The Jerusalem Post: Suleiman promised to stop Gaza elections
"Egyptian Vice President Omar Suleiman promised Israel in 2005 that he would prevent Hamas from gaining control over Gaza, according to a US diplomatic cable released on Friday.
According to the cable, which was leaked to WikiLeaks and published by Norweigan newspaper Aftenposten, Maj.-Gen. (res.) Amos Gilad, head of the Defense Ministry's Diplomatic-Security Bureau, secretly visited Suleiman, then the head of Egyptian intelligence, in September 2005. Gilad then reported on the visit to US diplomats in Tel Aviv."
Aftenposten: NATO ALLIES LACK COHESION DURING FIRST MEETING ON GEORGIA CRISIS
"At the August 11 NATO Political Committee meeting on the fighting in Georgia, Allies unanimously deplored the Aug 8-11 developments but differed on how these events should affect NATOs relations with Russia. The Balts and Poland would like to suspend the NATO-Russia Council, but Germany, France, and other traditionally cautious Allies argued that this channel of communication should be kept open to help bring an end to the fighting. The NAC will meet August 12 to examine the crisis in Georgia, immediately before meeting with the Georgian Foreign Minister (since cancelled - now with the Georgian Ambassador). While most Allies seem inclined to issue a North Atlantic Council (NAC) Statement on the crisis, there are divisions along traditional lines on whether that statement should contain strong criticism of Russia or simply be "balanced." Many European Allies are concerned that a NAC statement not diverge from the EUs internal consensus-building efforts to be undertaken in Brussels April 12-13. France is also concerned that a NATO statement would undermine President Sarkozys August 12 trip to Moscow."
Aftenposten: HOW UKRAINIAN, GEORGIAN MAP IS PLAYING AT NATO
"Discussion of Ukrainian and Georgia MAP prospects at NATO remains highly charged and polarized. Germany leads the "Gang of Five" critics (France, the Netherlands, Spain and Norway plus sometimes Portugal), while the U.S. and Canada champion the pro-camp otherwise comprised of the Poles, Balts, Czechs, Romanians and Bulgarians. The UK, Denmark and Italy lead off the "wavering West" of on-again, off-again Allies who are fence-sitting in most meetings. Greece and Turkey expend energy trying to avoid being pinned down here, but show skeptical colors when pressed. We welcome lateral post perspectives on Georgian and Ukrainian MAP prospects as seen in capital and any "soft spots" on advocacy which we should explore."
Aftenposten: GEORGIA/NATO: GERMANY HOLDS FIRM AGAINST NAC TRIP TO GEORGIA
"Political Counselor raised Ref (A) points with MFA NATO Office Director Dirk Brengelmann and NSC-director-equivalent Detlef Waechter at the Chancellery. Their positions were essentially identical and appeared to be coordinated: Germany does not support a North Atlantic Council visit to Georgia in October. Brengelmann said September 10 that this remained Germanys position after discussions between Political Director Volker Stanzel and EUR A/S Dan Fried."
Aftenposten: BUILDING SUPPORT FOR A NAC VISIT TO GEORGIA
"At a September 4 informal discussion among NATO Perm Reps, there was significant movement towards consensus in favor of the proposed October 3-4 visit of the North Atlantic Council (NAC) to Tbilisi. However, several Allies -- Germany, Greece, Luxembourg, and Belgium -- remained opposed and several more -- France, Spain, and the Netherlands -- were non-committal. Perm Reps agree to revisit the issue on Tuesday, September 11 for a final decision on whether the NAC would make the trip to Georgia or the Secretary-General (SYG) would travel alone. In light of the importance of a positive decision both to the integrity of NATOs Intensified Dialogue process and to Georgias ambitions to move to NATO Membership Action Plan, post requests the Department instruct Embassies Berlin, Athens, Madrid, Luxembourg, Brussels, Paris and The Hague to demarche host governments on U.S. support for a NAC visit to Tbilisi, in order to recognize NATO appreciation for the government of Georgias progress on reforms, which are integral to Georgias Intensified Dialogue with NATO."
