Cablegate: Afghanistan: Guidance for Unsc Renewal of The

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UNCLAS STATE 098089

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: UNSC PREL ISAF AF
SUBJECT: AFGHANISTAN: GUIDANCE FOR UNSC RENEWAL OF THE
ISAF MANDATE

1. The Department instructs USUN to support UNSC adoption
of the Italian draft resolution (para 4) renewing the
International Security Assistance Force's (ISAF) mandate
in Afghanistan. The Department also refers USUN to the
following guidance in negotiating the final text of the
resolution. USUN should seek additional guidance should
there be substantial changes to the resolution in para 4
with the exception of those issues discussed in paras 2
and 3 below.

Redlines
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2. The operative paragraphs should not change from the
current draft, thus leaving the ISAF mandate unchanged
from the previous 12 months. The Department cannot
support Russian efforts to include language regarding
anti-narcotics efforts in an operative paragraph. We
believe that the current references to counter-narcotics
efforts as reflected in PPs 6, 8, and 14 are sufficient in
the context of the ISAF mandate. A further role for ISAF
in counter-narcotics activities would need to be approved
in advance by ISAF contributing countries. Any further
reference to counter-narcotics efforts can only be general
in nature.

3. The Department cannot accept language that singles out
ISAF or other international forces as the cause of
civilian casualties, or that fails to put the issue of
civilian casualties in its proper context, particularly in
light of continuing Taliban actions that intentionally
increase the number of civilian casualties. The
resolution may reference the Council's concern and its
desire for all concerned to take steps to ensure
protection of civilians. The resolution may reference the
Council's concern and its desire to protect civilians. We
prefer the current formulations regarding civilian
casualties in PPs 12 and 13, but can accept the following
language:

PP 12 Reiterating its serious concern with the number of
civilian casualties and reiterating its call for all
feasible steps to be taken to ensure the protection of
civilians, and for international humanitarian and human
rights law to be upheld, and taking note of the recent
statements of the Afghan authorities in this regard.

PP13 Calling on ISAF and other international forces to
continue their robust efforts to minimize the risk of
civilian casualties, notably by the continuous review of
tactics and procedures, and to conduct after-action
reviews in cooperation with the Afghan Government in cases
where civilian casualties have reportedly occurred, and in
this regard encourages international forces to
investigate, in full cooperation with Afghan government
authorities, military operations that may have caused
civilian casualties.

4. Begin resolution text:

The Security Council,

PP1 Reaffirming its previous resolutions on Afghanistan,
in particular its resolutions 1386 (2001), 1510 (2003),
1776 (2007) and 1806 (2008),

PP2 Reaffirming also its resolutions 1267 (1999), 1368
(2001) and 1373 (2001), and reiterating its support for
international efforts to root out terrorism in accordance
with the Charter of the United Nations,

PP3 Recalling its resolutions 1265 (1999), 1296 (2000),
1674 (2006), and 1738 (2006) on the protection of
civilians in armed conflict, its resolutions 1325 (2000)
and 1820 (2008) on women and peace and security, and its
resolution 1612 (2005) on children and armed conflict,

PP4 Reaffirming its strong commitment to the sovereignty,
independence, territorial integrity and national unity of
Afghanistan,

PP5 Recognizing that the responsibility for providing
security and law and order throughout the country resides
with the Afghan Authorities and welcoming the cooperation
of the Afghan Government with the International Security
Assistance Force (ISAF),

PP6 Recognizing once again the interconnected nature of
the challenges in Afghanistan, reaffirming that
sustainable progress on security, governance and
development, as well as the cross-cutting issue of
counter-narcotics is mutually reinforcing and welcoming
the continuing efforts of the Afghan Government and the
international community to address these challenges
through a comprehensive approach,

PP7 Stressing the central and impartial role that the
United Nations continues to play in promoting peace and
stability in Afghanistan by leading the efforts of the
international community, noting, in this context, the
synergies in the objectives of UNAMA and of the
International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), and
stressing the need for strengthened cooperation,
coordination and mutual support, taking due account of
their respective designated responsibilities,

PP8 Expressing its strong concern about the security
situation in Afghanistan, in particular the increased
violent and terrorist activities by the Taliban, Al-Qaida,
illegally armed groups, criminals and those involved in
the narcotics trade, and the increasingly strong links
between terrorism activities and illicit drugs, resulting
in threats to the local population, including children,
national security forces and international military and
civilian personnel,

