RUSSIA REACTS TO IRAQ STRATEGY, IRANIAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MOSCOW 000105 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/12/2017 TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER MARR IZ IR SUBJECT: RUSSIA REACTS TO IRAQ STRATEGY, IRANIAN "CONSULATE" RAID REF: A. STATE 1686 ¶B. MOSCOW 0068 Classified By: Political M/C Alice G. Wells. Reasons: 1.4(B/D). ¶1. (C) Summary: The GOR publicly reacted to the President's policy address by repeating the need for "broad and real" dialogue among Iraqi groups and neighboring countries, including Iran and Syria, and indicating concern over the perceived reliance on a military solution. The MFA told us it remained committed to broadening engagement with the Maliki government, but reiterated dismay over the deteriorating security situation and January 10 attack on the Russian Embassy in Baghdad. With a mid-level Iranian MFA official in Moscow for consultations, the MFA strongly condemned the reported raid on an Iranian "consulate" in Irbil, terming it "absolutely unacceptable" and counterproductive to the goal of promoting dialogue to resolve the violence. Following the imposition of UNSC sanctions, the GOR is not anxious to provoke Iran, but responding to MFA requests for additional information on the nature of the raid and Iran's destabilizing activities in Iraq may help to temper GOR statements. Reaction to Iraq Strategy -------------- ¶2. (SBU) The Charge reviewed the President's strategy toward Iraq in a January 11 meeting called by Deputy Foreign Minister Aleksandr Saltanov to express concern over the January 10 terrorist attack on the Russian Embassy in Baghdad (ref b). On January 12, the MFA issued a formal reaction, noting the GOR's serious review of the new U.S. strategy, its relevance to Russian interests, and the harmful effect of Iraq's instability on the region. The GOR statement focused on the augmentation of U.S. troops and drew the conclusion that the "calculation remains the same -- to achieve a resolution of the Iraq crisis through force" and "not accepting the proposal to establish a dialogue among the major Iraqi groups, with the support of all neighboring countries, including Syria and Iran." The statement reiterated the GOR call for a "broad and real" dialogue among all leading ethnic and confessional groups and political forces, in order to achieve a national consensus. ¶3. (C) MFA Director for Middle Eastern Affairs Sergey Vershinin amplified on the GOR statement, reiterating the GOR's commitment to work with the Maliki government and to seek ways to expand diplomatic and commercial ties, including through the establishment of a joint trade commission. The stumbling block remained security, and Vershinin underscored the GOR's upset over the attack on the Russian Embassy, noting that Russian Ambassador Ushakov was under instruction to reiterate this message in Washington. Vershinin said the GOR was pessimistic that a troop augmentation would be a catalyst for the political dialogue that the GOR believed was essential to a lasting peace. He acknowledged the elements of the plan focused on stabilizing the economy and promoting national reconciliation, but repeated concerns that the increase in troops would intensify the conflict, further complicating resolution of sectarian disputes. Condemnation of Raid on Iranian "consulate" -------------- ¶4. (U) In a separate January 12 announcement, the GOR condemned the reported raid on an Iranian "consulate" in Irbil. Noting that there should be "indisputable proof" presented of alleged Iranian terrorism, the statement termed the raid "absolutely unacceptable," a grievous violation of the Vienna Convention, inconsistent with American statements of support for Iraqi sovereignty (given GOI obligations to protect the inviolability of diplomatic missions on its territory),and an abuse of the mandate given to the MNF by the United Nations. The statement argued that the raid showed little regard for the need to establish a dialogue among all interested parties, in order to help Iraq emerge from its crisis, and concluded with a call for the resolution of the conflict on the basis of international law. ¶5. (SBU) In a meeting with the Charge, MFA North America Department Director Igor Neverov sought clarification of the status of the Iranian facility. Separately, Vershinin noted that he discussed the raid with his visiting Iranian counterpart, Ali Ashgar Mommadi Sijani, the Director General for Middle Eastern and North African Affairs, who was in Moscow for a regular series of consultations, but provided no details of their conversation. We emphasized Iran's destabilizing behavior in Iraq. Vershinin responded that the GOR had yet to see the proof. MOSCOW 00000105 002 OF 002 Comment -------------- ¶6. (C) The GOR has consistently advocated that all Iraq's neighbors be brought into the process of supporting Iraq, including Iran and Syria. In the wake of voting to impose UNSC sanctions on Iran, Russia will not be anxious to take steps that could further provoke the Iranian regime, and its harsh condemnation of the Irbil raid can be read in this light. However, given DFM Saltanov's earlier call for greater "transparency" in our CT relationship and outstanding GOR requests within the CTWG for evidence of Iranian support for terrorism, any additional information that we can provide on Iranian activity in Iraq may help temper Russian public statements. RUSSELL