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### Viewing cable 09HELSINKI52, FINLAND: VISIT OF AFGHAN NATIONAL SECURITY

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Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
09HELSINKI52 | 2009-02-12 13:25 | 2011-04-24 00:00 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Helsinki

`

    VZCZCXRO0242
    RR RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHNP RUEHROV RUEHSR
    DE RUEHHE #0052/01 0431325
    ZNY CCCCC ZZH
    R 121325Z FEB 09
    FM AMEMBASSY HELSINKI
    TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4800
    INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
    RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 0080
    RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO 4746
    RUEHSM/AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM 8668
    RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 0963

` `

    C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HELSINKI 000052

    SIPDIS

    E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/11/2019
    TAGS: MARR FI PREL
    SUBJECT: FINLAND: VISIT OF AFGHAN NATIONAL SECURITY
    ADVISOR, FEB 2-5

    Classified By: CDA Michael Butler for reasons 1.4(b) and (d)

    ¶1. (C) SUMMARY.  Afghanistan's National Security Advisor,
    Zalmai Rassoul, offered his government's appreciation for
    Finland's assistance during a visit from February 2-5. In
    meetings with the Foreign and Defense Ministers and other
    government officials, Rassoul listed as the top problems in
    Afghanistan government corruption and insufficient progress
    on development and reconstruction (and the frustration among
    the populace with many promises and few results).  He
    described security as an urgent priority, and said that
    countries considering increasing their contributions should
    support training for the Afghan National Security Forces
    (stressing that to achieve stability, an increase in security
    was more pressing than a reduction in poverty).  Rassoul
    referred to the great optimism and high expectations
    surrounding the new U.S. Administration, and to a desire for
    a "stronger partnership" with the Europeans.  He returned
    repeatedly to the centrality of bringing security to Helmand
    Province, pointing to the Taliban, the narcotics trade and
    the importance of an election there the populace would
    consider legitimate.  Rassoul stated that the situation in
    Afghanistan is not as bad as generally perceived or as
    portrayed in the media.  The Finns welcomed Rassoul's visit,
    and the State and Department of Defense visit February 11-13,
    as opportunities to provide a clearer picture of the
    situation in Afghanistan to government officials,
    parliamentarians and media opinion-makers opportunities, and
    to combat negative press coverage of Afghanistan as the
    Parliament considers government proposals on a temporary
    troop increase and development assistance.  END SUMMARY.

    Rassoul offers Afghanistan's thanks
    -----------------------------------

    ¶2. (C) Doctor Zalmai Rassoul, Afghanistan's National Security
    Advisor, visited Finland from February 2-5.  He met with the
    Foreign and Defense Ministers, advisors to the President and
    the Prime Minister, and the Chairman of the Parliamentary
    Defense Committee.  He visited the Finnish Defense Forces
    International Center for an overview of Finnish crisis
    management and peacekeeper training, and gave a speech to the
    Atlantic Council.  As described by Finnish officials to
    PolChief on February 10, Rassoul,s purpose for the visit was
    to convey thanks for Finland,s support.  In expressing
    appreciation, Rassoul repeatedly emphasized that the number
    of troops Finland contributes is not paramount, but the fact
    of Finland's presence in Afghanistan.  In a speech to the
    Atlantic Council, Rassoul expressed gratitude when noting
    that Afghanistan is the largest recipient in Asia of
    Finland's development assistance.

    Points raised by Rassoul
    ------------------------

    ¶3. (C) RENEWED LEADERSHIP FROM THE U.S.  To Finnish officials
    Rassoul referred to the great optimism and high expectations
    in the Afghan government surrounding the new U.S.
    Administration.  Rassoul expressed satisfaction with the
    Vice-President's (then )elect) visit.  He shared with the
    Finns one message from the Vice-President to President
    Karzai: that it would be better to be less vocal regarding
    civilian casualties. (NOTE: Rassoul also described bombings
    by U.S. unmanned aerial drones as "efficient." END NOTE.)  To
    the Atlantic Council Rassoul said he hoped a renewed
    commitment from the U.S. would be matched by a strong
    commitment from other allies, in NATO, Europe and around the
    world.