Aftenposten: READOUT NORTH ATLANTIC COUNCIL MEETING JANUARY 28, 2009
"AFGHANISTAN: ISAF Senior Civilian Representative Gentilini said the Afghans were eager for NATO to respond to its proposal for a military technical agreement, sent to NATO in early January. The SCR and several Perm Reps stressed that a MTA with the Afghans could help address the issue of civilian casualties, but many cautioned that the legal difficulties involved in negotiating such an agreement called for the Alliance to proceed with caution. Saying it needed more time to seek instructions, Hungary blocked consensus on a decision that fully filling the Elections Support Force (ESF) should take priority over filling the NATO Response Force (NRF), which would have allowed nations to pull NRF components for use in the ESF. The NAC will revisit the issue next week."
Aftenposten: 5 FEB 2009 VVC AND EXPERTS: TURKEY NEARLY SCUTTLES
"Implementation coordination for 2009 dominated discussions in the 5 February 2009 VCC and Experts, with Turkey raising unexpectedly strong objections to provisions that dictate which Ally loses in the event a non-Ally preempts an Allied verification activity. Turkeys objections seemed linked to the fact that under the draft, which most other Allies understood would be agreed, Turkey would lose its passive quota for an inspection to the Russian Federation as a result of a recent notification of intent to inspect Russia by Switzerland. Turkey finally consented to move the draft along, but resumed its opposition in the VCC. The paper has since been placed under silence which ends close of business, 16 February."
Aftenposten: DEBATE ON RUSSIAN ROLE IN OAE FORESHADOWS DIVIDING LINES ON NATO-RUSSIA POLICY
"During the August 13 North Atlantic Council (NAC) meeting, the U.S., Poland, the Balts, UK, and Czech Republic, and Canada, giving teeth to the "no business-as-usual" approach to NATO relations with Russia, opposed participation of the Russian ship Ladniy in Operation Active Endeavor (OAE). As a result, the NAC did not reach consensus. Russia will be informed of the NAC decision through both political and military channels, and SHAPE will return operational control of the Ladniy to the Russian navy. Leading those opposed to Russian participation, Ambassador Volker argued that NATO would send the wrong signal if the NAC allowed Russian participation. Germany, however, as the standard bearer for pro-Russia camp, expressed its dismay over the negative decision and urged Allies to reconsider it in light of the effect on NATOs long-term relationship with Russia. The NAC also decided to take no action on the Russian request for a Russian proposed NATO-Russia Council meeting, pending discussion by NATO Foreign Ministers at an extraordinary session on August 19. The discussion on OAE provides an insightful preview on how Allies will approach NATOs future relationship with Russia at the Ministerial meeting."
Aftenposten: NORTH ATLANTIC COUNCIL READOUT - JULY 22, 2008
"Farewell to the Permanent Representative from France: In his farewell address to the NAC, departing French PermRep Richard Duque said the greatest threat facing the Alliance was the danger of being pulled into disunity, particularly on the issue of Russia where he encouraged Allies to see a future of cooperation."
Aftenposten: SECRETARY CLINTON: YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THE NATO-RUSSIA COUNCIL
"This is the first high-level NATO-Russia Council (NRC) meeting since the August 2008 Georgia crisis, when NATO suspended meetings of the Council. During the Foreign Ministerial last March, you succeeded in convincing your NATO colleagues to resume NRC deliberations - a decision subsequently reaffirmed at the April Summit. The Corfu meeting comes at a critical time in our attempt to rebuild relations with Russia - just one week before the Moscow Summit. A major objective of this meeting is to ensure that the improvements in bilateral relations are reflected in the NATO-Russia relationship as well. Moscow has yet to match its more positive attitude towards the United States in its attitude towards NATO. This gap is worrying to many Allies, and we should seek to close it. Indeed, if we ignore it, Allies may come to fear that we are willing to sacrifice their interests in order to advance our bilateral relations with Moscow."
