S-300 DEMARCHE DELIVERED; RUSSIA PROMISES TO

S E C R E T MOSCOW 003011


NOFORN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/09/2018
TAGS: ETTC PARM PREL PGOV MASS IR RS

SUBJECT: S-300 DEMARCHE DELIVERED; RUSSIA PROMISES TO
INVESTIGATE

REF: A. STATE 108136

B. MOSCOW 2635

C. MOSCOW 2044

D. MOSCOW 1586

E. MOSCOW 1254 AND PREVIOUS

Classified By: Political MC Alice G. Wells for reasons
1.4(b),(c),and (d).


1. (S) Charge delivered ref A demarche on the possible
transfer to Iran of an S-300 anti-missile system and Igla-S
MANPADs to MFA Director for North AMERICA Igor Neverov on
October 9. Neverov said the MFA would disseminate the
information and convey the USG's concern through the
appropriate channels. He noted that the possible S-300
transfer was a long-standing issue and had been raised at the
highest levels, with Putin having said in the past that there
was a contract, it was still in force, but Russia was in no
hurry to implement it. On MANPADs, Neverov said Russia had
been very transparent about their position and discussed the
issue with the U.S. many times (reftels). Neverov said the
GOR would take the demarche "very seriously" and prepare a
response following review of the information.


2. (S) Noting that the U.S. and Russia had sent the "right
message" to Iran with adoption of the recent UN Security
Council resolution, he said Iran was "well aware" of the
consolidated position of the P5 1 and Russia continued to
insist Iran fulfill all the obligations under the UNSCR's and
"do what was expected of it."


3. (SBU) Also on October 9, in response to press speculation
during Israeli PM Olmert's visit to Moscow on a possible
S-300 deal (septel),MFA spokesman Andrei Nesterenko said
that Russia would not supply an S-300 system to Iran. "Our
high-ranking politicians have declared many times that we
will not supply such weapons to countries located in what we
call perturbed regions. This does not meet the interests of
regional stability," he said.
RUBIN


NNNN




End Cable Text