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