EU-RUSSIA SUMMIT: MEDVEDEV GETS A GOOD REVIEW

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BRUSSELS 001021 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/08/2018 TAGS: PREL PHUM ENRG ETRD ETTC EINV ECON PBTS EUN RU, IR, GG, MD SUBJECT: EU-RUSSIA SUMMIT: MEDVEDEV GETS A GOOD REVIEW Classified By: Alyce Tidball, Acting Polmincouns for reasons 1.4 (d) an d (e) SUMMARY 1.(C) EU and Slovene (Presidency) Russia experts who participated in the June 26-27 EU-Russia summit in Khanty-Mansiisk, Siberia reported that the event was strong on positive atmospherics and weak on tangible results. Medvedev received high marks from the Europeans for refraining from Putin-style rhetoric and willingness to engage on issues. He spared the EU an anticipated tirade on Kosovo, but disagreed with Solana on the utility of tougher sanctions against Iran. The EU was buoyed by Medvedev,s stated willingness to help bring about direct talks between the parties to frozen conflicts in Georgia and Moldova. EU officials pressed for faster progress on WTO-related issues and the Russians pressed for negotiation of a visa-free regime. END SUMMARY Medvedev: A Breath of Fresh Air -------------- 2.(C) Newly elected Russian President Medvedev left a positive impression on the EU Troika who thought he was a breath of fresh air compared to former President Putin. Medvedev was comfortable, open and engaging; a good listener who kept rhetoric to a minimum. The EU side noticed that Medvedev deflected efforts by FM Lavrov and Kremlin Foreign Policy Advisor Pridkhodko to steer him at various points in the conversation. Medvedev only employed Putin-style rhetoric when he raised recent treatment of WWII history in Estonia and other Baltic states. Overall, he was pragmatic and dispassionate on frozen conflicts and economic issues, punctuating his comments with reference to his legal background. He asserted that he approached problems from a lawyer,s perspective that weighted the importance of rules and the need to follow them. Lavrov seemed peevish (Russia did lose in the Eurocup semifinal to Spain 3-0 the previous night),uncomfortable and unsure of how to position himself in front of Medvedev. The MFA signaled its low expectations for the summit by limiting its delegation to the line officers for European affairs. One Council Secretariat source speculated that Lavrov is anxious to restore some of the MFAs power vis a vis the Kremlin while Medvedev finds his feet. EU Tensions Within and Without -------------- 3.(C) According to one Council Secretariat source, EU dynamics with Medvedev were mixed to some extent because the Russians do not enjoy particularly warm relations with Barroso and Ferrero-Waldner but do with Solana. For its part, Solana,s team was irritated by Commission,s last minute insistence that RELEX Commissioner Ferrero Waldner, Trade Commissioner Mandelson and Slovene PM Jansa be added to the June 26 small dinner between Solana and Medvedev. Solana did manage to have a brief pull-aside with Medvedev at the social events. Medvedev also invited him to visit Moscow. While no dates were discussed, the trip could happen before the UNGA. Solana tried to convey polite interest, but not necessarily support, for Medvedev,s few proposals thus far for Russia-Europe relations. He raised Medvedev,s recent Berlin speech on European security architecture in this context. Medvedev reiterated his "old structures and new situation" line as well as the old Gorbachev reference to Europe as "our (common) house." Solana did not debate the point, but opined that current structures were still valid and needed to be used. Georgia -------------- 4.(C) Medvedev seemed intent on setting out his own approach on Georgia. He reiterated now-familiar Russian talking points on the importance of following international law, peaceful settlement, but stated that Russia supported direct talks between the Abkhaz and Georgians, asserting that there should be no wheeling and dealing between the major powers at the expense of the two sides. "Direct talks were the only way" to resolve the issues. He noted that he had seen Bagapsh the day before the summit and reiterated Bagapsh,s two conditions for talks: Georgian withdrawal from Kodori and a Georgian declaration of non-use of force. The EU called on Russia to support the Friends plan, including the package of short term steps to calm the current tense situation. The EU hoped Russia would engage constructively and assured that it was ready to do more to support the Friends, efforts. Solana expressed confidence that Georgia wanted this to work, but was not sure of Abhkaz intentions. 5.(C) Medvedev agreed that there would need to be constant dialogue between the two sides and supported contacts between Bagapsh and GOG officials. However, he insisted there should be no "arbitrary changes to the format," especially if one BRUSSELS 00001021 002 OF 003 side were pushing for it. Nonetheless, he would be "flexible on this issue (i.e., formats)." (Note: Our Council contact, who was in the meeting, could not tell us whether Medvedev was referring to both negotiating and peacekeeping formats, but thought he was making a general point that could apply to both.) On the other hand, Lavrov criticized some of the Friends for elaborating their proposals before consulting or coordinating with Russia and compared the action to similar moves by the Quint and the Cyprus contact group. Moldova -------------- 6.