Cablegate: Briefing the Hungarians On U.S. Desired Outcomes

VZCZCXRO7231
PP RUEHIK
DE RUEHUP #0038 0251649
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 251649Z JAN 10
FM AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4832
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 0111

UNCLAS BUDAPEST 000038

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/CE JAMIE MOORE, S/SRAP JARRETT BLANC,
AND SCA/A TOM GRAMAGLIA AND CAROLYN COBERLY.

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL ECON AF HU
SUBJECT: BRIEFING THE HUNGARIANS ON U.S. DESIRED OUTCOMES
FROM THE LONDON CONFERENCE

REF: STATE 06355

1. (SBU) POL/ECON Counselor briefed Peter Sztaray, the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Director for Security Policy and
Non-Proliferation, January 25 on desired U.S. outcomes from
the January 28 London Conference on Afghanistan. Sztaray,
who is accompanying Foreign Minister Balazs to the conference
and the subsequent NATO Defense Ministerial meeting in
Istanbul, welcomed the London conference as a practical means
to enhance international coordination on Afghanistan, noting
that it would "bring together all the players." Hungarian
objectives coincided with those of the United States in terms
of outcomes from the conference, Sztaray said.

2. (SBU) On specific points, Sztaray agreed that while
reintegration of insurgents was very complex, it had to be
pursued. "Without this, there is no solution," he stated.
The U.S. plan of step-by-step, gradual transition of
provinces to an Afghan lead represented the right approach,
Sztaray said, adding, "The better the preparations, the
better the result."

3. (SBU) Sztaray said the Hungarians hoped they would have
the opportunity to take the floor at the conference. While
understanding that with 77 delegations this might not prove
feasible, Sztaray said that, having furnished Provincial
Reconstruction and Operational Mentor and Liaison teams,
Hungary believed it had something to contribute.
KOUNALAKIS

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