CODEL NELSON-LOTT: INTERPARLIAMENTARY TALKS FOCUS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 MOSCOW 002970 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV PARM MNUC ETRD OREP NELSON LOTT RS SUBJECT: CODEL NELSON-LOTT: INTERPARLIAMENTARY TALKS FOCUS ON MISSILE DEFENSE, IRAN, AND TRADE ¶1. (SBU) Summary: In May 27-28 sessions in Moscow of the U.S.-Russian Senate-Federation Council Interparliamentary Working Group, co-chairs Senators Ben Nelson and Trent Lott and Russian Federation Council Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Mikhail Margelov underlined the importance of encouraging legislative branch cooperation between the U.S. and Russia while not shying away from engagement on differences. In several spirited sessions, legislators discussed the threat posed to U.S. and Russian interests by Iran, debated the necessity for U.S. missile defense sites in Europe, and talked about U.S. policies in Iraq. In discussions on economic ties, legislators focused on investment opportunities for U.S. firms in Russia, repeal of Jackson-Vanik, progress on IPR protection and the need to boost energy ties. Both sides urged greater counterterrorism cooperation. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) In addition to Interparliamentary Working Group co-chairs Senators Nelson (D-NE) and Lott (R-MS),additional U.S. participants included Senators Evan Bayh (D-IN),Judd Gregg (R-NH),and Richard Burr (R-NC),and Ambassador Burns. Additional participants on the Russia side included: First Deputy Foreign Affairs Committee Chairs Umar Dzhabarilov and Ilyas Umakhanov, Deputy Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Vasiliy Likhachev, Financial Markets Committee Chair Sergey Vasiliyev, Industrial Policy Committee Chair Valentin Zavadnikov, First Deputy Chair of the Natural Monopolies Committee Valentin Mezhevich, Foreign Affairs Committee member Igor Rogachev, Judicial and Legal Affairs Committee member Farhad Akhmedov, Budgetary Committee member Konstantin Tsitsin, Ministry of Defense Director for International SIPDIS Military Cooperation General Buzhinskiy, and MFA officials. . U.S.-Russian Interparliamentary Cooperation -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Chairman Margelov stressed the value of open, direct discussions between Federation Council Members and Senators, particularly when there were problems in bilateral relations. Senator Nelson acknowledged the value of parliamentary exchanges and noted the timeliness of the talks, given the tensions surrounding missile defense and Kosovo. He emphasized the importance of finding common ground, as did Senator Lott, who also highlighted areas of 
cooperation on counterterrorism, nonproliferation, energy and trade. Lott noted that the full potential of the bilateral relationship was not yet being realized. . Iran -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Federation Council member Akhmedov acknowledged that a nuclear Iran would pose a threat to both Russian and U.S. interests. Senator Bayh said that failures of intelligence in Iraq meant that intelligence about Iran required greater scrutiny, but it seemed clear that Tehran was intent on developing a nuclear weapons capacity and the means to deliver such weapons and was actively supporting terrorist groups. He welcomed Russian efforts to slow Bushehr from coming on line. Bayh stressed that the U.S. was now committed to a multilateral approach on Iran, but expressed skepticism about its efficacy. Senator Gregg argued that the U.S. and Russia were in a unique position to deter Iran from developing weapons. Senator Lott stressed that international dependence on Iranian oil would not prevent the U.S. from taking whatever steps were necessary to address Iranian challenges. He argued that Iran's nuclear program was not just a U.S. problem, it was a common problem for the rest of the world. Senator Nelson said Iran was now seeking hegemony in the Middle East. ¶5. (SBU) Chairman Margelov said that his February visit to Tehran reminded him of the USSR in 1982 -- there was a strong state, but the political class was quite cynical. Iran was very active internationally and was using its oil money, promises of nuclear cooperation, and a radicalized Shiism to stir up trouble. Akhmedov argued that the only way to hurt Iran was an oil embargo, while Deputy Chair Dzhabarilov was skeptical about the effects of sanctions. Senator Bayh asked whether Russia would help stabilize world oil prices in the event of an embargo. Margelov said that the markets would adjust rapidly, while Akhmedov said that the U.S. and others would have to choose between their pocketbooks and security concerns. Akhmedov warned that Iran would seek to cause trouble among Russia's 20 million Muslims. . Missile Defense -------------- ¶6. (SBU) General Buzhinskiy, MOD Director for International Military Cooperation, gave a presentation on Russian concerns MOSCOW 00002970 002 OF 003 about U.S. MD plans. Buzhinskiy thought it would be at least 30 years before Iran would have the technological capacity to strike the U.S. with nuclear-tipped ICBMS. To do so, Iran would need to build a new industrial base and develop a means of testing rockets. He expressed concerns that the U.S. could develop breakout missile technology which would make interceptors in Poland a threat to Russian strategic assets. Noting that these were his personal views, Buzhinskiy suggested that the U.S. provide assurances that its MD system was not aimed at Russia, would not be expanded, that any radar would be fixed and would face south, and that site visits would be possible. He said that Russia was willing to discuss technical cooperation on MD, but argued that Russia was not interested in developing a new global MD system and was concerned about technology transfers. He noted that China was also concerned about U.S. MD plans, given the small size of its strategic forces, and argued that Beijing's anti-satellite tests demonstrated China's resolve. ¶7. (SBU) Deputy Chair Likachev stressed Russian and European opposition to U.S. MD plans and wondered why the U.S. was not placing MD facilities closer to Iran. Chairman Margelov noted the Cold War legacy made Russia suspect U.S. plans. Senator Bayh acknowledged that U.S. plans created concerns in Russia, but said the U.S. proposal was not directed against Moscow. Senators Nelson and Bayh urged that U.S. and Russian experts cooperate on MD. Senator Lott acknowledged that Iran had limited indigenous technical