IIR 6 815 0020 05/RUSSIA INTERESTED IN INCREASED

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 OTTAWA 003440 SIPDIS CONFIDENTIAL NOFORN SIPDIS SERIAL: (U) IIR 6 815 0020 05. COUNTRY: (U) RUSSIA (RS); CANADA (CA). IPSP: (U) IFC1311; IFC1316; IFC1321; IFC1326. TAGS: PARM SUBJECT: IIR 6 815 0020 05/RUSSIA INTERESTED IN INCREASED COOPERATION ON ARCTIC SEARCH AND RESCUE (SAR) (U) WARNING: (U) THIS IS AN INFORMATION REPORT, NOT FINALLY EVALUATED INTELLIGENCE. REPORT IS CLASSIFIED C O N F I D E N T I A L/NOFORN. -------------- -------------- DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE -------------- -------------- DOI: (U) 20041220. REQS: (U) DHCD110015. SOURCE: (C) //OTS 6 815 0007 05//SENIOR RUSSIAN MILITARY OFFICER WHO HAS SERVED AT MULTIPLE DIPLOMATIC POSTS AND HAS DIRECT KNOWLEDGE OF GOVERNMENT POLICY POSITIONS. PRESUMED RELIABLE. SUMMARY: (C/NF) RUSSIA IS INTERESTED IN ENHANCING COOPERATION WITH CANADA AND THE U.S. ON SEARCH AND RESCUE (SAR) OPERATIONS IN THE ARCTIC. RUSSIA MAY ALSO BE OPEN TO INCREASING TRANSPARENCY ON BOMBER AND FIGHTER EXERCISES IN THE FAR NORTH. TEXT: 1. (C/NF) ACCORDING TO SOURCE, RUSSIA IS INTERESTED IN ENHANCING COOPERATION ON SAR OPERATIONS IN THE ARCTIC, INCLUDING NORTHERN CANADA AND ALASKA. RUSSIAN MILITARY INTENDS TO RAISE THE ISSUE WITH CANADIAN COUNTERPARTS DURING JOINT STAFF TALKS IN 2005. SOURCE BELIEVES RUSSIAN MILITARY HAS MADE A POLICY DECISION THAT GREATER TRANSPARENCY AND COOPERATION ARE REQUIRED TO EFFECTIVELY CONDUCT SAR OPERATIONS IN THE DEMANDING ARCTIC ENVIRONMENT AND TO ENSURE THAT THE BEST POSITIONED RESCUE FORCE IS ABLE TO RESPOND. ¶2. (C/NF) RO ASKED SOURCE IF RUSSIA WOULD ALSO BE INTERESTED IN GREATER TRANSPARENCY IN BOMBER EXERCISES AND AIR DEFENSE OPERATIONS IN THE ARCTIC AS WELL. SOURCE STATED THAT WHILE ANY DECISION ON TRANSPARENCY IN BOMBER ACTIVITIES WAS ABOVE HIS LEVEL, HE HAD CONSULTED WITH HIS DEFENSE MINISTRY AND THERE MAY BE A CHANCE THAT THIS ISSUE COULD BE RAISED AS WELL DURING JOINT STAFF TALKS AT THE COLONEL/O-6 LEVEL BETWEEN RUSSIA AND CANADA AND/OR RUSSIA AND THE UNITED STATES. SOURCE OPINED THAT THE IDEAL SOLUTION WOULD BE TO HAVE OCCASIONAL TRIPARTITE STAFF TALKS AMONG U.S., CANADA, AND RUSSIA AT THE O-6 LEVEL TO DISCUSS ISSUES CONCERNING MILITARY OPERATIONS IN THE ARCTIC; INCLUDING SAR, TRAINING AND EXERCISES, AND NORTHWEST PASSAGE SECURITY ISSUES. COMMENTS: 1. (C/NF) FIELD COMMENTS. SOURCE HAD BEEN ASKED THE QUESTION ON BOMBER EXERCISE TRANSPARENCY ON THREE OTHER OCCASIONS IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS. IN THE PAST SOURCE WAS VERY CIRCUMSPECT AND NONCOMMITAL ON WHETHER TO EVEN ASK THE QUESTION AT HOME. THIS TIME IT WAS CLEAR SOURCE HAD CONSULTED WITH MOSCOW AND THAT THERE WAS AT LEAST SOME WILLINGNESS TO DISCUSS THE ISSUE AT THE WORKING LEVEL DURING JOINT STAFF TALKS. IT WAS ALSO CLEAR SOURCE HAD BEEN ASKED TO PRESENT A SIMILAR PROPOSAL ON SAR OPERATIONS. ¶2. (C/NF) RO RAISED THE BOMBER EXERCISE ISSUE BASED UPON PAST DISCUSSIONS WITH FORMER CDR NORAD/NORTHCOM GENERAL ED ((EBERHART)). ENHANCED TRANSPARENCY AND COOPERATION ARE STILL OF INTEREST TO NORAD/NORTHCOM. RO BELIEVES BEST CHANCE FOR SUCCESS WILL BE PROPOSING TO EXTEND 2005 RUSSIA-CANADA JOINT STAFF TALKS BY A DAY TO INCLUDE A TRIPARTITE SESSION WITH THE U.S. ATTENDED BY REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE JOINT STAFF AND HQ NORTH AMERICAN AEROSPACE DEFENSE COMMAND (NORAD). THIS SESSION COULD BE USED TO DISCUSS THE FULL SPECTRUM OF MILITARY ISSUES OF MUTUAL INTEREST IN THE ARCTIC. RAISING THE ISSUE IN CANADA WOULD BE LESS THREATENING TO THE RUSSIANS THAN DOING SO IN THE U.S. OR RUSSIA; JUST AS EFFECTIVE FROM A NORAD PERPECTIVE; AND APPROPRIATE SINCE CANADA HAS SOVEREIGNTY OVER THE MOST ARCTIC TERRITORY OF CONCERN. ¶3. (U) SOURCE REMAINS AVAILABLE FOR FURTHER EXPLOITATION. ¶4. (C/NF) THIS REPORTING SUPPORTS PRIORITY 2, PARAGRAPH 3A, OF THE DAO OTTAWA OPERATING DIRECTIVE. ¶5. (U) DIRECT ANY QUESTIONS CONCERNING THIS IIR TO DHO-1 AT STU III (703) 907-0541, OR GRAY 981-8236. COLL: (U) AB; AH; MM. INSTR: (U) US NO. PREP: (U) 6-03048. ACQ: (U) CANADA, OTTAWA (20041220). DISSEM: (U) FIELD: AMEMB OTTAWA. WARNING: (U) REPORT CLASSIFIED C O N F I D E N T I A L/NOT RELEASABLE TO FOREIGN NATIONALS. SIPDIS DRV FROM: DH SCG OCT 2004 DECL ON: 20141222