Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08MOSCOW2835
2008-09-22 13:46:00
SECRET
Embassy Moscow
Cable title:
RUSSIA'S VIEW ON GC VOTE ON MESA GROUP SEAT ON
how-toVZCZCXRO0145 OO RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHDIR RUEHKUK DE RUEHMO #2835 2661346 ZNY SSSSS ZZH O 221346Z SEP 08 ZDS CITE HSD 0199 FM AMEMBASSY MOSCOW TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0076 INFO RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHXD/MOSCOW POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHII/VIENNA IAEA POSTS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHTA/AMEMBASSY ASTANA PRIORITY 0200 RUEHDM/AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS PRIORITY 1013 RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 0566 RHMFISS/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0444 RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA PRIORITY 0535
S E C R E T MOSCOW 002835
C O R R E C T E D COPY (CORRECTED INVALID DECL DATE)
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR ISN/RA FOR R. NEPHEW AND J. DANIEL, IO/T FOR
H. VON BEHREN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/23/2018
TAGS: IAEA PARM MNUC AF SY IR KZ RS
SUBJECT: RUSSIA'S VIEW ON GC VOTE ON MESA GROUP SEAT ON
IAEA BOG
REF: STATE 99746
Classified By: DCM Eric Rubin for reasons 1.4 b and d
S E C R E T MOSCOW 002835
C O R R E C T E D COPY (CORRECTED INVALID DECL DATE)
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR ISN/RA FOR R. NEPHEW AND J. DANIEL, IO/T FOR
H. VON BEHREN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/23/2018
TAGS: IAEA PARM MNUC AF SY IR KZ RS
SUBJECT: RUSSIA'S VIEW ON GC VOTE ON MESA GROUP SEAT ON
IAEA BOG
REF: STATE 99746
Classified By: DCM Eric Rubin for reasons 1.4 b and d
1. (S) On September 22, DCM and ESToff delivered reftel
demarche on U.S. opposition to potential Iranian or Syrian
membership on the IAEA Board of Governors (BOG) to Ministry
of Foreign Affairs Department of Security and Disarmament
Affairs Deputy Director Oleg Rozhkov. Rozhkov said that this
is not a new issue for Russia or the U.S., recalling that in
2004 the BOG did not support the U.S. proposal to disallow
countries under investigation from sitting on the BOG. He
stated that Russia agreed with the original U.S. proposal to
support Kazakhstan for the Middle East/South Asia (MESA)
seat. However, in light of India's concerns (reftel),Rozhkov
concurred that Afghanistan would make a good candidate as
well.
2. (S) Rozhkov indicated that Russia's position on
influencing the IAEA General Conference (GC) to support the
U.S. position that Afghanistan should get the seat would be
influenced by the potential damage of a divisive vote. He
said that Russia would have few chances to block support for
Iran or Syria in the GC, as the Non-aligned Movement (NAM)
could easily overwhelm any attempt to do so. He added that,
in Russia's view, the impact of either Iran or Syria on the
BOG would be minimized because BOG membership would give
neither much additional leverage to "make noise" at meetings.
Rozhkov said that in Russia's opinion, a vote for Iran or
Syria would not be a vote of approval for their past or
current activities. DCM noted that the U.S. disagrees and
would object to Iranian or Syrian membership on grounds of
principle, but also because of the precedents it would set.
Rozhkov said he understood our position but warned that an
overt attempt to influence the vote would set a bad precedent
and could backfire with non-aligned members.
BEYRLE
C O R R E C T E D COPY (CORRECTED INVALID DECL DATE)
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR ISN/RA FOR R. NEPHEW AND J. DANIEL, IO/T FOR
H. VON BEHREN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/23/2018
TAGS: IAEA PARM MNUC AF SY IR KZ RS
SUBJECT: RUSSIA'S VIEW ON GC VOTE ON MESA GROUP SEAT ON
IAEA BOG
REF: STATE 99746
Classified By: DCM Eric Rubin for reasons 1.4 b and d
1. (S) On September 22, DCM and ESToff delivered reftel
demarche on U.S. opposition to potential Iranian or Syrian
membership on the IAEA Board of Governors (BOG) to Ministry
of Foreign Affairs Department of Security and Disarmament
Affairs Deputy Director Oleg Rozhkov. Rozhkov said that this
is not a new issue for Russia or the U.S., recalling that in
2004 the BOG did not support the U.S. proposal to disallow
countries under investigation from sitting on the BOG. He
stated that Russia agreed with the original U.S. proposal to
support Kazakhstan for the Middle East/South Asia (MESA)
seat. However, in light of India's concerns (reftel),Rozhkov
concurred that Afghanistan would make a good candidate as
well.
2. (S) Rozhkov indicated that Russia's position on
influencing the IAEA General Conference (GC) to support the
U.S. position that Afghanistan should get the seat would be
influenced by the potential damage of a divisive vote. He
said that Russia would have few chances to block support for
Iran or Syria in the GC, as the Non-aligned Movement (NAM)
could easily overwhelm any attempt to do so. He added that,
in Russia's view, the impact of either Iran or Syria on the
BOG would be minimized because BOG membership would give
neither much additional leverage to "make noise" at meetings.
Rozhkov said that in Russia's opinion, a vote for Iran or
Syria would not be a vote of approval for their past or
current activities. DCM noted that the U.S. disagrees and
would object to Iranian or Syrian membership on grounds of
principle, but also because of the precedents it would set.
Rozhkov said he understood our position but warned that an
overt attempt to influence the vote would set a bad precedent
and could backfire with non-aligned members.
BEYRLE