Cablegate: Belgium: Demarche On Clarifying Transition To

VZCZCXRO2923
RR RUEHDBU RUEHPW RUEHSL
DE RUEHBS #0061 0201239
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 201239Z JAN 10
FM AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9915
INFO RUCNAFG/AFGHANISTAN COLLECTIVE
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC

UNCLAS BRUSSELS 000061

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/WE, EUR/RPM:ACOPE, S/SRAP AND SCA/A

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: MARR MOPS NATO PREL AF BE
SUBJECT: BELGIUM: DEMARCHE ON CLARIFYING TRANSITION TO
AFGHAN LEAD PROVINCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

REF: A. STATE 4108
B. STATE 3595

1. Poloff delivered reftel demarche clarifying the
difference between the transition of provincial
responsibility and Transfer of Lead Security Responsibility
to Francois De Kerchove, Director for Security Policy at the
Belgian MFA, on January 19. De Kerchove indicated that he
understood the difference and also the importance of not
allowing an impression to arise that these strategies are an
"exit strategy."

2. Poloff also delivered ref B demarche on a special session
for Deputy Special Representatives for Afghanistan and
Pakistan (SRAPs) at the January 25-27 PRT Conference in
Prague. De Kerchove said that the conference will be
attended by Alain Hanssen, the MFA's desk officer for
Afghanistan (and unofficial deputy SRAP) and a representative
of the Ministry of Defense, which has responsibility for the
Belgian participants in the German PRT in Kunduz. However,
Poloff has an appointment on January 21 with the Belgian
SRAP, Jean-Arthur Regibeau, and will discuss the Prague PRT
conference and what participation Regibeau expects in both
the conference and the PRT discussions to be led by U.S.
Deputy SRAP Jones.

GUTMAN
.

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