Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BERLIN754
2008-06-06 15:55:00
SECRET
Embassy Berlin
Cable title:
GERMAN RESPONSE TO RUSSIAN ARMS SALES DEMARCHE
how-toVZCZCXRO3293 OO RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV DE RUEHRL #0754 1581555 ZNY SSSSS ZZH O 061555Z JUN 08 FM AMEMBASSY BERLIN TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1394 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW IMMEDIATE 1935
S E C R E T BERLIN 000754
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/04/2018
TAGS: ETTC MASS PARM PREL IR RS GM
SUBJECT: GERMAN RESPONSE TO RUSSIAN ARMS SALES DEMARCHE
REF: SECSTATE 59707
Classified By: MINISTER COUNSELOR JEFF RATHKE FOR REASONS 1.4 (b),(c),
and (d)
S E C R E T BERLIN 000754
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/04/2018
TAGS: ETTC MASS PARM PREL IR RS GM
SUBJECT: GERMAN RESPONSE TO RUSSIAN ARMS SALES DEMARCHE
REF: SECSTATE 59707
Classified By: MINISTER COUNSELOR JEFF RATHKE FOR REASONS 1.4 (b),(c),
and (d)
1. (S) On 4 June 2008, visiting DAS David MERKEL delivered
reftel demarche to Rolf Nikel, Chancellery Deputy Foreign
Policy Advisor. Nikel acknowledged the importance of
addressing the issue with Russia and agreed to discuss it
with MERKEL prior to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's
visit to Berlin from 5-6 June. DAS MERKEL provided Nikel
with reftel nonpaper, which Nikel read and assured that it
would be reviewed with Chancellor MERKEL and put into her
agenda with Medvedev where applicable.
2. (S) Nikel agreed that Russian arms sales to Iran and Syria
could be a destabilizing factor in the Middle East. Nikel
said Chancellor Merkel's high level of engagement with Israel
and Germany's military commitment in Lebanon made Germany's
interest greater than mere "theoretical appeal." He said
Germany had a vested interest in not allowing Russian arms
sales to "destabilize the equation" in the Middle East.
3. (S) DCM John Koenig learned on 5 June from National
Security Advisor Christoph Heusgen that Russian arms sales to
Iran and Syria were not discussed during Merkel's meeting
with Medvedev. According to Heusgen, many issues on Merkel's
agenda were not discussed due to time constraints and the
short nature of Medvedev's trip. Heusgen emphasized that the
meeting focused on developing a positive relationship between
Merkel and Medvedev and was not intended to discuss more
sensitive issues in detail.
TIMKEN JR
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/04/2018
TAGS: ETTC MASS PARM PREL IR RS GM
SUBJECT: GERMAN RESPONSE TO RUSSIAN ARMS SALES DEMARCHE
REF: SECSTATE 59707
Classified By: MINISTER COUNSELOR JEFF RATHKE FOR REASONS 1.4 (b),(c),
and (d)
1. (S) On 4 June 2008, visiting DAS David MERKEL delivered
reftel demarche to Rolf Nikel, Chancellery Deputy Foreign
Policy Advisor. Nikel acknowledged the importance of
addressing the issue with Russia and agreed to discuss it
with MERKEL prior to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's
visit to Berlin from 5-6 June. DAS MERKEL provided Nikel
with reftel nonpaper, which Nikel read and assured that it
would be reviewed with Chancellor MERKEL and put into her
agenda with Medvedev where applicable.
2. (S) Nikel agreed that Russian arms sales to Iran and Syria
could be a destabilizing factor in the Middle East. Nikel
said Chancellor Merkel's high level of engagement with Israel
and Germany's military commitment in Lebanon made Germany's
interest greater than mere "theoretical appeal." He said
Germany had a vested interest in not allowing Russian arms
sales to "destabilize the equation" in the Middle East.
3. (S) DCM John Koenig learned on 5 June from National
Security Advisor Christoph Heusgen that Russian arms sales to
Iran and Syria were not discussed during Merkel's meeting
with Medvedev. According to Heusgen, many issues on Merkel's
agenda were not discussed due to time constraints and the
short nature of Medvedev's trip. Heusgen emphasized that the
meeting focused on developing a positive relationship between
Merkel and Medvedev and was not intended to discuss more
sensitive issues in detail.
TIMKEN JR