Aftenposten: TAKING THE NATO-RUSSIA COUNCIL FORWARD IN STORMY WEATHER
"The Alliance has made great strides in overcoming internal divisions over Russia and Europes East leading to an emerging consensus on how to take NATO-Russia relations forward. USNATO is working with Germany and the Czech Republic on non-papers that provide a roadmap for re-engagement with Russia. We plan to circulate these non-papers prior to the April 29 NATO-Russia Council (NRC) Ambassadorial meeting with the intent of seeking approval by Ministers at the upcoming NRC Foreign Ministerial meeting (proposed for May 19). Russian pressure to cancel Partnership for Peace (PfP) exercises in Georgia will test the shaky emerging consensus within the Alliance on NATO-Russia. Moreover, Russian Ambassador Rogozin may slow down or reverse Russias stated goal of re-engagement in the NRC and seek to distort our proposals. That said, our strategic approach -- of seeking to cooperate with Russia in specific areas of common interest, while pushing back in areas where we disagree -- remains valid and serves as a basis in keeping NATO united, even when Russia seeks to pressure NATO, as it is doing with the PfP exercises."
Aftenposten: NATO POST-MINISTERIAL COMMUNIQUE READOUT
"The two-week long communique drafting session for the December 2-3 NATO Foreign Ministerial was a difficult and, at times, contentious affair. Two issues cast a long shadow over the negotiations: how to handle the Membership Action Plan applications of Georgia and Ukraine and how to address NATO-Russia relations. Ukraine and Georgia was discussed by PermReps outside the framework of the rest of the communique and was only finally settled by ministers. NATO-Russia was discussed by the communique drafters, but the inability to agree a way forward meant that it too was only resolved following a ministerial discussion. The negotiations also highlighted ongoing problems in our relationships with two key Allies: Germany and France. Germany demonstrated once again that it is strategically in a different place than the U.S. (and the UK) on a wide range of issues. These differences are further exacerbated by German FM Steinmeiers efforts to appeal to the German domestic audience as he gears up for his election challenge to Chancellor Merkel. While the French were more pragmatic than the Germans on some issues, two interrelated trends--their need to defend to the end statements by their mercurial president and their need to defend (and try to get NATO to accept unconditionally) decisions of the EU presidency--meant that they had extremely rigid and unhelpful instructions on issues such as NATO-Russia, Kosovo, piracy, and comprehensive approach. While the birthing was difficult and often painful, we believe the resulting communique (reftels) represents significant progress on a number of U.S. initiatives, such as missile defense. Equally important, the willingness of Allies to eventually compromise and find diplomatically ambiguous language for the Ukraine/Georgia and NATO-Russia sections shows that Allies are finally ready to move past our differences for now on these issues."
Aftenposten: GERMANY REMAINS STUBBORN ON MAP AND ADDITIONAL TROOPS FOR AFGHANISTAN
"Top German government officials emphasized to visiting USNATO Ambassador Kurt Volker November 10-11 that Germany remains strongly opposed to granting Ukraine and Georgia member action plan (MAP) status at the December 2-3 meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers. While open to giving the applicant countries a "navigation aid" or action plan to help guide their reforms, Germany is not ready at this point to substitute this "navigation aid" for MAP -- it wants to keep open the option of still requiring MAP at some later date before membership. Volker warned that adding an additional hurdle to the accession process would give the impression that the Alliance was stepping back from its Bucharest commitment and capitulating to Russian pressure. German officials also stressed that over the next year, they had little political flexibility for increasing the number of German troops in Afghanistan or for expanding their area of deployment beyond what was provided for in the ISAF parliamentary mandate approved last month. In response to MFAs view that the April 2009 NATO Strasbourg/Kehl Summit should be primarily an anniversary meeting and avoid "confrontational issues," Volker emphasized the need to address key questions like Afghanistan and NATOs relations with Russia and the east. The Germans are disdainful of Medvedevs European security proposal, but they believe they have to "deal with it" and are hopeful that discussing it can "improve the atmosphere" with Russia. While warning against "cornering" Russia in regards to MAP and the conflict with Georgia, Germans have been very critical of Medvedevs announcement about stationing short-range missiles in Kaliningrad."
Aftenposten: SEPTEMBER 11, 2008 HLTF: ALLIES GRAPPLE WITH TIMING AND SUBSTANCE OF CFE NEXT STEPS
"At the September 11 NATO High Level Task Force (HLTF) and related meetings Allies discussed potential next steps on CFE in the context of Russian actions in Georgia and Russias continued "suspension" of CFE, based largely on the options advanced by the U.S. (ref a). There was general agreement on the need for a unified, measured CFE response that was "not business as usual," and which visibly demonstrated NATOs continued solidarity."
