Cablegate: New Zealand Extends Afghan Deployments for One Year

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DE RUEHWL #0221 0710507
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 120507Z MAR 07
FM AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4016
INFO RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA IMMEDIATE 4784
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C O N F I D E N T I A L WELLINGTON 000221

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STATE FOR EAP/FO AND EAP/ANP
NSC FOR VICTOR CHA
OSD FOR JESSICA POWERS
PHNOM PENH FOR POL/MCKEAN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/12/2017
TAGS: MARR MOPS PINS PREL PGOV NZ
SUBJECT: NEW ZEALAND EXTENDS AFGHAN DEPLOYMENTS FOR ONE YEAR

REF: WELLINGTON 146

Classified By: Charge D'Affaires David J. Keegan,
for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

1. (C) Summary: The New Zealand Cabinet today approved the
extension of current NZDF deployments to Afghanistan for one
year, through September 2008, vice the two years that MoD
requested (reftel). The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and
Trade (MFAT) told post that the Cabinet wanted the chance to
revisit the deployment next year in order to determine
whether the situation on the ground warrants altering the
composition of the force. MFAT predicts the deployment will
be extended again next year through September 2009. End
Summary.

2. (U) Prime Minister Clark announced on March 12 that New
Zealand will extend its current NZDF/police deployments in
Afghanistan through September 2008. The deployments,
including 120 personnel in the PRT, two personnel to train
the Afghan National Army, up to five NZDF officers to serve
at ISAF headquarters, and four police officers to help train
the Afghan National police, were to expire in September 2007.
The PM also announced that a new deployment of an NZDF
frigate to join the Maritime Interdiction Operation (MIO) in
the Arabian Sea for one month in mid-2008. Two NZDF medics
will also serve in the Canadian PRT in Kandahar.

3. (C) The decision to extend the deployment for one year was
taken by Cabinet earlier in the day. As we reported front
channel (Wellington 146) MoD had requested Ministers approve
a two-year extension (to September 2009), to avoid the
Government having to review the deployment close to the time
of the next NZ general election, currently expected for
September 2008. But Matt Paterson, Policy Officer in MFAT's
Security Policy Decision, says the Cabinet wanted a chance
to review the potentially dangerous deployments in one year
to assure that they are appropriate for the conditions in
Afghanistan at that time. Paterson says it is highly
probable the Cabinet will again extend the deployments next
year, to September 2009, although they may choose to alter
the number and type of forces on the ground if the situation
warrants it. Paterson also says that the medics are being
sent to the Canadian PRT at the request of the GOC. Up to
two medics will be deployed at any one time; they will be
rotated in and out depending on what specialists are needed.

4. (U) FYI: Defense Minister Goff announced on March 6 that
Singapore is to send Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) personnel
to serve under the NZDF PRT in Bamiyan. A five-person SAF
team is to open a dental clinic at a provincial hospital, and
five SAF engineers will join NZDF engineers and local
contractors to construct and maintain bridges in the
province. Singapore, who together with New Zealand,
Australia, the UK and Malaysia is a member of the Five
Nations Defence Arrangements, provided similar support to
NZDF in East Timor from May 2001 - November 2002. End FYI.
Keegan

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