RUSSIAN G-8 CTAG LEADERSHIP "JUST LIKE YOU"

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 YEREVAN 000171 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR/CACEN, EUR/RUS, S/CT E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/06/2016 TAGS: PREL RS AM SUBJECT: RUSSIAN G-8 CTAG LEADERSHIP "JUST LIKE YOU" REF: DUSHANBE 236 Classified By: DCM A.F. Godfrey for reasons 1.4 (b, d). -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (SBU) Russia kicked off its G-8 presidency year following instructions to head up local Counter-terrorism Action Group (CTAG) meetings in the pattern of earlier French and U.S. local leadership. Representatives of local G-8 embassies were invited to participate and, with the exception of the U.K., all G-8 embassies sent representatives. The February 2 meeting was the first in a series of three that the Russian Embassy plans to host in 2006. Included on the agenda were remarks by Armenian MFA representatives on "Measures taken by (the) Republic of Armenia in antiterrorism" and a report by the Russian Political Counselor on "Russian-Armenian antiterrorist cooperation." -------------- "JUST LIKE YOU..." -------------- ¶2. (C) Repeatedly emphasizing that during the Russian G-8 presidency the Russian embassy would be chairing the local CTAG meetings in exactly the same manner as the French and the U.S. embassies had, Russian Political Counselor Oleg Yevgen'yevich Korobkov chaired the February 2 meeting in the Russian Embassy. (Note: Korobkov told us that the date for the meeting had been determined "by the center," with a fully cleared protocol of the meeting due to Moscow by COB February ¶6. He emphasized that the date for the meeting was inflexible, despite the fact that with the Minsk Group Co-Chairs in Yerevan on February 2, he was not authorized to hold the meeting on either February 1 or February 3. End Note.) Present at the meeting were: --Nikolay Dimitriyevich Skripka, Russian Press Attache (fluent English speaker); --Yevgeniya Yur'yevna Chechlyan, Russian Third Secretary (fluent English and French speaker); --Marianne de Gouvea, French DCM; --Dr. Johannes Niesler, German First Secretary; --Roberto Nocella, Italian Second Secretary; and --U.S. Embassy representative. (Note: The British Embassy did not send a representative, although they had participated in local CTAG meetings during the French and U.S. presidencies. End Note.) -------------- REPORTS AND HANDOUTS -------------- ¶3. (C) In addition to a detailed agenda, each participant received a copy of Korobkov's remarks (in both English and Russian, see paragraph 5),the text of FM Lavrov's remarks during his January 17 press conference in Moscow, a 3-page summary of the CIS's Antiterrorism Center's activities from 2000 through 2005, as well as copies of UN Resolution 1624 (2005). The MFA representatives, Ruben Ananyan (Arms Control Division) and Mher Markaryan (UN Division),presented a brief overview of the GOAM's cooperation on counterterrorism issues, including comments on Armenia's position on international counterterrorism conventions and a discussion of Armenia's new Financial Intelligence Unit (part of the Central Bank) and its role in identifying the funds of terrorists and narcotraffickers. -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶4. (C) Local cooperation between the Russian and American embassies is generally quite good, and our Russian colleagues were careful to clear the portion of the protocol of the meeting which dealt with our comments (on the value of cooperation in the battle against terrorism) through us. While we don't anticipate any major breakthrough in this forum, we will certainly continue to support local CTAG cooperation. End Comment. -------------- RUSSIAN-ARMENIAN ANTITERRORIST COOPERATION -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Following is the text of Korobkov's remarks on Russian-Armenian Antiterrorist Cooperation (original in YEREVAN 00000171 002 OF 002 English). Begin text: -- Russia expresses alarm about the maintaining atmosphere of mutual mistrust in the region as well as with the continuing transit blockade. The experience of the dynamics of events in Caucasus shows that the problem of international terrorism, in all forms of it, causes particular anxiety. -- Russia maintains close interaction with Armenia in the struggle with terrorism both on bilateral and bultilateral basis within the framework of the Organization of Collective Security Pact (OCSP) and the Antiterrorist Center (ATC ) of the Community of Independent States (CIS) In the framework of the Antiterrorist Centre joint manoevres are held, a constructive interaction between law-enforcement bodies and special services of Russia and Armenia was established. -- A constructive approach of Armenian experts involved in the elaboration of the ATC documents and the precise fulfillment of financial obligation by the Armenian side contribute to the efficient work of the Centre. -- Russia and Armenia by joint efforts defend the Armenian sector of the frontier with Turkey and Iran which is the ground for stationing of the Frontier Office of the Federal Security Service of Russia in Armenia. -- Questions of coordination of efforts towards prevention of the international terrorist threat are constantly in sight of presidents Vladimir Putin and Robert Kocharyan and of law-enforcement structures of both countries. Russian and Armenian military departments concluded agreements and respective protocols on cooperation. They regularly exchange information on antiterrorist problems, and conduct joint sessions. -- An exchange of information about international terrorist groupings was established. -- The order of coordinated measures for the search and arrest within territories of Russia and Armenia of representatives of illegal alignments was determined. -- Joint measures are being taken to prevent eventual terrorist attacks and acts of sabotage against Russian missions, military offices and citizens in Armenia. -- In case of terrorist threat there are being elaborated plans of evacuation of the staff and members of families of embassies of countries which asked Russia for help to the territory of the Russian Embassy in Yerevan. -- Exists a regular practice of conducting working meetings of representatives of departments, responsible for antiterrorist action of both countries. As a result of these contacts they elaborate practical suggestions on intensification of cooperation in the field. -- An exchange of experience on questions of work with personnel is established. End Text. EVANS