FM LAVROV PRESSES FOR 2+2 DATES

C O N F I D E N T I A L MOSCOW 000329 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/08/2018 TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR RS SUBJECT: FM LAVROV PRESSES FOR 2+2 DATES Classified By: Ambassador William J. Burns: 1.4 (b, d). ¶1. (C) At the request of FM Lavrov, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Kislyak contacted the Ambassador on February 8 to urge the U.S. to confirm the timing for the second round of the 2 2 ministerial dialogue. Noting the outstanding GOR proposal to meet in Washington on March 13, Kislyak said that FM Lavrov and DefMin Serdyukov were concerned by the delay in confirming dates given the busy calendars of all the participants and the need to ensure that adequate preparations for the negotiations are completed in advance. Kislyak underscored that the GOR sought confirmation of the dates as soon as possible, and no later than the beginning of the week of February 11. He reiterated the GOR assessment that the 2 2 mechanism was important to keeping lines of communication open and advancing strategic objectives. ¶2. (C) Kislyak added that if the U.S. remained interested in pursuing the strategic framework first floated during the October 2007 session, he would need to begin consultations with U/S Rood, during their already scheduled February 21 expert talks in Budapest. ¶3. (C) Comment: Kisylak made clear that if March 13 is not feasible for the U.S., the GOR is ready to entertain a counterproposal on both timing and locale, but strongly prefers to hold the second session as close as possible to that date. BURNS