VZCZCXRO6250
RR RUEHDBU RUEHPW RUEHSL
DE RUEHBUL #4152/01 3621006
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 281006Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY KABUL
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4320
INFO RUCNAFG/AFGHANISTAN COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KABUL 004152 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR SRAP, SCA/FO, SCA/A, EUR/RPM 
STATE PASS TO AID FOR ASIA/SCAA 
USFOR-A FOR POLAD 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ AF
SUBJECT: STATUS UPDATE: MOU WITH COALITION PARTNERS ON LIFE, 
SECURITY AND MOBILITY SUPPORT 
 
REF: (A) KABUL 3870, (B) KABUL 3981, (C) STOCKHOLM 796, (D) 
STOCKHOLM 797, (E) VILNIUS 709 
 
¶1. (U) This message contains an action request in para 4 
 
¶2. (U) Begin Summary. Embassy Kabul continues to engage with 
coalition partners who lead Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRT) in 
order to press for conclusion of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) 
on Life, Security and Mobility Support.  Embassy Kabul appreciates 
support from Washington and Posts in capitals in urging coalition 
partners to expeditiously review and conclude these agreements. 
This cable provides a status report on the various draft agreements. 
 End Summary. 
 
¶2. (U) Embassy Kabul is in the process of significantly increasing 
the number of USG civilians at Provincial Reconstruction Teams 
(PRTs) and other field locations.  Of the 27 PRTs in Afghanistan, 14 
are ISAF Coalition-led.  There are over 50 U.S. civilians based at 
Coalition-led locations, and we hope to deploy many more in the 
coming months.  In order to facilitate this increase, we are trying 
to conclude MOUs that will support such deployments.  Currently, 
arrangements for accommodation and support of U.S. civilians at 
partner PRTs have been ad hoc and informal.  Several partners have 
asked for an MOU.   Assistant Chief of Mission Mussomeli recently 
met with ambassadors of all coalition countries that have PRTs in 
which the USG has or may seek to place civilians in the coming 
months (reftel).  He presented them with draft MOUs on Life, 
Security and Mobility, which were positively received. 
 
¶3.  (U) A brief summary of the current status of negotiations of the 
individual MOUs is outlined below: 
 
-- U.K.: Conclusion of the agreement has slowed as a result of 
final technical details, specifically  clarification of the monthly 
charge per person for life support, which appears to be unusually 
high.  We are engaging with the UK mission on these points.  In 
addition, the State Department Office of the Legal Adviser (L) sent 
its comments and revisions to the draft we received on December 24, 
¶2009.  The revisions will be incorporated and resent to the UK 
Embassy and back to L/T legal advisers for review to make sure the 
language is non-binding.  The UK Financial Manager in Helmand will 
contact us on December 26th to discuss the costs. 
 
-- Norway:  On November 30, the Norwegians stated that the MOU had 
been sent to Oslo on November 18.  A follow-up e-mail was sent on 
December 19, 2009, requesting a status update on the review of the 
MOU.  There has been no response yet to the message. 
 
-- Sweden:  The Political Counselor in Embassy Stockholm met with 
Swedish MFA and MOD personnel on December 21 (Reftel C, D). 
Stockholm generally welcomed the agreement, but highlighted several 
questions, including concerns related to mobility support 
requirements, the impact of the planned U.S. consulate in Mazar, and 
the planned opening of a Turkish PRT in Jowzjan Province.  We are 
preparing a response to the questions. 
 
-- Germany:  The Embassy provided responses and revisions on 
December 22 to questions and comments posed by Berlin on December 
10, including confirmation of approval from the State Department 
Legal Adviser to conclude the agreement between the U.S. Embassy 
Kabul and the German Ministry of Defense, rather than the Ministry 
of Foreign Affairs, given that the documents are nonbinding.  At the 
request of the German government, the agreement will not provide 
mobility support; instead, officers in the North will rely on 
self-drive or other means for movement support. 
 
-- Hungary:  The MOU was presented to the Ministry of Defense in 
Budapest.  However, no further information has been provided on the 
review of the MOU. 
 
-- Canada:  The Canadian Embassy in Kabul provided Embassy Kabul 
with its comments to the proposed draft on December 20.  Most are 
technical changes with one exception relating to mobility, which the 
Canadians cannot support as proposed.  The Canadian Embassy offered 
to meet next week since the Embassy is closed until December 28.  We 
expect to be able to work through these changes fairly quickly. 
 
