Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07MINSK739
2007-08-28 14:37:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Minsk
Cable title:
RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR IN MINSK SPECULATES ON
how-toVZCZCXRO2228 PP RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHSK #0739 2401437 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 281437Z AUG 07 FM AMEMBASSY MINSK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6428 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L MINSK 000739
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/28/2017
TAGS: PREL PINR MNUC BO RS
SUBJECT: RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR IN MINSK SPECULATES ON
PLACEMENT OF NUCLEAR ASSETS IN BELARUS
REF: 06 MINSK 1231
Classified By: Charge Jonathan Moore for reason 1.4 (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L MINSK 000739
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/28/2017
TAGS: PREL PINR MNUC BO RS
SUBJECT: RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR IN MINSK SPECULATES ON
PLACEMENT OF NUCLEAR ASSETS IN BELARUS
REF: 06 MINSK 1231
Classified By: Charge Jonathan Moore for reason 1.4 (d).
1. (U) In an Interfax interview that has circulated widely
through the international media beginning on August 27,
Russian Ambassador to Belarus Aleksandr Surikov was asked
whether Russia might station new military assets on
Belarusian territory in response to USG moves to enhance
European anti-missile defenses. Surikov allegedly stated, in
part: "This depends on the level of our (Russian-Belarusian)
political integration. And (it also) depends on the points
of views of experts, diplomats, the military: (is it)
necessary, possible, when, how. I have in mind assets,
related to nuclear weapons."
2. (C) By referring to "the level of our political
integration," Surikov seems to us to be underscoring the fact
that integration between Russia and Belarus is going
absolutely nowhere. Earlier in the interview, Surikov was
dismissive of the GOB stance regarding bilateral anti-missile
defense plans.
3. (U) Belarusian MFA spokesperson Mariya Vanshina noted
August 28 that Belarus and Russia have not had any
discussions regarding deployment of nuclear weapons; the
Belarusian MOD also chimed in, saying that the topic of any
such deployment would be confined to the realm of "higher
policy."
Comment
--------------
4. (C) We would tend to agree that Surikov's remarks have
incited far more controversy than they merit; he has now
refuted the interview in subsequent remarks to the media.
Surikov himself is known to us as insightful and prescient,
with a stronmg sense of disdain for the vast majority of his
Belarusian interlocutors; his comments on last year's energy
crisis with Russia, predicting Gazprom's strategy (reftel),
were particularly accurate. Lukashenko -- whose opinions and
statements vary widely -- previously rejected the deployment
of nuclear weapons on Belarusian territory as recently as
June 24. We defer of course to EMBASSY Moscow to evaluate
whether Surikov's comments represent deeper Russian sentiment.
Moore
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/28/2017
TAGS: PREL PINR MNUC BO RS
SUBJECT: RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR IN MINSK SPECULATES ON
PLACEMENT OF NUCLEAR ASSETS IN BELARUS
REF: 06 MINSK 1231
Classified By: Charge Jonathan Moore for reason 1.4 (d).
1. (U) In an Interfax interview that has circulated widely
through the international media beginning on August 27,
Russian Ambassador to Belarus Aleksandr Surikov was asked
whether Russia might station new military assets on
Belarusian territory in response to USG moves to enhance
European anti-missile defenses. Surikov allegedly stated, in
part: "This depends on the level of our (Russian-Belarusian)
political integration. And (it also) depends on the points
of views of experts, diplomats, the military: (is it)
necessary, possible, when, how. I have in mind assets,
related to nuclear weapons."
2. (C) By referring to "the level of our political
integration," Surikov seems to us to be underscoring the fact
that integration between Russia and Belarus is going
absolutely nowhere. Earlier in the interview, Surikov was
dismissive of the GOB stance regarding bilateral anti-missile
defense plans.
3. (U) Belarusian MFA spokesperson Mariya Vanshina noted
August 28 that Belarus and Russia have not had any
discussions regarding deployment of nuclear weapons; the
Belarusian MOD also chimed in, saying that the topic of any
such deployment would be confined to the realm of "higher
policy."
Comment
--------------
4. (C) We would tend to agree that Surikov's remarks have
incited far more controversy than they merit; he has now
refuted the interview in subsequent remarks to the media.
Surikov himself is known to us as insightful and prescient,
with a stronmg sense of disdain for the vast majority of his
Belarusian interlocutors; his comments on last year's energy
crisis with Russia, predicting Gazprom's strategy (reftel),
were particularly accurate. Lukashenko -- whose opinions and
statements vary widely -- previously rejected the deployment
of nuclear weapons on Belarusian territory as recently as
June 24. We defer of course to EMBASSY Moscow to evaluate
whether Surikov's comments represent deeper Russian sentiment.
Moore