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.

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Forum for the Future and the G8
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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.

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Russia,s Support for the Foundation for the Future
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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