Cablegate: Decisions by Nato Defense Ministers Regarding

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SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: MARR MOPS NATO PREL AF
SUBJECT: DECISIONS BY NATO DEFENSE MINISTERS REGARDING
COUNTER-NARCOTICS EFFORTS IN AFGHANISTAN

Classified By: Charge D'Affairs
Walter S. Reid for Reasons 1.4(B) and (D).

1. (SBU) On Wednesday, October 15, the NATO Secretary General
issued a statement in regards to decisions made by NATO
Defense Ministers at the recent meeting in Budapest.

2. (SBU) The text of the statement follows:

BEGIN STATEMENT

15 October 2008 SG(2008)0770
To : ISAF Non-NATO Troop Contributing Nations
Cc : Permanent Representatives (Council)
From : Secretary General
Subject : Decisions by NATO Defence Ministers Regarding
Counter-Narcotics Efforts in Afghanistan

Please find attached, for your information, a copy of
decisions taken at the meeting of NATO Defence Ministers in
Budapest regarding ISAF's involvement in counter-narcotics
efforts in Afghanistan.

(signed)
Jaap de Hoop Scheffer

EXCERPT FROM DECISION SHEET OF THE MEETING IN DEFENCE
MINISTERS' SESSION WITH INVITEES
(Budapest, 10 October 2008)

Based on the Government of the Islamic Republic of
Afghanistan request that ISAF support the Afghans in
defeating all elements supporting the insurgency; recognizing
the clear linkage between narcotics and traffickers,
processing facilities and the insurgency; recognizing the
danger these represented to ISAF, coalition and Afghan
National Security Forces; and recognizing that under the
appropriate United Nations Security Council resolution,
Afghans were in the lead for counter-narcotics efforts, but
did not yet have the capability to fully address this problem
themselves; Ministers:

- directed ISAF - upon the request by and in support of
Afghan authorities - to take action in concert with the
Afghans against facilities and facilitators supporting the
insurgency as provided for in the existing operational plan;

- agreed that such action would only be performed by forces
authorized by respective nations;

- agreed that in all cases, the action taken would be in
accordance with NATO's policy to avoid civilian casualties to
the maximum extent possible;

- agreed that such action would initially begin in priority
regions of Afghanistan as determined by ISAF; and

- agreed that the results of actions taken in accordance with
this direction would be initially assessed and reported at
the NATO Defence Ministers' Meeting in Krakow.

END STATEMENT
REID

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