capabilities, but was concerned that Iran would buy technology from others. General Buzhinkskiy dismissed concerns that Tehran could purchase workable ICBMS and said that Iran was many years away from developing a nuclear warhead that could be mounted on a long range missile. Senator Burr cautioned that the pace of technological change was accelerating and that Iran's wealth allowed it to seek access to sophisticated weapons technology. He hoped that Russia would grow more comfortable with U.S. MD plans so that together they could address a common threat. . Iraq -------------- ¶8. (SBU) Federation Council Member Akhmedov argued that the U.S. and Russia were competing in Central Asia over energy supplies when there should be greater cooperation. He challenged U.S. involvement and motives in Iraq and questioned what U.S. interests were in Iran, suggesting that the desire to control energy resources drove U.S. policies. Deputy Chair Likhachev criticized attempts to "impose" democracy in the Middle East, arguing that the Iraq experience alienated others from pursuing a democratic course because democratization was associated with chaos. At the same time, the U.S. needed to be effective and consistent in Iraq. ¶9. (SBU) Senator Bayh noted that U.S. involvement in Iraq had stirred divisions in the U.S. The U.S. should support elements in a society that were authentic and supported democracy; there needed to be some choice besides authoritarian, corrupt governments and radical Islamists. Senator Burr said that Iraq lacked the strong leadership necessary to encourage democratization and underlined the dangers of continued instability in the Middle East. Burr said the globalized economy meant that instability in one area could have ripple effects around the world. . Economic and Energy Cooperation -------------- ¶10. (SBU) Committee Chair Zavadnikov reviewed Russian economic reforms efforts in manufacturing and energy production and stressed the growing importance of the services sector in the Russian economy. Russia was focused on diversifying its economy and was seeking to develop high technology and value-added industries. Senator Gregg noted the role of Gazprom in the Russian and global economy. He underlined the importance of IPR protection. Zavadnikov said that Russia had made major strides in IPR legislation, but now had to focus on implementation. Deputy Chair Umakhanov noted that Russia's pursuit of high tech development was creating a strong lobby for IPR protection. ¶11. (SBU) Senator Lott encouraged greater energy cooperation, noting Russian expertise in oil and gas development. Council Member Akhmedov noted that oil revenues were a double-edged sword for Russia, because they postponed the need for reforms and warped the Russian economy. Chairman Margelov defended Russia's market-based energy relationships with the former Soviet republics, arguing there was no reason any longer for Moscow to subsidize them. He also pointed to difficulties between Germany and Poland over MOSCOW 00002970 003 OF 003 the Russian North Sea pipeline. Senator Burr heralded Russian purchases of Boeing aircraft and noted International Paper's interest in acquisitions in Russia. U.S. firms would be even more interested if Russia established a fair and transparent legal system. Zavadnikov and Akhmedov both noted that the long Soviet experience had retarded the development of legal institutions and created economic distortions that were slowly being addressed; corruption was a major cause of concern. ¶12. (SBU) Akhmedov called for the repeal of Jackson-Vanik, arguing that it was a bilateral irritant that had long outlived its usefulness. Senator Gregg acknowledged that there was a consensus that it should be removed. Senator Burr said the U.S. looked forward to Russia's full participation in the WTO. Senator Lott noted the interest of U.S. firms in doing business in Russia as well as Russian firms that had now entered the U.S. market. He stressed the importance of the rule of law and effective corporate governance to ensure the security of U.S. investments and warned that U.S. firms were concerned about GOR's unpredictability and actions taken to change the rules of the game. . Counterterrorism -------------- ¶13. (SBU) Chairman Margelov reviewed progress to date in the global war on terrorism, noting that the U.S., Russia, and Europe were constrained in fighting terrorism by the need to balance terrorist threats with respect for human rights. He argued that Europe in particular emphasized the need to respect this balance. Senator Burr observed that the counterterrorist fight brought together the U.S., Russia and Europe. He outlined the need to take a long view of the struggle against terrorism, agreeing there was a need to strike a balance between human rights and the obligation to protect citizens from attack. Demographic changes would complicate the task of fighting terrorism. Burr encouraged greater cooperation between the U.S. and Russia in sharing intelligence and stressed that a successful fight against terrorism required leadership from many countries, while noting that the U.S. and Russia had the clearest view of the threat posed by radical Islamists. Both countries also had a special responsibility and capacity to combat nuclear terrorism. Burr also noted links between drug traffickers and terrorists. ¶14. (SBU) Deputy Chair Likhachev argued that the international community should rely more on international organizations, such as the UN Security Council, in addressing counterterrorism. The counterterrorism committees in the UN Security Council should be consolidated to improve efficiency. The U.S. and Russia should be leaders on this issue internationally, Likhachev said, and should also support interparliamentary and intercivilizational dialogue to understand better differences between religions and cultures. Fighting terrorism required close attention to the specific circumstances in a region; in Chechnya, Russia had successfully isolated the terrorists from the Islamic institutions in society. Senator Lott reviewed the difficult task of balancing protection of citizen's rights with the need to confront terrorist threats, flagging issues such as profiling, interrogation techniques, detentions and electronic eavesdropping. Lott endorsed the need for international cooperation in the fight against terrorists, pointing out that the threat was not limited to the Middle East. ¶15. (U) This message has been cleared by CODEL Nelson-Lott. BURNS