PP9 Expressing also its concern over the harmful
consequences of violent and terrorist activities by the
Taliban, Al-Qaida and other extremist groups on the
capacity of the Afghan Government to guarantee the rule of
law, to provide security and basic services to the Afghan
people, and to ensure the improvement and protection of
their human rights and fundamental freedoms,

PP10 Reiterating its support for the continuing endeavors
by the Afghan Government, with the assistance of the
international community, including ISAF and the Operation
Enduring Freedom (OEF) coalition, to improve the security
situation and to continue to address the threat posed by
the Taliban, Al-Qaida and other extremist groups, and
stressing in this context the need for sustained
international efforts, including those of ISAF and the OEF
coalition,

PP11 Condemning in the strongest terms all attacks,
including Improvised Explosive Device (IED) attacks,
suicide attacks and abductions, targeting civilians and
Afghan and international forces and their deleterious
effect on the stabilization, reconstruction and
development efforts in Afghanistan, and condemning further
the use by the Taliban and other extremist groups of
civilians as human shields,

PP12 Expressing its concern about all civilian casualties,
and reiterating its call for all feasible steps to be
taken to ensure the protection of civilian life and for
international humanitarian and human rights law to be
upheld,

PP13 Recognizing the robust efforts taken by ISAF and
other international forces to minimize the risk of
civilian casualties, notably the continuous review of
tactics and procedures and the conduct of after-action
reviews in cooperation with the Afghan Government in cases
where civilian casualties have reportedly occurred,

PP14 Stressing the need for further progress in security
sector reform, including further strengthening of the
Afghan National Army and Police, disbandment of illegal
armed groups, justice sector reform and counter narcotics,

PP15 Stressing in this context the importance of further
progress in the reconstruction and reform of the prison
sector in Afghanistan, in order to improve the respect for
the rule of law and human rights therein,

PP16 Reiterating its call on all Afghan parties and groups
to engage constructively in peaceful political dialogue
within the framework of the Afghan Constitution and in the
socio-economic development of the country, and to avoid
resorting to violence including through the use of illegal
armed groups,

PP17 Recalling the leading role that the Afghan
Authorities will play for the organization of the next
elections, and stressing the importance of the assistance
to be provided by ISAF in securing the conduct of such
elections,

PP18 Recognizing the importance of the contribution of
neighbouring and regional partners for the stabilization
of Afghanistan, and stressing the need to advance regional
cooperation as an effective means to promote security,
governance and development in Afghanistan,

PP19 Welcoming the continued coordination between ISAF
and the OEF coalition, and the cooperation established
between ISAF and the European Union presence in
Afghanistan, particular its police mission (EUPOL,
Afghanistan),

PP20 Expressing its appreciation for the leadership
provided by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO),
and for the contributions of many nations to ISAF and to
the OEF coalition, including its maritime interdiction
component,

PP21 Determining that the situation in Afghanistan still
constitutes a threat to international peace and security,

PP23 Determined to ensure the full implementation of the
mandate of ISAF, in coordination with the Afghan
Government,

PP24 Acting for these reasons under Chapter VII of the
Charter of the United Nations,

1. Decides to extend the authorization of the
International Security Assistance Force, as defined in
resolution 1386 (2001) and 1510 (2003), for a period of
twelve months beyond 13 October 2008;

2. Authorizes the Member States participating in ISAF to
take all necessary measures to fulfill its mandate;

3. Recognizes the need to further strengthen ISAF to meet
all its operational requirements, and in this regard calls
upon Member States to contribute personnel, equipment and
other resources to ISAF, and to make contributions to the
Trust Fund established pursuant to resolution 1386 (2001);

4. Stresses the importance of increasing, in a
comprehensive framework, the functionality,
professionalism and accountability of the Afghan security
sector, encourages ISAF and other partners to sustain
their efforts, as resources permit, to train, mentor and
empower the Afghan national security forces, in particular
the Afghan National Police, in order to accelerate
progress towards the goal of self-sufficient and
ethnically balanced Afghan security forces providing
security and ensuring the rule of law throughout the
country, and welcomes in this context the progress
achieved by the Afghan Authorities towards assuming lead
security responsibility for Kabul, and stresses the
importance of supporting the planned expansion of the
Afghan National Army;

5. Calls upon ISAF to continue to work in close
consultation with the Afghan Government and the Special
Representative of the Secretary General as well as with
the OEF coalition in the implementation of the force
mandate;

6. Requests the leadership of ISAF to keep the Security
Council regularly informed, through the Secretary-General,
on the implementation of its mandate, including through
the provision of quarterly reports;

7. Decides to remain actively seized of this matter.

End text.
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