RUSSIAN DFM SALTANOV ON DARFUR AVIATION AND

C O N F I D E N T I A L MOSCOW 005349

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/09/2017
TAGS: PGOV KPKO UN SU RS
SUBJECT: RUSSIAN DFM SALTANOV ON DARFUR AVIATION AND
TRANSPORTATION SUPPORT

REF: A. STATE 147667


B. MOSCOW 5190

Classified By: Ambassador William J. Burns: 1.4 (b, d).


1. (C) In a November 9 meeting, the Ambassador reiterated
to Deputy Foreign Minister Aleksandr Saltanov the importance
of Russian support for the UN-AU hybrid peacekeeping
operation in Darfur (ref a) and urged the GOR to provide
heavy lift assets for the operation. Acknowledging the MFA's
conservative stance on expanding the Russian peacekeeping
presence in Sudan beyond the 120 officers and personnel
stationed in the south, the Ambassador urged Saltanov to take
a second look at the request, given the mission's importance
to the United Nations, the U.S., and the international
community as a whole. The Ambassador stressed that even a
small contribution would send a strong signal of support.


2. (C) Saltanov recognized the importance of the request,
while reiterating Russia's cautious approach to the Darfur
peacekeeping operation (ref b),given the lack of consensus
within Sudan over the role and presence of the hybrid force.
However, Saltanov said he accepted the Ambassador's point,
appreciated the high-level attention this issue had in
Washington, and undertook to take another look at the
demarche request.


3. (C) Comment: Please advise whether the Deputy Secretary
intends to contact First Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey
Denisov directly on this issue, so that we can alert his
staff. Denisov returns to Moscow on Monday, November 12.
While Denisov may be more sympathetic to the request, given
his previous tenure at the UN and interest in reinforcing the
UNSC's authority, we continue to detect little interagency
GOR interest in expanding its peacekeeping presence in Sudan.
BURNS