PUTIN MEETS WITH NGO REPRESENTATIVES AS PART OF

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MOSCOW 007124

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/06/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM PINR RS
SUBJECT: PUTIN MEETS WITH NGO REPRESENTATIVES AS PART OF
CIVIL G8

REF: MOSCOW 2502

Classified By: Ambassador William J. Burns. Reasons: 1.4 (b/d).


1. (C) SUMMARY: The main GOR-sponsored civil society event,
the Civil G8, was held July 3-4 in Moscow. The event brought
together a wide range of NGOs for lively discussions on
themes, including G8 agenda items as well as the state of
Russia's civil society. Putin attended several Civil G8
events with NGOs, and spent a total of nearly three hours in
discussions with them. Many participants characterized these
encounters as positive. Putin promised that he would work to
change controversial NGO legislation if it became too
burdensome. Putin appeared relaxed and confident, responding
to questions and statements by NGO representatives. END
SUMMARY.

CIVIL G8
--------------


2. (SBU) The main GOR-sponsored civil society event -- the
Civil -- G8 --was held on July 3-4 in Moscow. Ella
Pamfilova, Chair of the Presidential Council for Assistance
to Development of Institutions of Civil Society and Human
Rights, served as coordinator. The event was a follow up to
the previous Civil G8, which was held in March (reftel). A
wide variety of organizations attended -- Memorial, Carnegie
Center for International Peace, the Center for Development of
Democracy and Human Rights, Greenpeace, the Woods Hole
Research Center, Human Rights First, and Oxfam. According to
a list provided to the Embassy, there were over 270 foreign
participants.


3. (C) In the opening plenary session, Pamfilova noted the
presence of NGO representatives from all G8 countries as well
as Brazil, the Baltic states, Senegal, South Africa and the
CIS states. Many participants told us they were amazed by
the resources that the GOR apparently was willing to spend on
the event. Nigel Martin, President of the Forum
International de Montreal, whose organization claims to have
organized the first G8 NGO conference in 2002, told us that
the level of GOR support was unprecedented. He also
speculated that one possible motivation for such support was
the GOR's desire to show the world that civil society in
Russia was healthy and vibrant.


4. (C) After the initial plenary the participants broke into
sub-groups to discuss the themes for this year's G8 previous
G8 issues, and topics that the NGOs wanted to place on the
agenda. At the request of NGOs, Pamfilova added four
roundtable discussions on human rights. Demos Center's
Tatyana Lokshina expressed satisfaction that human rights
NGOs were allowed to decide whom to invite to these
roundtables and to choose the topics for discussion. These
roundtables examined subjects such as restrictions on human
rights under the guise of the war against terror and overall
relations between governments and NGOs. The roundtables that
Embassy observers attended featured lively discussions.

PUTIN'S PLENARY SESSION WITH NGOS
--------------


5. (C) On July 4, Putin attended a plenary session with NGOS
representative, attended by several hundred representatives
and members of the press. For nearly two hours, Putin
listened and responded to presentations on topics ranging
from genetically modified food to Iran's nuclear program. On
Iran, Putin said he hoped the Iranians would accept the
nuclear program proposals put before them prior to the G8
summit but also acknowledged that it might not be possible.
Putin also warned of the danger of non-nuclear ballistic
missiles and reiterated his call for more discussions on
reducing strategic nuclear weapons. Responding to concerns
about Russia's recent NGO legislation, Putin said he would
act to change it if it became too burdensome. He also noted
that the GOR had consulted with the Council of Europe on the
legislation and that the main intention was not to restrict
NGOs but to bring order to the NGO sector. However, Putin
also repeated previous statements that he objected to foreign
government funding of political activity in Russia.


6. (C) Putin appeared relaxed and confident, responding to
NGO questions and concerns on sensitive topics like Chechnya.
He adroitly handled an outburst by anti-nuclear protesters
who stood on their chairs to shout: "No to nuclear power
stations." The protesters, who had the same slogan taped on
their shirts, were permitted to remain in the hall, Putin
said they should be allowed to express their views.
Responding like a Western politician on the campaign trail,
Putin deftly complied with a request to wear a button from
Russian NGO Perspektiva to indicate his support for inclusive

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education.

PUTIN'S MEETING WITH NGO AND BUSINESS LEADERS
-------------- -


7. (C) Putin later held a smaller meeting with the heads of a
number of major international NGOs, such as Amnesty
International, Transparency International, Human Rights
Watch, and the World Wildlife Fund. No media were present.
Allison Gill of Human Rights Watch told us that the NGOs
wanted to discuss four main issues -- energy and climate
change, development and poverty elimination, human rights and
security, and the Russian NGO legislation. The tone of the
meeting was reportedly positive, although light on specific
promises, with Putin again reiterating support for NGOs.
When told that foreign NGOs might have to report their
intention to hold press conferences a month in advance, Putin
appeared surprised and said that was not part of the
legislation, although he stated that it might be part of the
implementing regulations.


8. (C) Tatyana Monaghan of the International Chamber of
Commerce in Russia told the Ambassador that she was impressed
with Putin's performance during his July 4 meeting with the
representatives of the International Chamber of Commerce. At
that meeting he asserted the importance of civil society in
Russia and reinterated his previous remarks that he would fix
problems that emerged from the implementation of the NGO
legislation. Putin stressed that the GOR was serious about
taking steps to solve the problem of intellectual property
rights protection. Monaghan said Putin displayed a strong
grasp of the facts and details on the issues raised in the
meeting. She also noted that businessman Oleg Deripaska
attended the meeting but was largely silent throughout the
proceedings.

COMMENT
--------------


9. (C) The Civil G8 and the events surrounding it were
obviously part of the Kremlin's efforts to dampen criticism
of the GOR's approach to civil society development prior to
the G8 summit. The event did allow independent NGOs the
opportunity to present their views directly to Putin on
topics of their choosing and to obtain a public response from
the President. Putin himself appeared to have impressed many
of his critics in the NGO community with his lively and well
informed performance at the meetings. Whether such
interaction has any long-term significance remains to be
seen, but Putin's willingness to hold such meetings with
civil society representatives was a positive sign.
BURNS