(C) Transnistria: Medvedev and Solana both referred to their recent contacts with Voronin regarding formats (agreement to a 1 2 on the condition of a 5 2 thereafter). Medvedev called for no pre-conditions, but noted that Voronin seemed intent on making progress toward a settlement. Smirnoff was "sending signals, too." Lavrov said the Russians would facilitate a 1 2 and called on the EU to continue its facilitation of dialogue between the two Parliamentary speakers so that all sides could &return to the situation in 2000 in which there was action in a constitutional commission (NFI),and there was international cooperation, as well as resumption of withdrawal of Russian troops and ammunition. He again complained that Russia should not be excluded from discussions of friends of the process. Our EU contacts thought that Medvedev,s remarks on Georgia and TN were sufficiently authoritative to seek/trigger real action from the Russians at the expert level. Medvedev and Lavrov only referenced Kosovo in a cursory manner in their remarks. The EU delegation was pleasantly surprised by this, particularly since they had been warned by Russian MFA experts and Russian Mission to the EU Ambassador Chizov that the EU would receive an earbashing from the Russians on Kosovo at the summit. Iran -------------- 7.(C) Solana shared his impressions of the June trip to Tehran to deliver the P5 1 package in which he was joined by Russian MFA Political Director Sergei Kislyak. Referring to EU,s designation one week earlier of Bank Melli and other Iranian individuals and entities, Medvedev said he was surprised by the EU,s new "tougher" sanctions, calling them counterproductive. Solana rejoined that these measures were part of EU responsibilities to implement earlier UNSCRs 1737 and 1747 (and not UNSCR 1803) and fully consistent with the dual track approach. Missile Defense -------------- 8.(C) There was mention of the topic in the formal plenary meeting, but in the smaller lunch meeting, Medvedev made remarks similar to those at the closing press conference. While acknowledging emerging missile and proliferation threats he called on Europe not to "subcontract" its security to a "rich" partner. Human Rights, Visas, and Security Cooperation -------------- 9.(C) The EU welcomed the April 2008 bilateral human rights dialogue and indicated that it was Russia,s turn to host the next round of talks. The Russians demurred. On security cooperation, the Russians welcomed the EU's acceptance of Russian helicopters in the EU ESPD Chad mission. On JHA matters, the Russian delegation reiterated its interest in a visa-free arrangement with the EU. Economic and Energy Issues -------------- 10.(C) In advance of the G8 summit in Hokkaido, the two sides reviewed climate change issues, food security, and energy matters. Medvedev reportedly criticized U.S. "economic egoism" and the weak dollar. Both the EU and Russia reviewed progress in the Four Common Spaces and welcomed the launch of negotiations for a follow up agreement to their Partnership and Cooperation Agreement. For its part, the Russian side reportedly told the EU it is interested in reaching quick agreement on a "framework" document to be followed by a "more formal" agreement in the future. Energy -------------- 11.(C) Medvedev reportedly referenced his interest in North Stream several times in the conversation and accused some EU member states of pushing Russia to give it up. He asserted that the pipeline project should not be "politicized" and that risks to the project must be reduced. EU Commission President Barroso said that the EU supported the project, but noted that Russia needed to resolve environmental problems that were obstacles to its realization. More broadly, the EU BRUSSELS 00001021 003 OF 003 agreed with Medvedev that European and Russian investors needed to have opportunities to invest in upstream and downstream energy projects. Barroso and Mandelson both raised EU concerns about the TNK-BP venture, including the issue of work permit quotas for EU member state nationals. Medvedev said that nation states should not interfere, in specific joint ventures and pledged that the quota problems were a Russian error that would be corrected. WTO --- 12.(C) The EU urged Medvedev to accelerate Russian efforts to resolve issues related to its bid for WTO membership. Slovene Presidency and Council Secretariat sources noted that while Medvedev seemed more willing and positive on this point than Putin did at the EU-Russia summit six months earlier, no tangible new commitments were offered. The Russians reiterated that the Siberian over flight agreement would not enter into force until after Russia,s WTO accession was completed. A July 26 meeting between EU Trade Commissioner Mandelson and Russian Minister for Economic Development Elvira Nabiullina yieled an agrement to have experts consults constructively on timber exports in mid to late July. Russian officials were in listening mode as the EU declared that Denmark had been severely hit by Russian pork import restrictions which were inconsistent with the WTO SPS agreement. WOHLERS .