AUSTRALIA GROUP: ESTONIA SUPPORTS INFO EXCHANGE

C O N F I D E N T I A L TALLINN 000322 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR/NB, ISN/CB, EUR/PRA DEPT PLEASE PASS TO AUSTRALIA GROUP COLLECTIVE E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/17/2017 TAGS: PARM PREL CBW EN SUBJECT: AUSTRALIA GROUP: ESTONIA SUPPORTS INFO EXCHANGE Classified By: DCM Goldstein for reasons 1.4(b) & (d). ¶1. (C) On May 15, Poloff delivered reftel points to Riho Kruuv, MFA Director for Strategic Goods Control Division, and Tuuli Parnsalu, 3rd Secretary, and discussed at length the upcoming Australia Group (AG) Plenary meeting, June 4- 7, and the need to share information on Russia's chemical and biological weapons (CBW) programs and the effectiveness of its export controls. Kruuv and Parnsalu said the Government of Estonia (GOE) strongly supports the USG's initiative to share information, however, they admitted it has little information regarding Russia's CBW programs. ¶2. (C) Kruuv emphasized the shortcomings of Russia's export controls mechanisms. While he admitted the GOE had no "evidence" of WMD, CBW, or sensitive dual-use technology being smuggled out of Russia, he said the GOE was deeply concerned by the "political approach" Russia takes to export controls and border security. "We regularly see delays on the Russian border" and goods intended for export to Estonia are frequently blocked "when Moscow wants to send Estonia a political message," continued Kruuv. Aside from the immediate impact Russia's actions have on Estonia's economy, Kruuv emphasized that other countries should worry that "this behavior reveals the lack of integrity, reliability, and politicization of Russia's export controls and border security structures." ¶3. (C) The GOE has not yet come to a position on Russia's continued interest in joining the AG. While admitting that Russia is an important country and is active in this area, Kruuv said that Estonia is concerned over Moscow's obstructionist behavior in other regional and international fora. PHILLIPS