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Cablegate: Rc-West Conference in Vilnius

Published: Fri 27 Nov 2009 10:41 AM
VZCZCXYZ0000
OO RUEHWEB
DE RUEHVL #0635/01 3311041
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 271041Z NOV 09
FM AMEMBASSY VILNIUS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3919
INFO RUEHMD/AMEMBASSY MADRID PRIORITY 0039
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME PRIORITY 0065
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 1614
UNCLAS VILNIUS 000635
SIPDIS
STATE FOR S/SRAP AMBASSADOR RICHARD HOLBROOKE AND PDAS JONES
STATE FOR EUR/NB, EUR/RPM, SCA/A
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AF LH MAPP MOPS NATO PREL EAID
SUBJECT: RC-WEST CONFERENCE IN VILNIUS
REF: VILNIUS 626
1. (U) Action request -- see paragraph 3.
2. (U) The GOL will hold a Regional Command-West Conference
in Vilnius December 8-9 to discuss strategy for PRTs in
Western Afghanistan. We are working closely with U.S.
delegation members and with MFA colleagues to ensure that the
event will be a success.
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RC-West Delegation
------------------
3. (SBU) We request the Department's assistance to encourage
RC-West PRT-leading countries Italy and Spain to send a
robust and high-level delegation to the conference. Italy
has not yet designated a delegation and Spain has identified
three delegation representatives. The MFA provided us with
the following list of RC-West participants as of November 25:
United States of America
Henry Ensher, Head of Delegation and Director of the Office
of Afghanistan Affairs
Brad Hanson, Senior Civilian Representative for RC West
Hilda Grigorian, USAID Field Program Officer
Ariella Viehe, Desk officer, SCA/A
Raphael Carland (tentative), Desk Officer, EUR/RPM
Chris Meade, Desk Officer, SCA/A
Lt. Col. Chris Ireland, Pakistan-Afghanistan Coordination
Cell (PACC) Afghanistan Action Officer, Joint Staff
LTC Rob Goley, PRT/ADT Branch Chief CENTCOM
Tom Parker, Foreign Affairs Officer, Afghanistan Desk, Office
of Secretary of Defense
Ambassador Derse and PolOff will attend on behalf of the U.S.
Embassy.
NATO ISAF
Jacob McFerren, POLAD (U.S.)
Claudio Mora, DCOS STABILITY (ITA)
Fridrik Jonsson, Deputy Director of Development (ISL)
EUPOL
Colin Aitkin, Chief Inspector
Julia Krause, Detective Lieutenant
Marieke Denissen, Planning Officer
Spain
Mrs. Vidal Teresa Orjales, Counselor, Spanish Delegation to
NATO
COL Ramiro Gimenez, Mountain Regiment Commander
COL Narisco Cayetano, Chief of Crisis Branch, Defense Policy
Directorate
The Netherlands
Dutch Ambassador to Lithuania Joep Wijnands
-----------------------------------
Conference Format and Presentations
-----------------------------------
4. (U) MOD's Vice Minister Vytautas Umbrasas and MFA's Vice
Minister Asta Skaisgiryte are scheduled to make opening
remarks at the conference. The conference format will
consist of five sessions:
--Security Challenges: Regional Approach (moderated by
Italy);
--ISAF Operation: Towards Phase IV (moderated by Lithuania);
--Support, Mentoring and Training of Afghan National Security
Forces: The Way Ahead for the Region (moderated by the U.S.);
--Enhancing Civilian Dimension and Civilian Activities in
PRTs and RC(W) HQ (moderated by Spain); and
--Capacity Building and Supporting Reconstruction and
Development (moderated by Lithuania).
Each session will include a lead presentation followed by
brief (ten minute) remarks by participating countries and a Q
and A period. The moderator will introduce speakers and
guide the conversation. The GOL requested that delegations
submit a paragraph summarizing planned remarks as soon as
possible. In addition the GOL has offered to make time
during the first session for a member of the U.S. delegation
to present new developments in our Afghanistan policy
including President Obama's decision on troop levels (if
available by the time of the workshop). The GOL is
circulating a proposal for a civilian-military cell in
RC-West (sent by email to SCA/A and EUR/NB). GOL
representatives will raise the idea during the conference.
--------------------------------
Conference Goals and Conclusions
--------------------------------
5. (U) Ultimately, the GOL hopes that conference
participants can establish strategic plans for deeper
coordination within RC-West, more equitable balancing of
RC-West resources, enhanced civilian participation and the
long-term goal of transfer of PRT responsibilities to local
authorities. The GOL will draft a paper to capture
conference conclusions.
DERSE
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