MFA REVIVES UNSC MILITARY STAFF COMMITTEE PROPOSAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L MOSCOW 000493 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/05/2017 TAGS: PREL UNSC RS SUBJECT: MFA REVIVES UNSC MILITARY STAFF COMMITTEE PROPOSAL REF: 06 MOSCOW 3362 Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Daniel A. Russell. Reasons: 1. 4(B/D). ¶1. (C) MFA International Organizations Department Director Aleksandr Konuzin convoked the DCM February 2 to ask for confirmation of U.S. interest in revitalizing the UN Security Council's Military Staff Committee (MSC). If the U.S. remained interested, Konuzin suggested that Moscow and Washington work together on an explanation of the proposal for non-permanent Council members. Acknowledging prior U.S. views on the idea (reftel),DCM said we would seek a response. ¶2. (C) Konuzin reviewed the background of what he characterized as a Russian proposal (dating back to 2000) to give the MSC a more active role in providing military advice to the Council and reviewing UN Secretariat peacekeeping plans. Noting that Moscow was "pleasantly surprised" in 2005 when the U.S. expressed an interest in the idea, Konuzin told us that changes could be made to the Security Council's provisional rules which would allow non-permanent Council members to participate in the MSC. No UN Charter amendments would be needed, meeting Chinese concerns. However, France and the UK remained opposed to reviving the committee. He flagged an imminent move by London and Paris to seek formal approval for their competing proposal to establish a military sub-group within the Working Group on Peace Keeping Operations, which Konuzin called "unacceptable." He said the sub-group would have no real standing and would be ineffective. ¶3. (C) Konuzin said the Russian Embassy in Washington had informally confirmed a continuing U.S. interest in the proposal, but the GOR wanted a more formal response. If the U.S. remains interested, Konuzin stressed that the U.S. and Russia should work together to develop an explanation of the goals of a revitalized MSC which would quiet non-P-5 concerns that the MSC would exercise P-5 "hegemony" over PKOs. The best way of combating such concerns would be to provide representation on the MSC to elected Security Council members. ¶4. (SBU) We are faxing an informal translation of the non-paper Konuzin provided us. BURNS