MEDVEDEV TELLS RUSSIAN DIPLOMATS TO AVOID

UNCLAS MOSCOW 002012 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL RS SUBJECT: MEDVEDEV TELLS RUSSIAN DIPLOMATS TO AVOID CONFRONTATION ¶1. During a July 15 address to an assembly of Russian diplomats in Moscow, Medvedev provided an overview of Russia's foreign policy and called upon the diplomats to protect Russian interests while avoiding confrontation. His address coincided with the release of the paper Concepts of Russian Foreign Policy that explained Russia would pursue a "predictable and pragmatic" foreign policy and not be drawn into confrontations potentially harmful to the country's domestic development. According to initial press reports, Medvedev made the following points during his speech: -- Russia sees a need for a new European security treaty. Medvedev said that the current crisis over CFE and missile defense indicated that "all is not well" with the current European security structure, and hoped that it would not take a "complete and final breakdown of this regime" to demonstrate its "lack of viability." Medvedev said he was pleased by the initial response to his proposal for a new European security treaty and was prepared to engage in a "creative and practical search" for solutions to the current political impasse. - Russia will respond to U.S. missile defense system. Medvedev said that U.S. plan to deploy MD was "only aggravating" an already troubled political situation and Russia would "have to react appropriately." -- The strategic partnership between Russia and the EU could be a "support structure for a greater Europe without dividing lines." Medvedev said this would include investment by Russia and the EU in each other's economies based upon agreed "rules." -- The UN must be strengthened and international institutions reorganized. Medvedev said that recent experience in Iraq and the Middle East demonstrated the need to settle problems through international institutions; he called upon countries that bore "special responsibility for the world" to work within the existing international "architecture." -- All nuclear powers, not just Russia and the U.S., should be responsible for maintaining global stability. Medvedev did not elaborate on this idea, but proceeded to call for an international agreement to prevent the nuclearization of space. -- Russia will develop relations with other countries "in a business-like and non-ideological manner." Medvedev highlighted the improvement of Russian relations with non-western countries through this approach to foreign policy, which he contrasted with the USSR's "ideological investments" that supported corrupt regimes. -- The protection of Russian-speaking people in other countries is a priority for Russia. Medvedev claimed that the rights of Russian-speakers and ethnic minorities were encroached upon in countries that willfully distorted history to justify illegal domestic and foreign policies. In an oblique reference to former Soviet satellite states, he complained that certain countries had attempted to paint fascism as having been on a "civilizing and liberating" mission, and called upon these countries to "respect history instead of engaging in sly interpretations." ¶2. We will report septel on Medvedev's speech, including Russian reaction and the foreign policy concept paper, after additional information becomes available. BEYRLE