.  In responding to questions, both 
governors spoke frankly on topics such as shortfalls in 
coordination of international assistance, women's rights, 
corruption in the government and law enforcement, and the 
prospects of reconciliation with moderate Taliban. 
 
¶4. (SBU) In separate meetings with NATO and ISAF Ambassadors 
and the working level ISAF committee at NATO headquarters, 
both governors stressed the need for a national budget with 
balanced distribution of funds based on Provincial 
Development Plans.  They also suggested that Provincial 
Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) need more transparency regarding 
the funding of projects.  They reminded participants that 
governors have no control over the budget and only act as 
facilitators.  More than one occasion, Governor Sarabi noted 
the discrepancy of funding to PRTs noting that &problem8 
provinces receive all the attention and thus funding.  Both 
governors agreed that there is merit in working with and 
maintaining stability in the provinces that have fewer 
security concerns -- especially through international aid 
commitments toward better livelihoods, service delivery, and 
infrastructure development. Governor Amin stated in several 
 
USNATO 00000186  002 OF 002 
 
 
meetings that "We should show that where Afghan people are 
supporting the provincial government, they are getting 
services,8 as opposed to the destruction and chaos that 
exists where the Taliban have control.  They also noted the 
importance of working with the local tribal elders to 
determine needs and priorities when planning reconstruction 
projects, noting that the public will defend projects it 
"owns.8  Both governors also underscored the need for ISAF 
to have bases outside of provincial capitals at the district 
level noting there are great dividends when troops get out on 
patrol to meet and interact with local people.  Governor 
Sarabi stressed the importance of ISAF and PRT patrols in 
adjacent provinces coordinating with each other to secure 
provincial border areas. 
 
¶5. (SBU) In Brussels, both governors did interviews with 
several major Belgian and international media outlets.  The 
governors reached tens of millions of people via both print 
and broadcast media, with a full-page interview in Flemish 
daily De Staandard and a two-minute story on Belgium,s major 
French-language station RTL-TV1, as well as interviews with 
BBC Radio, BBC World TV, and Radio Liberty/Radio Free Europe 
among others.  These interviews helped to shed light on the 
new &family law8 with both governors stating that it is 
unconstitutional and that they are confident that it will be 
repealed following the presidential review.  Much of the 
media also seized on the story of the first national park 
that just opened in Governor Sarabi,s Bamian Province.  Most 
importantly, the governors used the media to remind Europeans 
that the reason they are sending troops and aid to 
Afghanistan is not only for Afghanistan but for Europe,s 
safety and security as well. 
 
¶6. (SBU) Brussels was the final stop on a week-long European 
trip.  The governors visited Rome and The Hague before 
arriving in Brussels.  Visits by Afghan leaders to European 
capitals is rare and both the turn-out at events and the 
comments made by participants point to the hunger that exists 
by Europeans to hear directly from candid Afghan voices. 
Programs like this are a powerful tool in reminding Europeans 
why they are sending troops and resources to Afghanistan. 
BYRNES