Aftenposten: RUSSIA THROWS ITS WEIGHT AROUND IN THE EAPC
"The EAPCs first meeting after the summer break featured Georgian protests about Russian action and a Russian response made memorable by a claim that, if the Russian response had been proportionate, "Tbilisi would now lie in ruins." Russia announced it has withdrawn from the PfP SOFA. The Russian delegate followed the meeting by making hallway threats to the Georgian political counselor. Spain moved beyond Germany to become the Ally most sympathetic to Russian versions of the August conflict."
Aftenposten: DEBATE ON RUSSIAN ROLE IN OAE FORESHADOWS DIVIDING LINES ON NATO-RUSSIA POLICY
"During the August 13 North Atlantic Council (NAC) meeting, the U.S., Poland, the Balts, UK, and Czech Republic, and Canada, giving teeth to the "no business-as-usual" approach to NATO relations with Russia, opposed participation of the Russian ship Ladniy in Operation Active Endeavor (OAE). As a result, the NAC did not reach consensus. Russia will be informed of the NAC decision through both political and military channels, and SHAPE will return operational control of the Ladniy to the Russian navy. Leading those opposed to Russian participation, Ambassador Volker argued that NATO would send the wrong signal if the NAC allowed Russian participation. Germany, however, as the standard bearer for pro-Russia camp, expressed its dismay over the negative decision and urged Allies to reconsider it in light of the effect on NATOs long-term relationship with Russia. The NAC also decided to take no action on the Russian request for a Russian proposed NATO-Russia Council meeting, pending discussion by NATO Foreign Ministers at an extraordinary session on August 19. The discussion on OAE provides an insightful preview on how Allies will approach NATOs future relationship with Russia at the Ministerial meeting."
Aftenposten: NATO ALLIES STILL DIVIDED ON GEORGIA STATEMENT
"The North Atlantic Council (NAC) met August 12 in emergency session to discuss a NAC statement on the Georgia crisis and to discuss whether to agree to Russias request for a meeting of the NATO-Russia Council (NRC). Although Allies agreed in principle to begin drafting a formal statement for subsequent NAC approval, consensus broke down over timing. The NAC authorized the SYG to engage the press after the NAC meeting with Georgia scheduled for later in the day to give an assessment of todays meetings and Allies positions. Discussions over the text of a statement will continue in the Political Committee. Allies also discussed whether to agree to a meeting of the NRC, as Russia has requested. Nearly all Allies spoke in favor of having the meeting, while stressing that there could not be "business as usual." The United States and others reserved and NATO agreed for today to say there is no agreement on timing of a possible NRC meeting. De Hoop Scheffer and several Allies also stressed that NATO would need a strong, unified message for Russia before such a meeting."
Aftenposten: NATO: ALLIES REAFFIRM GEORGIAN SOVEREIGNTY; OFFER MORAL SUPPORT AND HUMANITARIAN AID, BUT LITTLE ELSE
"At an August 12 North Atlantic Council meeting with Georgia, Georgian Permanent Representative to NATO Beshidze (substituting for the Georgian FM who at the last minute could not attend) characterized the Russian action as open aggression and occupation of a sovereign, democratic state. Beshidze focused on the Russian air strikes against Georgian urban and civilian areas, Russian escalation through ground assaults outside of the conflict area into Georgia proper, and the unfolding humanitarian crises. Georgia tabled eight requests for NATO assistance in helping to end hostilities and to ensure the stability of the region (see below). Allies unanimously supported Georgian independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, with some (Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Romania, and Czech Republic) expressing strong solidarity with Georgia. All Allies recognized Russia,s disproportionate response to the crises and reiterated their call for an end to hostilities as well as support for ongoing ceasefire efforts led by the EU/OSCE. For now, Allies supported consideration in NATO,s Political Committee of Georgia,s eight requests, citing the need for further discussion. Only Germany sounded a somewhat sour note on this issue, saying that NATO has no actual role in ongoing efforts and that NATO,s direct involvement through Georgia,s request could escalate the conflict."
