Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07MOSCOW5535
2007-11-27 07:35:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Moscow
Cable title:  

RESULTS OF AUSTRALIA GROUP MEETING IN MOSCOW

Tags:  MCAP PARM PGOV PREL 
pdf how-to read a cable
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PP RUEHDBU
DE RUEHMO #5535/01 3310735
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 270735Z NOV 07
FM AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5458
INFO RUEHXD/MOSCOW POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
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).

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
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