-- The Netherlands:  The MOU was sent to the Ministry of Foreign 
Affairs on November 21.  The last request for a status check was 
sent on December 10, with no response yet.  Given that the Dutch are 
planning to pull out of Afghanistan, it may not be feasible to enter 
into an agreement with The Netherlands for support. 
 
-- Lithuania: The Lithuanian Ministry of National Defense provided 
Embassy Kabul with a significantly revised draft agreement on 
December 18, including confirmation that the agreement would be 
between Embassy Kabul and the Lithuanian Ministry of National 
 
KABUL 00004152  002 OF 002 
 
 
Defense.  The agreement was significantly revised and will not be 
acceptable as revised.  Embassy Kabul and the Senior Civilian 
Representative have been in constant contact with Embassy Vilnius 
regarding the revisions and a way forward.  Embassy Vilnius has 
offered to arrange a video conference call to assist in resolving 
issues.  We also recommend that Washington instruct Embassy Vilnius 
to approach the Ministry using the points in paragraph 4 below. 
 
-- France:  The MOU was forwarded to the Ministry of Defense and to 
the PRT on November 23.  The last contact with the French POC was on 
December 5, 2009.  The French POC stated that they have been busy, 
but would get comments back as soon as possible. 
 
-- Spain:   The Spaniards have forwarded the document to Madrid for 
review.  The SCR for RC-West has been in communication with the 
Spanish PRT Commander regarding the MOU; however, no revisions or 
comments have been forthcoming. 
 
-- Italy:  Embassy Rome reports that the Italian Government is 
prepared to work with us on the agreement and that the Italian MOD 
will be the eventual signer of the agreement.  The MOD has passed 
back a number of questions, particularly relating to security and 
mobility.  Embassy Kabul RSO has prepared answers to the Italian 
MOD's questions, and Embassy Rome will approach the appropriate 
officials in response.  Embassy Kabul RSO suggested deleting all 
mobility and security language from the MOU given that these issues 
will be handled by the RSO when the Consulate opens in Herat.  At 
the Executive Working Group meeting on December 23, Major General 
John Macdonald from USFOR-A agreed with this approach.  The SCR for 
RC-West is working on draft language which he will forward to Kabul. 
 Once Embassy Kabul receives the SCR's comments and revisions, a new 
draft will be forwarded to Embassy Rome.  Additionally, on December 
23, Deputy Secretary Lew spoke to Italian MFA Director General for 
Political Affairs Stefano Ronca about the MOU for the USG citizens 
embedded in the Herat PRT, and strongly urged him to move forward 
quickly on an agreed text.  Ronca said he was ready to work with us 
but cited the reservations of the Italian military regarding the 
security language in the MOU. 
 
-- New Zealand: Embassy Wellington delivered a copy of the draft MOU 
to the MFA on December 23.  As New Zealand does not have a 
diplomatic representation in Kabul, we will work through the embassy 
to complete the agreement. 
 
¶4.  (U) Action Requested:  Embassy Kabul recommends that Department 
instruct Embassy Vilnius to approach the Lithuanian Foreign and 
Defense Ministries to press them to reconsider the significant 
re-write of the proposed agreement.  Recommended points are as 
follows: 
 
-- Your Government recently responded to our proposed draft 
Memorandum of Understanding on Life, Security and Mobility Support. 
 
 
-- This agreement, while not legally binding, would establish a 
framework for cooperation for support to U.S. civilians at coalition 
led Provincial Reconstruction Teams(PRT) or other bases. 
 
-- Until now, arrangements have been largely ad hoc.  A new 
framework would provide a mechanism for USG payment to coalition 
partners for support services provided to U.S. civilians at PRTs or 
other bases. 
 
-- We are working on similar agreements with all other coalition 
partners that host PRTs in Afghanistan where U.S. civilian are 
housed.  Your government is the only one that has significantly 
revised our proposed text. 
 
-- We would appreciate if you would take another look at our 
proposed text and see if we can work from the original draft. 
 
-- Some specific changes that are not acceptable include: 
 
 ¶1.  Revisions to our definitions, particularly on SCR and Chief of 
Mission. 
 
 ¶2.  The settlement of claims in accordance with the NATO SOFA. 
 
 ¶3.  Inclusion in Annex A of Lithuanian internal procedures on 
governing relations between the Lithuanian MOD and civilians. 
 
 ¶4.  Deletion of Embassy Kabul's Annex A setting forth cost 
information.