Aftenposten: A/S FRIED WARNS NATO SYG, PERM REPS OF DANGER OF UN, EU DELAY IN KOSOVO AND OF POLITICAL DRIFT IN GEORGIAN-ABKHAZ CONFLICT
"Assistant Secretary Dan Fried met with NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer July 22 in Brussels and later informally briefed PermReps, delivering a warning in both meetings about the dangers of continued delay in UNMIK reconfiguration and EULEX deployment throughout Kosovo and calling attention to the need for immediate progress in deescalating the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict to reverse the deterioration on the ground. In their private meeting, the SYG expressed concern about the potential for a divisive debate within the Alliance in December over whether to grant Membership Action Plan (MAP) to Ukraine and Georgia in light of what he saw as unwavering German and French opposition. He floated the idea, which he said German Chancellor Merkel has hinted at, of agreeing in December to extend MAP to the two countries in 2010, assuming continue progress in their reforms (and "unless something horrible happens"). Fried said such a decision would give perverse incentives to Russia to instigate "something horrible," e.g., a war. Fried also told the SYG and PermReps the U.S. is willing to listen to details about Russian President Medvedevs proposal for a new security architecture for Euro-Atlantic relations, but for now the proposal recalled Soviet proposals from the 1970s. Fried briefed the SYG on progress in U.S.-Polish missile defense talks and the SYG expressed concern about the deterioration in atmospherica between Macedonia and Greece over the name issue."
Aftenposten: READOUT: OCTOBER 8 NORTH ATLANTIC COUNCIL MEETING
"AFGHANISTAN: NATO Secretary General de Hoop Scheffer noted that SG(2008)0746: &Employment of NATO Airborne Early Warning & Control Force for ISAF8 is under silence until 1800, Oct 8. If this document is agreed, the Military Committee (MC) will be able to take forward its work on this issue. SHAPE,s Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Maj Gen Wright, cited a slight reduction in Opposing Militant Forces (OMF) activity compared to the previous week and reported that there has been a 33 percent decrease in attacks on the ring road since August 4. PermReps focused on the future assessment of the Comprehensive Strategic Pol-Mil Plan (CSPMP) and Pakistan,s operations in the border area."
Aftenposten: A/S FRIED WARNS NATO SYG, PERM REPS OF DANGER OF UN, EU DELAY IN KOSOVO AND OF POLITICAL DRIFT IN GEORGIAN-ABKHAZ CONFLICT
"Assistant Secretary Dan Fried met with NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer July 22 in Brussels and later informally briefed PermReps, delivering a warning in both meetings about the dangers of continued delay in UNMIK reconfiguration and EULEX deployment throughout Kosovo and calling attention to the need for immediate progress in deescalating the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict to reverse the deterioration on the ground. In their private meeting, the SYG expressed concern about the potential for a divisive debate within the Alliance in December over whether to grant Membership Action Plan (MAP) to Ukraine and Georgia in light of what he saw as unwavering German and French opposition. He floated the idea, which he said German Chancellor Merkel has hinted at, of agreeing in December to extend MAP to the two countries in 2010, assuming continue progress in their reforms (and "unless something horrible happens"). Fried said such a decision would give perverse incentives to Russia to instigate "something horrible," e.g., a war. Fried also told the SYG and PermReps the U.S. is willing to listen to details about Russian President Medvedevs proposal for a new security architecture for Euro-Atlantic relations, but for now the proposal recalled Soviet proposals from the 1970s. Fried briefed the SYG on progress in U.S.-Polish missile defense talks and the SYG expressed concern about the deterioration in atmospherica between Macedonia and Greece over the name issue."
Aftenposten: SCENESETTER FOR ADMIRAL MULLEN
"Key Points:
-- Since your last visit, the U.S. and Egypt initiated a senior-level Strategic Dialogue that built upon the improved bilateral atmosphere following President Obama´s June 2009 speech in Cairo. We have seen improved cooperation in multilateral fora, in addition to close cooperation on regional issues including Arab-Israeli peace and Sudan.
-- While the U.S.-Egypt military relationship remains strong, the Egyptian military has been resistant to our efforts to adjust its focus to reflect new regional and transnational threats. -- While Egyptian leadership continues to view Iran as the greatest strategic threat to the Middle East, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and Sudanese instability are immediate concerns for Egypt. -- Egypt has increased counter smuggling efforts, including the construction of a subterranean steel wall along the Egypt-Gaza border that has provoked intense domestic and regional criticism of perceived complicity in the Israeli blockade of Gaza."
