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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 USNATO 000286 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: NATO PREL MOPS XG ZJ ZK
SUBJECT: EAPC SECURITY FORUM TRIES TO MUSTER SUPPORT FOR 
AFGHANISTAN, ENERGY SOLUTIONS 
 
USNATO 00000286  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶1. (U) SUMMARY:  On June 24 and 25 the Euro-Atlantic 
Partnership Council (EAPC) Security Forum met in Astana, 
Kazakhstan, to discuss Afghanistan and other regional issues 
and energy security.  This was the first-ever EAPC event in a 
former Soviet state.  Allied nations called on Partners to 
take greater ownership of the EAPC, contribute to the 
international community's efforts in Afghanistan, and help 
build capabilities in the region.  On energy security, EAPC 
member countries called for diversification of energy sources 
and supplies, as well as the need to invest in modernization 
of pipelines. The seminar was an opportunity for the U.S. and 
its NATO allies to underscore their interest in expanding 
engagement with Central Asian partners, while stressing to 
the Russians that this is not a zero-sum game.  END SUMMARY. 
 
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Heads of Delegation Working Dinner 
---------------------------------- 
 
¶2. (U) At the June 24 Working Dinner, Allies stressed that 
the 22 EAPC Partner nations should be more proactive within 
the partnership framework.  Allies advocated for a greater 
use of informal discussions, for Partners to be more 
forthcoming with their opinions, and for them to provide 
input to the formulation of NATO's new Strategic Concept. 
Belarus Ambassador Gapeev stated that every country should 
give input to the EAPC, but also advocated that the same 
rules should be observed by all member countries.  Azerbaijan 
Ambassador Khasiyev called on members to evaluate the 
conceptual direction of the EAPC, which he said might require 
updating the forum's founding documents.  Swiss Ambassador de 
Dardel warned against the artificial separation of Partner 
countries into different camps. 
 
¶3. (U) Assistant Secretary of Defense for International 
Security Affairs Alexander Vershbow, the U.S. delegation 
head, acknowledged the efforts of EAPC member countries to 
stabilize Afghanistan, noting that many had also contributed 
to Balkans stabilization efforts in the 1990s.  He stated 
that Afghanistan will require a broad international effort, 
combining military power with a robust civilian strategy. 
Dr. Davood Moradian, Senior Advisor to Afghanistan's Foreign 
Minister, argued that there were two Afghanistans -- the one 
portrayed in the media as facing significant challenges and 
the one that was emerging as a functioning state.  Allies 
called on Central Asian Partners to assist Afghanistan's 
regional integration. 
 
¶4. (U) Ambassador Vershbow said that the August 2008 conflict 
in Georgia showed that the work NATO began in the 1990s to 
create an integrated European security system was still 
unfinished.  Acknowledging that there was room for many 
regional and subregional organizations, he said that nations 
needed to evaluate how to make the European security 
architecture more effective -- a discussion that would be 
launched at the OSCE Ministerial in Corfu.  Russian Deputy 
Minister Denisov reflected that the "sad events" of August 
2008 led to a loss of confidence in the Euro-Atlantic region 
and called for confidence to be restored.  German PermRep 
Brandenburg called on member countries to create synergy 
between the EAPC and the Organization for Security and 
Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).  Kazakhstan Foreign Minister 
Tazhin also cited the relevance of other bodies such as the 
Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and the Collective 
Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), while stressing 
Kazakhstan's commitment to EAPC and PFP. 
 
¶5. (U) Armenian Minister of Defense Ohanyan stated that his 
country was committed to peaceful resolution of all disputes 
with Azerbaijan.  Turkish Deputy Undersecretary for Political 
Affairs Cevikoz, alluding to his country's rapprochement with 
Armenia, intervened that his country encourages resolution of 
 
USNATO 00000286  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
Nagorno-Karabakh.  Serbian Assistant Minister for NATO and 
Defense Affairs Vujic said that Serbia would do everything 
within its power to safeguard its territorial integrity and 
characterized Kosovo's independence as a factor for 
instability in the region.  In response to Serbia, Albanian 
PermRep Kuko said that "the train has left the station," 
adding that recognizing Kosovo's independence was the right 
decision. 
 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
Afghanistan, Regional Issues and Energy Security 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
 
¶6. (U) During the panel discussions on June 25, EAPC member 
countries agreed on the importance of a positive outcome on 
Afghanistan for the region as a whole and expressed concerns 
about the drug trade in Central Asia.  Dr. Moradian 
identified Pakistan as the main hurdle to achieving peace in 
Afghanistan.  Ambassador Vershbow called on EAPC Partners to 
contribute to NATO Trust Funds developed for Afghanistan and 
to look for areas where they could assist economic and 
capacity building efforts.  UK PermRep Eldon argued that 
efforts in Afghanistan should be enhanced by partnership, not 
undermined by competition. 
 
¶7. (U) Member countries agreed that trafficking in arms and 
persons contributes to instability in Central Asia, called 
for greater cooperation on water issues, and acknowledged the 
need to help build capabilities in the region.  They also 
agreed that in the Caucasus it was critical to use regional 
fora such as the OSCE's Minsk Group and the Geneva Process to 
solve disputes, while at the same time also 
concluding that countries were responsible for the 
maintenance of order within their borders. 
 
¶8. (U) On energy security, member countries roundly called 
for diversification of energy sources and supplies, with some 
calling special attention to the need to promote energy 
savings.   Czech Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Pojar 
drew attention to the need to invest in modernization of 
pipelines.  Some countries argued that forming public-private 
partnerships is less important than forging strategic 
alliances.  Led by Allies from Europe's east, a number of 
participants stressed the importance of  diversifying away 
from purely Russian sources.  They also argued that the 
increasing role of China in energy markets needed to be 
considered. 
 
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Comment 
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¶9. (U) In choosing to hold the EAPC Security Forum for the 
first time outside of Europe, NATO attempted to send a 
message of support to its Central Asia and Caucasus Partner 
countries.  What remains to be seen is if those Partner 
countries seize the initiative and move their relationships 
with NATO forward in an active way, with concrete results.  A 
bad sign was the absence of representatives from Turkmenistan 
and Tajikistan.  Whatever the outcome of this particular 
event, however, NATO must continue to find ways to reach out 
to the countries on its periphery. 
 
¶10. (U) This message was cleared by Assistant Secretary of 
Defense Vershbow. 
DAALDER