Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08MOSCOW1623
2008-06-06 12:45:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Moscow
Cable title:
RUSSIA CLOSE TO U.S. POSITION ON THE FUTURE OF
how-toVZCZCXYZ0001 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHMO #1623 1581245 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 061245Z JUN 08 FM AMEMBASSY MOSCOW TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8470 INFO RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA 0099 RUEHAE/AMEMBASSY ASMARA 0030
C O N F I D E N T I A L MOSCOW 001623
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/06/2018
TAGS: PREL UNSC KPKO PBTS ET ER RS
SUBJECT: RUSSIA CLOSE TO U.S. POSITION ON THE FUTURE OF
UNMEE
REF: STATE 58446
Classified By: Political M/C Alice G. Wells for reasons 1.4 (b/d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L MOSCOW 001623
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/06/2018
TAGS: PREL UNSC KPKO PBTS ET ER RS
SUBJECT: RUSSIA CLOSE TO U.S. POSITION ON THE FUTURE OF
UNMEE
REF: STATE 58446
Classified By: Political M/C Alice G. Wells for reasons 1.4 (b/d).
1. (C) MFA First Secretary for International Organizations
Sergey Zhdanov told us on June 6 that Russia agreed that
UNMEE cannot play an effective role in the region and should
either be terminated or its mandate not renewed when it ends
on July 31. He explained that before the UNSC took action on
this issue, the GOR preferred to wait until Eritrea and
Ethiopia made their positions known by responding to the
letter the UNSC President recently sent these governments.
Russia could support a follow-on presence, even if it was
located only on Ethiopian territory.
2. (C) Zhdanov said that the GOR understood a "legalistic"
reading of the 2000 Algiers Agreement meant that the
withdrawal of UNMEE would signify that the terms of the
Agreement had been fulfilled, suggesting that the
Eritrean-Ethiopian border demarcation determined since the
end of hostilities would be considered final. This fact
could help explain the behavior of Eritrea, which may want
UNMEE withdrawn as a means to gain international acceptance
of the current border.
RUSSELL
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/06/2018
TAGS: PREL UNSC KPKO PBTS ET ER RS
SUBJECT: RUSSIA CLOSE TO U.S. POSITION ON THE FUTURE OF
UNMEE
REF: STATE 58446
Classified By: Political M/C Alice G. Wells for reasons 1.4 (b/d).
1. (C) MFA First Secretary for International Organizations
Sergey Zhdanov told us on June 6 that Russia agreed that
UNMEE cannot play an effective role in the region and should
either be terminated or its mandate not renewed when it ends
on July 31. He explained that before the UNSC took action on
this issue, the GOR preferred to wait until Eritrea and
Ethiopia made their positions known by responding to the
letter the UNSC President recently sent these governments.
Russia could support a follow-on presence, even if it was
located only on Ethiopian territory.
2. (C) Zhdanov said that the GOR understood a "legalistic"
reading of the 2000 Algiers Agreement meant that the
withdrawal of UNMEE would signify that the terms of the
Agreement had been fulfilled, suggesting that the
Eritrean-Ethiopian border demarcation determined since the
end of hostilities would be considered final. This fact
could help explain the behavior of Eritrea, which may want
UNMEE withdrawn as a means to gain international acceptance
of the current border.
RUSSELL