Cablegate: Germans Discuss Border Management With

VZCZCXRO1510
PP RUEHDBU RUEHIK RUEHYG
DE RUEHBUL #3486 2171124
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 051124Z AUG 06
FM AMEMBASSY KABUL
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1772
INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE
RUCNAFG/AFGHANISTAN COLLECTIVE
RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE
RUEKJCS/OSD WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2723
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 6200
RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA 1551
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 2867
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
RUEATRS/US TREASURY WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS KABUL 003486

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA/FO, SCA/A, S/CR, EUR/ERA, EUR/RPM,
NEA/IR
STATE PASS USAID FOR AID/ANE, AID/DCHA/DG
NSC FOR HARRIMAN
OSD FOR BREZINSKI
REL NATO/AUST/NZ/ISAF
CENTCOM FOR CG CFC-A, CG CJTF-76

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958 N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV ECON ETRD EFIN SNAR ASEC IR AF
SUBJECT: GERMANS DISCUSS BORDER MANAGEMENT WITH
IRANIANS

1. (SBU) German Ambassador for Police Reform Helmut
Frick told us that he and Deputy Head of the German
Police Project Office (GPPO) Gerald Stoeter met on
July 26 with Iranian Ambassador Mohammad R. Bahrami
and Iranian Drugs Liaison Officer Hashem Zayyem, the
Iranian Embassys expert on police issues, to discuss
border management, and in particular a possible
Iranian police contribution to provide security at the
Zaranj, Nimroz Province, border crossing. Ambassador
Frick briefed the Iranians on the DOHA II concept of
border management and the regional cooperation
approach fundamental to BMI planning; the increase in
Border Management Initiative (BMI) activity on the
Western border with Iran; and the close cooperation
between the GOA and the U.S. Embassys Afghan
Reconstruction Group (ARG) on BMI, particularly at the
Islam Qalah, Herat Province, border crossing.

2. (SBU) Bahrami responded by saying he did not wish
to get involved deeply in police matters, but
recommended that Frick and the GPPO meet separately
with Zayyem to exchange information on activities on
both sides of the border. He raised the possibility
y
of a delegation from Teheran coming to Kabul if
necessary. Yet, he complained that Iran had offered
several times to cooperate more intensively with
Afghanistan in the field of police matters, especially
training, but there had never been a substantial
response from the Afghan side.

3. (SBU) Comment: We anticipate that under new Deputy
Minister of Finance, Customs and Revenue Sharifullah
Ibrahimi, the Iranian government will be invited by
the GOA to participate in the BMI Working Group
meetings. Iranian representation could improve
cooperation with a key neighbor, making BMI more
effective in trying to achieve its goals of enhancing
government revenues. We would have to keep a watchful
eye to make sure that such participation also served
to enhance BMI goals with respect to border security,
counter-terrorism and counter-narcotics and does not
provide an entry for Iran into other police
activities.

© Scoop Media