    ¶4. (C) SECURITY IS PARAMOUNT. In meetings with the Finnish
    officials, Rassoul listed as the top problems in Afghanistan
    government corruption and insufficient progress on
    development and reconstruction; he emphasized Afghans'
    frustration with the international community's numerous
    promises to bring development, and the few results.  However,
    Rassoul said that security is the over-riding concern, and
    any increases in contributions would best be directed at the
    "Afghanisation" of the security sector, i.e., training for
    the Afghan National Security Forces; to achieve stability,
    Rassoul said an increase in security was more pressing than a
    reduction in poverty.  While he stressed the importance of
    security, Rassoul also told the Finns that the situation was
    not as bad as portrayed in the media; he provided a detailed
    description of the security situation in the provinces,
    sometimes district-by-district.

    ¶5. (C) HELMAND, HELMAND, HELMAND. Rassoul repeated returned
    to the importance of Helmand Province, stressing that all of

    HELSINKI 00000052  002 OF 002

    the major challenges facing Afghanistan are found there:
    Taliban, the drug trade, and the upcoming elections.  On the
    latter, Rassoul stated that the situation there was "most
    acute." He asserted that only "three or four areas are under
    control" and his concern is that election results in Helmand
    might not be seen as legitimate if ISAF and the Afghan
    Government cannot bring greater control to the province.
    Rassoul stated that to ensure the legitimacy of the elections
    additional ISAF troops were needed.

    ¶6. (C) PAKISTAN.  With Finnish officials Rassoul returned
    repeatedly to concerns about and problems in the tribal
    areas.  To the Atlantic Council Rassoul referred to a
    "revitalized terrorist offense, originating from terrorist
    sanctuaries outside Afghanistan's borders."  He told the
    Council that Pakistan "is practically engulfed in terrorist
    violence."  Regarding the civilian government, Rassoul was
    quite blunt with Finnish officials about how Pakistan
    tolerated the Taliban.  Though critical of the government,
    the Finns also described Rassoul as "generally happy" with it
    (describing it to the Council as "a partner interested in
    peace"), although he described it as weak. Rassoul said he
    hoped the Pakistan government would exert more control over
    the security structures, but expressed doubts about whether
    and when this might happen.

    ¶7. (C) OTHERS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. Rassoul described India as
    an "important partner" of Afghanistan; he pointed to
    approximately 1.3B USD in Indian assistance, something he
    said concerns the Pakistan government. Regarding China,
    Rassoul spoke broadly about Chinese concerns about Uighur,s
    as a source of instability in the region.  (NOTE: The prior
    Administration requested that the GoF accept Uighur
    detainees.  The GoF never acted on the request. END NOTE.)
    Rassoul spoke of "increasing contacts" with Russia; he said
    that Russia uses instability in the region as a means to
    (re)assert influence over some of Afghanistan's neighbors.
    As for Iran, Rassoul described a more constructive role in
    the beginning (during the Bonn Process) than now, but also
    stated that Iran is "no ally of the Taliban."

    ¶8. (C) ISAF SUPPLY ROUTES. Rassoul spoke of the problems of
    ISAF countries in getting supplies into Afghanistan.  He
    touched on possible routes, e.g., through Iran, adding that
    arrangements regarding supply routes with Iran might be
    accomplished bilaterally by ISAF countries.

    ¶9. (C) ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.  On a few occasions Rassoul
    spoke of exploitation of mineral reserves, especially copper.
     He mentioned that the Chinese had inked a deal with the
    Afghans regarding copper mining, spoke of plans to bring a
    rail line to the mines, but also spoke of the difficulties in
    exploiting such resources in the current security environment.

    Finnish reaction to Rassoul visit
    ---------------------------------

    ¶10. (C) Finnish officials were very appreciative of Rassoul's
    visit, given that it came just before the Parliament took up
    discussion of the Governments proposal to double troops to
    support the Afghan elections and its "action plan" for
    development in Afghanistan.  in meetings with PolChief,
    Finnish officials have offered varying assessments of how the
    Parliament will greet the government's initiatives.  Anu
    Lamaanen, Deputy Director General of the MFA's Political
    Unit, expressed surprise about the muted media reaction to
    the GoF's proposal to temporarily double its troop
    contribution, especially given considerable negative press
    about the current security situation in Afghanistan; Lamaanen
    thought parliamentary debate might also be muted, as
    parliamentarians have not been provoked one way or another by
    press coverage.  Nevertheless, Finnish officials remain
    concerned about negative press coverage and its impact on the
    public and lawmakers.  They welcome visits from the U.S.,
    like that of Deputy Assistant Secretary Moon and OSD Country
    Director for Afghanistan Heidi Meyer on February 11-13, as an
    opportunity to provide a fuller picture of the situation in
    Afghanistan to government officials, parliamentarians and
    opinion-makers.
    BUTLER

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