DIPLOMATIC NOTE DELIVERED TO RUSSIAN FOREIGN

UNCLAS MOSCOW 002198 SIPDIS SIPDIS IRM/BPC/EA FOR GODWIN; EUR/PRA FOR NASH E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KACT KTIA PARM RS SUBJECT: DIPLOMATIC NOTE DELIVERED TO RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY ON HOTLINE CONSOLIDATION AGREEMENT REF: STATE 60234 ¶1. We delivered reftel diplomatic note to Aleksandr Zakharov in the Foreign Ministry's North America Department May 11. We restated the US position and requested a formal response from the GOR to our December 2006 diplomatic note. We will also raise the issue separately with the Presidential Communications Directorate (PCD). ¶2. Zakharov explained that the GOR would like to conclude the draft agreement as quickly as possible, but recently enacted legislation on the "Protection of Government Secrets" required inclusion in all such bilateral agreements of a provision outlining procedures for protection of classified information. Zakharov said the Federal Security Service (FSB),as the legislation's designated executive agency, was insistent that the hotline agreement could not go forward without the provision. The PCD did not think the provision was necessary for implementation but was unable to bypass the law or the FSB. He noted that both France and the UK had signed similar agreements with Russia, which would make it difficult to grant an exception to the US. Zakharov promised, however, that he would raise the issue with legal experts in the Ministry to determine whether a creative solution could be found before the next round of bilateral talks. He added that an agreement, once concluded, would have to be ratified, which might take considerable time in the current electoral environment. BURNS