MFA STATEMENT ON THE SECRETARY'S MAY 31

UNCLAS MOSCOW 005821

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL IR RS
SUBJECT: MFA STATEMENT ON THE SECRETARY'S MAY 31
ANNOUNCEMENT ON IRAN

REF: STATE 87682

Sensitive but unclassified; protect accordingly.


1. (U) Following in para 2 is the Embassy's unofficial
translation of the text of a Russian MFA statement,
released on June 1, on the Secretary's May 31 Iran
announcement.


2. (U) Begin text of translated MFA statement:

Moscow welcomes the announcement by the American side
of its willingness to join in direct negotiations with
Tehran with the goal of settling the situation
surrounding Iran's nuclear program. We are convinced
that a negotiated solution to this problem, as with any
other crisis in the world today, is the only logical
alternative. Expanding the format of the current
negotiations on this question became urgent long ago,
and precedent exists for doing it. We sincerely hope
that the participation of the United States in the
negotiations might help improve U.S.-Iranian relations,
which have been in a state of crisis for more than two
decades, contrary to the interests of the people of
both countries. The normalization of U.S-Iranian
relations would benefit regional and international
stability, and help bring about the resolution of other
crises in the region.

For its part, Russia will continue to actively
participate in collective efforts to find a political-
diplomatic solution. For this, we consider it
important that the prospects for a negotiated solution
not be made more difficult by attempts to threaten
Tehran or add to the negotiating agenda issues
unrelated to the central objective of settling the
problem of Iran's nuclear program.

Today a real chance has emerged to achieve such a
settlement. We call on Iran to respond to it
constructively.

End text of MFA statement.


3. (U) Press comment thus far on the U.S. initiative
has been minimal, although both it and the initial
Iranian response have been widely reported.


4. (SBU) Initial reactions from think-tank experts on
foreign and security policy issues have been generally
positive. In June 1 discussions, Ivan Safranchuk of
the Moscow office of the Center for Defense Information
and Dmitriy Suslov of the Council on Foreign and
Defense policy welcomed the U.S. offer of negotiations,
with both adding that they and other colleagues had
long called for the U.S. to enter negotiations with
Iran on the nuclear issue. Suslov voiced concern,
however, that the consequences for Russia might be
problematic, as a direct U.S.-Iran channel might leave
Moscow with less influence. While welcoming the U.S.
step, Safranchuk did not expect near-term consequences,
predicting that Iran would try end of the Bush
Administration's term of office. In his judgment, Iran
would not be prepared in any event to give up its
enrichment program, which it was pursuing as a matter
of national pride and regional status.
BURNS