AMBASSADOR'S MEETING WITH DUMA FOREIGN AFFAIRS

C O N F I D E N T I A L MOSCOW 002045 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/16/2018 TAGS: PREL PGOV RS SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S MEETING WITH DUMA FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE CHAIR KOSACHEV REF: A. MOSCOW 2039 ¶B. MOSCOW 2012 Classified By: Ambassador John R. Beyrle. Reasons 1.4(b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary. During a meeting with Duma Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Konstantin Kosachev July 16, Ambassador highlighted the many areas where the U.S. and Russia worked together cooperatively and constructively, such as non-proliferation, civil nuclear energy, space, and business. He emphasized we were more effective when we were on the same side of the table on key issues such as North Korea, and urged Russia to do the same on Iran. Kosachev highlighted the potential for cooperation between the U.S. and Russia, especially on issues of crucial importance. He praised the Cooperative Threat Reduction Initiative (CTR),noting the difficult, but successful, recent ratification process. He had discussed the 123 Agreement with Chairman Berman and invited him to Moscow in October. He noted that in the closed part of Medvedev's speech to diplomats, Medvedev had called for a more assertive foreign policy, telling the Ambassadors to be more active in ensuring Russia a seat at the table on important issues. Kosachev urged serious consideration of President Medvedev's proposal for a new European security architecture, noting that he was not against the idea of missile defense, but stressing that the problem was that Russia was not included. End summary. Scope of Relationship -------------- ¶2. (C) During their (re-)introductory meeting July 16, the Ambassador noted the wide range of issues on which the U.S. and Russia worked cooperatively. He highlighted the important signal the U.S. was sending by U/S Burns' participation in P5 1 talks with Iran over the upcoming weekend, and emphasized the need to find a resolution to the dispute over missile defense. He praised the extent of U.S.-Russian business relations, and said that the U.S. Consulate had issued 35,000 visas to young Russians to participate in the work-travel program in the U.S. this summer. ¶3. (C) Kosachev told the Ambassador there was great potential for cooperation between our two countries, especially on critical issues. He said that despite his "hard-liner" reputation (adding that some in the Duma thought he was too soft),he made efforts to reach out to the West. He agreed that the business relationship was very important, but 
commented that the U.S. and Russia did not have the depth of commercial relations that Russia enjoyed with France or Germany, for instance, which served as an important "safety net" when political relations were stressed. Medvedev Call for More Assertive Foreign Policy -------------- -- ¶4. (C) Kosachev said that Medvedev had told Russian diplomats during the closed part of his speech (reftels),that they needed to do more to ensure Russia was involved in important foreign policy issues. He cited as an example North Korea, saying that despite Russia being a member of the Six-Party talks and having spent U.S. 100 million dollars, the Russian embassy was not invited to witness the destruction of the Yongbyon reactor. Medvedev also solicited suggestions on ways Russia could do a better job presenting its ideas to the world. Cooperative Threat Reduction -------------- ¶5. (C) Kosachev said it had been very difficult for Russia to ratify the CTR (note - the Duma ratified the CTR Umbrella Agreement on July 2 and the Federation Council ratified it July 11. The final step to bring it fully into force will be the decree signed by the President, which the MFA expects will be done by August 1). Although it was an example of good U.S.-Russian cooperation, it had not been "sold" properly, and had faced significant challenges. But, now everyone was happy it was successfully concluded. The Ambassador said it had been a highly successful program, ans we needed to do much more to advertise to the Russian people and officials the good work we had done. 123 Agreement -------------- ¶6. (C) Kosachev said he had discussed the 123 Agreement with Chairman Berman, and invited him to Moscow. Berman would visit on October 13, and Kosachev would arrange a series of meetings and roundtables, including with Rosatom. The Ambassador expressed appreciation for the dialogue, noting that passage of the 123 Agreement would open up immense spheres of civil nuclear cooperation possibilities, and describing the Administration's efforts to build congressional support for it. New European Security Proposal -------------- ¶7. (C) Kosachev pressed the U.S. to consider seriously Medvedev's proposal for a new European security architecture. Noting that the world had changed, Kosachev said many of the problems, such as missile defense, NATO enlargement, and Georgia, could be better handled under such an arrangement. Russia saw the proposal as added value, not as a threat to existing European security institutions. The key would be inclusivity. Kosachev said he could not understand why the U.S. tried to keep Russia on the outside of big strategic decisionmaking. He added that he was not completely against the idea of missile defense, but felt the U.S. proposals again excluded Russia, and the military was a bastion of old thinking. We do not talk about a French nuclear threat against Germany, because they are in the same circle, he said. The Ambassador said we recognized that Russia was still adjusting to the post-Cold War order, and we would listen carefully to the GOR's proposals. But there was scope for more Russian involvement and contribution to existing institutions. BEYRLE