EUR A/S FRIED,S MEETING WITH RUSSIAN DEPUTY

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 001673 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/13/2015 TAGS: PREL KDEM KMPI BA RU SUBJECT: EUR A/S FRIED,S MEETING WITH RUSSIAN DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER SALTANOV, NOVEMBER 11, 2005, MANAMA, BAHRAIN Classified By: DCM Susan L. Ziadeh for reasons 1.4 b, d. ¶1. (SBU) Meeting Held on November 11, 2005, 18:30, at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Manama, Bahrain ¶2. (SBU) Participants: U.S. A/S Dan Fried Leslie Tsou (TDY Notetaker) Russia Deputy FM Saltanov Andrei Kondakov, Economic Cooperation Director Oleg Ozerov, Middle East and North Africa Deputy Director ¶3. (C) Summary. Meeting on the margins of the November 11 Forum for the Future Senior Officials Meeting in Bahrain, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Saltanov asked for clarification of the G8 Presidency,s role towards the Forum, since Russia takes over the G8 Presidency in 2006. A/S Fried said the Forum has expanded beyond the G8. Russia will wait to decide the extent of its commitment until it gauges the Middle East reaction to the Forum, Saltanov said. A/S Fried urged Russia to support the Forum as strongly as possible, noting it is an important front in the global war on terror. In any event, Saltanov said Russia would not do anything to "cause trouble" at the November 12 Ministerial. End summary. -------------- Forum for the Future and the G8 -------------- ¶4. (C) Saltanov complained that Russia did not have enough background on the Forum for the Future. Russia will assume the G8 Presidency in 2006, he said, and would like to know how it will be expected to support the Forum. A/S Fried explained the structure of Forum, pointing out that it has expanded beyond the G8. Outside the G8, countries such as Denmark, Greece, Spain, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Turkey, and Hungary have all made financial contributions, as have Yemen, Morocco, Lebanon, Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan, and Qatar. Even the European Union has contributed. The Forum can stand on its own without particular G8 support. -------------- -------------- Russia,s Support for the Foundation for the Future -------------- -------------- ¶5. (C) Saltanov said Russia would study the Foundation carefully, but wants to see how the region reacts before committing itself, especially financially. A/S Fried urged Russia to support the Foundation as much as possible, noting that support for democracy and liberal thought in the Broader Middle East opens an essential front in the global war on terror (GWOT). Saltanov agreed that the GWOT should be fought on many levels. Nonetheless, Russia wants to proceed carefully, since Middle Eastern societies are very traditional and suspicious of outsiders, intentions. Reaction in the region is becoming more positive. In any case, Saltanov assured A/S Fried that Russia would not be a &subversive element8 at the Ministerial meeting November 12. ¶6. (U) This message has been cleared by A/S Fried. MONROE