Cablegate: Encouraging Senior-Level Participation in the Prt

VZCZCXRO7457
OO RUEHSL RUEHSR
DE RUEHC #3595/01 0140106
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 140100Z JAN 10
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA IMMEDIATE 6237
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL IMMEDIATE 2779
RUEHSM/AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM IMMEDIATE 8850
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO IMMEDIATE 1909
RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON IMMEDIATE 0900
ALL NATO POST COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
INFO RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL IMMEDIATE 5515
RUEHPG/AMEMBASSY PRAGUE IMMEDIATE 1631

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 003595

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL NATO AF
SUBJECT: ENCOURAGING SENIOR-LEVEL PARTICIPATION IN THE PRT
CONFERENCE IN PRAGUE

REF: 09 PRAGUE 731

1. Action request for Embassies in countries that lead or
significantly contribute to Provincial Reconstruction
Teams and USNATO in paragraph 5.

2. The Czech Republic and Embassy Prague are
co-organizing an international conference on the work of
Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) in Afghanistan
January 25-27 (reftel). S/SRAP views the forum as a
unique opportunity to strengthen coordination in capitals
of the numerous PRT-contributing countries on key areas of
the international assistance strategy, including:
sub-national governance, agricultural development and job
creation, communications and counter-propaganda,
civilian-military coordination, and, common measures of
effectiveness. S/SRAP would like to use the Prague
Conference to hold a closed session for Deputy SRAPs,
senior NATO officials, and civilian and military officials
from the field to discuss concrete ways to achieve unity
of effort among PRTs. This would complement ongoing PRT
coordination in Kabul. End Summary.

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Background
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3. The January 25-27 PRT Conference in Prague aims to
bring together senior- and working-level civilians,
military, and NGO leaders from Afghanistan and ISAF
countries involved in PRT operations. Thus far, more than
145 invitees have already confirmed their participation.
The Afghan government has indicated it would send a
high-level delegation led by the Minister of the
Independent Directorate for Local Governance Jalani
Popal.

4. Deputy Special Representative for Afghanistan and
Pakistan Paul Jones is looking forward to leading an
interagency team to Prague. Specifically, he would
participate in a closed pre-conference session on January
25 to help reach agreement in capitals on concrete
measures for deepening coordination among Allies on the
modus operandi and priorities of PRTs. S/SRAP would like
PRT-contributing countries to send their Deputy SRAPs or
appropriate senior Afghanistan-Pakistan policy-maker to
Prague for this closed pre-conference session on January
25.

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Demarche Request
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5. For Capitals and USNATO: Washington requests that
Embassies in countries that lead or significantly
contribute to PRTs convey the following points:

-- In previous international conferences on Afghanistan we
have discussed the need for better coordination of our
security and civilian assistance.

-- PRTs have proven to be an essential stabilization and
reconstruction tool in Afghanistan since 2001, and the
international community's renewed focus on governance and
development in provinces and districts means that PRTs
will play an even more vital role in the coming months.
-- The PRT Conference in Prague represents a unique
opportunity for policy-makers and practitioners to deepen
our coordination on specific PRT activities in such areas
as sub-national governance, agricultural development and
job creation, communications and counter propaganda, and
civilian-military coordination.

-- Deputy Special Representative for Afghanistan and
Pakistan Paul Jones is considering leading a robust
interagency team to Prague to hold talks with counterparts
on possible ways to strengthen unity of effort.

-- SRAP Ambassador Holbrooke strongly encourages Deputy
SRAPs or appropriate senior official and a senior official
from NATO to make plans to travel to Prague for these

STATE 00003595 002 OF 002

talks.

-- D/SRAP Jones extends his best wishes to [name of Deputy
SRAP or senior official] and hopes to meet with [him/her]
in person at the closed pre-conference session with other
Deputy SRAPs and the opening session of the conference the
evening of January 25.

6. Please send in your responses by January 20 to S/SRAP
(POC: S/SRAP Senior Advisor Dereck Hogan) and Embassy
Prague (POC: Acting DCM John Law).
CLINTON

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