La Jornada: Embajador en Colombia, informante de Washington ([Mexican] Ambassador in Colombia, Washington informer)
"México fungió como fallido "facilitador" en las negociaciones para el desarme del colombiano Ejército de Liberación Nacional (ELN) durante el sexenio de Vicente Fox, cuyo gobierno se caracterizó por hacer esfuerzos sin precedente para posicionar a México en política exterior. (Mexico acted as a failed facilitator in the negotiations for the disarmament of the Colombian "Army of National Liberation" during the Vicente Fox administration, whose government was noted by the unprecedented efforts to improve Mexico's position in foreign policy.)"
La Jornada: Ganar la elección en 2000, "único" logro de Fox: EU (To win the 2000 election, the "only" achievement of Fox: United States)
"La embajada de Estados Unidos despidió el sexenio de Vicente Fox describiéndolo como "lejos de la perfección". Se trata de un amplio documento de evaluación, en el que además de las opiniones de los funcionarios de la representación diplomática se citan las de observadores políticos mexicanos y estadounidenses. Algunos coinciden en señalar que el "mayor y único logro" de Fox fue ganar la elección de 2000. (The American Embassy said goodbye to the administration of Vicente Fox describing him as "far from perfection" in a long document that evaluates opinions from government employees and includes quotations of political analysts from Mexico and the United States. Some of them agree on pointing out that the major and only achievement of Fox was to win the 2000 election.)"
La Jornada: EU buscó la firma de pacto antiterrorista (The United States wanted the [Mexican] signature in the Anti-Terrorism Pact)
"Estados Unidos vio en abril de 2008 la oportunidad de introducir en el contexto de la Iniciativa Mérida un acuerdo contraterrorista, alegando la posibilidad de que grupos del crimen organizado que ya utilizaban "tácticas terroristas" pudieran ser instrumentalizados por las "organizaciones terroristas globales". (The United States saw in April 2008 a chance to introduce in the context of the Mérida Initiative an agreement [with Mexico] against terrorism, arguing the possibility of several armed groups, which already have used "terrorist tactics", being utilized by "global terrorist organizations".)"
El País: Kirchner y los piqueteros, "un matrimonio de conveniencia" (Kirchner and the "piqueteros", a convenient marriage)
"La relación desarrollada por los piqueteros y los sindicatos de trabajadores con Néstor Kirchner, fallecido el pasado año, y su esposa, Cristina Fernández, fue definida por la embajada norteamericana en Buenos Aires como "un matrimonio de conveniencia", una alianza de intereses: apoyo político a cambio de subsidios oficiales. (The relation developed by the "piqueteros" and other unions of workers with Néstor Kirchner, who died last year, and his wife Cristina Frnández was defined by the American Embassy in Buenos Aires as a "marriage of convenience", an alliance of interests: political support in exchange of official subsidies.)"
El País: Los bancos pactaron con los Kirchner antes de las elecciones, según EE UU (The banks made an agreement with the Kirchner before the elections, according with the United States)
"La Embajada en Buenos Aires asegura que las entidades aceptaron dar créditos baratos para aumentar la popularidad de Cristina Fernández. (The [American] Embassy in Buenos Aires assures that the entities accepted to give cheap credits to increase the popularity od Cristina Fernández.)"
El País: El Gobierno de Arabia Saudí teme que Al Qaeda controle la Meca y La Medina (The Government of Saudi Arabia fears Al Qaeda controlling Meca and Medina)
"El Gobierno de Arabia Saudí estudia limitar el número de visitas y los días de permanencia de los peregrinos en la Meca y la Medina, los santos lugares, para evitar que sean controlados por Al Qaeda, según asegura un cable secreto del Departamento de Estado de los EE UU. (The Government of Saudi Arabia studies to establish limits for pilgrims on the number of visits and days of staying in Meca and Medina, the sacred places, to prevent them of being controled by Al Qaeda, according with a secret cable from the State Department of the United States.)"
(Image Credit: Dali Rău)
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