Cablegate: Uk Security Support for 2009 Afghan Elections -

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P 191705Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY LONDON
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0746
INFO RUEHXP/ALL NATO POST COLLECTIVE
RUEHAM/AMEMBASSY AMMAN 0534
RUEHKB/AMEMBASSY BAKU 0224
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 0821
RUEHKV/AMEMBASSY KYIV 0107
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RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON 0266
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS

C O N F I D E N T I A L LONDON 003183

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/WE AND SCA/A

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/19/2018
TAGS: NATO PREL MOPS AF UK
SUBJECT: UK SECURITY SUPPORT FOR 2009 AFGHAN ELECTIONS -
INTERIM RESPONSE

REF: A) STATE 131480 B) SCA DAS MOON/DONEGAN TELCON

Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Greg Berry for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

1. (C) HMG concurs with points contained in U.S. nonpaper (ref a) on the need for ISAF nations to provide enhanced security assistance in the run-up to and during the 2009 Afghan Presidential election. FCO Afghanistan Office Director Matthew Lodge said that the UK is currently engaged in a cross-departmental policy examination of the British security and civilian presence in Afghanistan, the result of which will be a Cabinet endorsed paper to be released sometime in mid-to-late January 2009. Lodge was unsure if the paper would be ready in time for the January force generation conference, but promised to keep us apprised on its progress.

2. (C) Lodge said that the mid-March RC-South meeting to be hosted by the British in London would provide a good opportunity to encourage more burdensharing among coalition members. He suggested that a U.S./UK bilateral in Washington prior to the RC-S meeting would be useful to ensure Washington and London's policies and priorities were in synch. Per ref b, we followed up with Lodge to suggest early March as the optimal time for such a meeting. He will inform us of exact dates and proposed British attendees in early January 2009. Visit London's Classified Website: XXXXXXXXXXXX
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