RESULTS OF AUSTRALIA GROUP MEETING IN MOSCOW

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MOSCOW 005535 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/20/2017 TAGS: MCAP PARM PGOV PREL SUBJECT: RESULTS OF AUSTRALIA GROUP MEETING IN MOSCOW Classified By: Political M/C Alice G. Wells. Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: Australia Group (AG) chair John Sullivan and Russian MFA Director of the Department for Security Affairs and Disarmament (DVBR) Anatoly Antonov led discussions November 20 on Russia's possible membership in the AG. Russia's high-level delegation indicated its interest in joining the AG, but Antonov made it clear that Russia was not prepared to do so at any cost. When Sullivan reviewed for Russia the AG criteria for membership, and noted that some countries had concerns about possible past biological and chemical weapons activities of the Soviet Union, a defiant and assertive Antonov stressed that Russia must be taken seriously as a partner, and that the AG needed Russia more than Russia needed the AG. He argued that actions during Soviet times were not linked to AG membership and were better addressed in the context of the Biological and Chemical Weapons Conventions. Antonov said Russia wants to cooperate with the AG on nonproliferation and counterterrorism issues, but if Russia is not admitted, it will not consider itself bound by AG guidelines and norms. He proposed that Russia be invited to participate in a separate, informal meeting of the AG at the next plenary session in Paris. End Summary. -------------- - In Pursuit of Membership, But Not At All Costs -------------- - ¶2. (C) Russian MFA DVBR Director Anatoly Antonov started the meeting by reaffirming Russian interest in joining the Australia Group, noting that the GOR's high-level representation made this point clear. Antonov, however, was equally clear that Russia does not "humbly ask to be accepted into any group. If the AG does not want Russia to join, it would not be a tragedy for Russia." Referring to Russia's expertise in nonproliferation, he added that "Russia has more to offer the AG than the AG has to offer Russia." Antonov stressed that Russia wants to work with AG as equal partners because "it is impossible to solve the problems of nonproliferation without Russia." ¶3. (C) Antonov requested a written copy of the criteria for AG membership. Sullivan explained that no such list existed, but there were some "factors for consideration," such as a commitment to prevent the proliferation of chemical and biological weapons. Antonov also wanted to know how the AG differs from other arms control regimes to which Russia already belongs. Sullivan responded that the AG held open, frank discussions among like-minded countries. Sullivan posited that AG members must be flexible, for AG guidelines change quite frequently. Antonov replied, "I heard what you wanted to tell me, but did not tell me." -------------- Reluctant To Discuss the Soviet Past -------------- ¶4. (C) Antonov stated during the meeting that issues related to the Soviet Union's work in chemical and biological weapons have nothing to do with the Australia Group. He argued that the Biological Weapons Convention or Chemical Weapons Convention would be more appropriate fora for such discussions. Looking at the U.S. Embassy Officers, Antonov asked why "some countries" wanted to raise these issues in the framework of the AG, and accused "these countries" of hiding behind the chair of the AG. He asked for a list of the countries that had concerns about previous incidents, and said they should raise their concerns directly with the GOR. He added that if any country had concerns about Russian export controls (which Antonov said were better than those of some new AG members) the GOR would address them. He also dismissed many allegations of previous incidents as products of sensational journalism. -------------- Russia Seeks Cooperation On Counterterrorism -------------- ¶5. (C) Antonov stressed that Russia sought cooperation on counterterrorism with all countries and lamented how Russia had been a victim of international terrorism before the U.S. or Europe. Russia also sought cooperation on nonproliferation and export control issues, and Russia would also work with the AG as long as no conditions were attached. He stressed that if Russia were not invited to join the AG, it would not feel bound by the AG's guidelines. If Russia was in the AG, Antonov stated, Russia would cooperate fully. Stressing that the idea had just "come to him," and he did not have interagency approval, Antonov suggested that the AG invite Russia to address AG members at the next plenary session in Paris. Sullivan agreed to convey the request to MOSCOW 00005535 002 OF 002 the AG. -------------- Members of Delegation -------------- ¶6. (U) Australia Group Side: John Sullivan, Australia Group Chair (Australia) Nicholas Hamilton, Department of Defense (Australia) Patrick Farley, Second Secretary, Australian Embassy Moscow James Junke, Department of Foreign Affairs, Industry, and Trade (Canada) Philippe Bertoux, Counselor, French Embassy Moscow Anna-Kari Lunde, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Norway) Margaret D. Hawthorne, U.S. Embassy Moscow Nickolas G. Katsakis, U.S. Embassy Moscow Russian Side: Anatoliy Antonov, Director of DVBR, MFA Grigory Mashkov, Deputy Director of DVBR, MFA Sergey Koshelev, Deputy Director of DVBA, MFA Vladimir Bundin, Senior Counselor, DVBR, MFA Alexander Deyneko, Senior Counselor, DVBR, MFA Alexander Alexandrov, First Secretary, DVBR, MFA Vladimir Ladanov, First Secretary, DVBR, MFA Elena Vodopolova, Attache, DVBR, MFA Sergey Mihaylov, Counselor, Federal Service for Technical and Export Control (FSTEC) Tatyana Lapshina, FSTEC Oleg Skabara, MoD Elena Rodyushkina, Agency of Industry BURNS