Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06MOSCOW11775
2006-10-20 05:28:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Moscow
Cable title:
RUSSIA IPR: OUTSPOKEN LIBERAL LEGISLATOR ON CIVIL
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHMO #1775 2930528 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 200528Z OCT 06 FM AMEMBASSY MOSCOW TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4243 INFO RUEHXQ/ALL EUROPEAN UNION POST COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA PRIORITY 2008 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY
UNCLAS MOSCOW 011775
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EB/TPP/IPE AND EUR/RUS HOLMAN;
STATE PLS PASS USTR FOR ESPINEL, ERRION, COLLEY, MCCOY,
FIELDS;
USDOC FOR 4231/IEP/EUR JBROUGHER, MEDWARDS; 4110/SWILSON
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ETRD KIPR RS
SUBJECT: RUSSIA IPR: OUTSPOKEN LIBERAL LEGISLATOR ON CIVIL
CODE PART IV
UNCLAS MOSCOW 011775
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EB/TPP/IPE AND EUR/RUS HOLMAN;
STATE PLS PASS USTR FOR ESPINEL, ERRION, COLLEY, MCCOY,
FIELDS;
USDOC FOR 4231/IEP/EUR JBROUGHER, MEDWARDS; 4110/SWILSON
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ETRD KIPR RS
SUBJECT: RUSSIA IPR: OUTSPOKEN LIBERAL LEGISLATOR ON CIVIL
CODE PART IV
1. (U) This message is sensitive but unclassified. Not
intended for Internet distribution.
2. (SBU) Summary. Federation Council Senator Ludmila
Narusova shares our sense that the Duma will likely pass a
flawed Part IV of the Civil Code this fall. She intends to
speak to Putin about her concerns, but warned that he keeps
his own counsel. The relevant Duma Committee met to consider
proposed draft amendments October 19. End Summary.
3. (U) EconOffs met October 18 with Ludmila Narusova to
discuss Part IV of the Civil Code. Narusova is the widow of
former St. Petersburg mayor and friend of Putin, Anatoliy
Sobchak. As Chair of the Federation Council's Committee on
Information Policy, Narusova has been an outspoken critic of
Part IV. During the October 5 Duma hearing on the draft
legislation, she challenged the drafters' assertion that
international experts didn't understand Russia's situation,
and called on the Duma to take its time in considering the
law.
4. (SBU) Narusova opined that the deputies are following the
old Soviet tradition of rushing to carry out the perceived
wish of the country's leader without questioning the
substance of the proposal. While agreeing that Part IV
should conform to WTO and other international IP standards,
she nevertheless expects a quick adoption of the flawed
legislation and a lengthy amendment process down the road.
She intends to speak to Putin about the problems in Part IV
soon. She cautioned, however, that the President keeps his
own counsel and has ignored her advice in the past.
5. (SBU Comment. On Part IV of the Civil Code, Narusova and
many other politicians agree that hasty passage of a flawed
text will only provoke a lengthy revision effort.
Surprisingly few, however, are willing to predict that common
sense will prevail and consideration of the draft text will
be slowed down for a thorough examination. The Embassy will,
however, continue to keep pressing for just that.
BURNS
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EB/TPP/IPE AND EUR/RUS HOLMAN;
STATE PLS PASS USTR FOR ESPINEL, ERRION, COLLEY, MCCOY,
FIELDS;
USDOC FOR 4231/IEP/EUR JBROUGHER, MEDWARDS; 4110/SWILSON
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ETRD KIPR RS
SUBJECT: RUSSIA IPR: OUTSPOKEN LIBERAL LEGISLATOR ON CIVIL
CODE PART IV
1. (U) This message is sensitive but unclassified. Not
intended for Internet distribution.
2. (SBU) Summary. Federation Council Senator Ludmila
Narusova shares our sense that the Duma will likely pass a
flawed Part IV of the Civil Code this fall. She intends to
speak to Putin about her concerns, but warned that he keeps
his own counsel. The relevant Duma Committee met to consider
proposed draft amendments October 19. End Summary.
3. (U) EconOffs met October 18 with Ludmila Narusova to
discuss Part IV of the Civil Code. Narusova is the widow of
former St. Petersburg mayor and friend of Putin, Anatoliy
Sobchak. As Chair of the Federation Council's Committee on
Information Policy, Narusova has been an outspoken critic of
Part IV. During the October 5 Duma hearing on the draft
legislation, she challenged the drafters' assertion that
international experts didn't understand Russia's situation,
and called on the Duma to take its time in considering the
law.
4. (SBU) Narusova opined that the deputies are following the
old Soviet tradition of rushing to carry out the perceived
wish of the country's leader without questioning the
substance of the proposal. While agreeing that Part IV
should conform to WTO and other international IP standards,
she nevertheless expects a quick adoption of the flawed
legislation and a lengthy amendment process down the road.
She intends to speak to Putin about the problems in Part IV
soon. She cautioned, however, that the President keeps his
own counsel and has ignored her advice in the past.
5. (SBU Comment. On Part IV of the Civil Code, Narusova and
many other politicians agree that hasty passage of a flawed
text will only provoke a lengthy revision effort.
Surprisingly few, however, are willing to predict that common
sense will prevail and consideration of the draft text will
be slowed down for a thorough examination. The Embassy will,
however, continue to keep pressing for just that.
BURNS