DEMARCHE DELIVERED: RUSSIA SEES INCREASED U.S.

UNCLAS MOSCOW 004725 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV PARM PBTS PHSA SENC ECON EWWT BU AJ, GG, MD, GR, UP, TU, RO, RS SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED: RUSSIA SEES INCREASED U.S. ROLE AS "GOOD OPPORTUNITY" IN BLACK SEA REGION REF: SECSTATE 132171 ¶1. (SBU) We delivered reftel demarche to Black Sea Economic Cooperation Division Second Secretary Aleksandar Fedorinov on September 26. He told us that Russia sees the Black Sea Economic Forum as the best way to increase multilateral cooperation in the region, noting that some of its working groups deal directly with the strategic interests mentioned in reftel. The ring highway of the region, Fedorinov noted as an example, was a GOR initiative during their 2006 presidency and will help with the physical transport of goods and people. The GOR sees economic cooperation as the best way to promote security, democracy, and human rights in the region, and Fedorinov told us that the U.S.'s increased participation is "a good opportunity" for practical results. ¶2. (SBU) Fedorinov told us the GOR sees the completion of the Black Sea Energy Ring as the best way to ensure increased energy security in the region. He said that coordination of the three different energy networks used in the region could be completed late this year. While regional multilateral organizations are not now playing a major role in pipeline development, Fedorinov told us their role may increase in the future. Russell