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.

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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
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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