RUSSIA SUPPORTS RENEWAL OF APEC COUNTER TERRORISM

C O N F I D E N T I A L MOSCOW 009955 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/08/2016 TAGS: PREL ECON PTER APECO RS SUBJECT: RUSSIA SUPPORTS RENEWAL OF APEC COUNTER TERRORISM TASK FORCE MANDATE REF: STATE 139460 Classified By: Minister-Counselor for Political Affairs Alice G. Wells. Reasons: 1.4(B/D). ¶1. (C) We delivered reftel demarche September 7 to MFA Asian Cooperation Department Deputy Director Valeriy Sorokin and MFA New Challenges and Threats Deputy Director Nikolay Kudashev. Sorokin and Kudashev endorsed extension of the Counter Terrorism Task Force (CTTF) mandate, underlining the importance Russia attaches to the group's work. Sorokin said Russia would support the adoption of a new CTTF action plan that was not time-limited. ¶2. (C) Kudashev was particularly enthusiastic about the CTTF, stressing that the APEC format provided unique opportunities for government officials involved in counterterrorism issues to work closely with private businesses and NGOs. Noting that the CTTF's work had not yet been completed, he said that Russia was considering introducing an initiative in Da Nang on counterterrorism and energy security, highlighting a main theme of Russia's G-8 Presidency. ¶3. (C) While Sorokin endorsed the mandate extension without conditions, he said Russia understood China's position opposing the discussion of political issues when Taiwan was present. APEC operated by consensus, and when one state opposed a decision, that created a difficult procedural issue. Sorokin encouraged the U.S. to work directly with China to address Beijing's concerns. He noted that two Latin American candidates (one from Chile, the other from Peru) were being informally discussed as future chairs. Russia could support either candidate. BURNS