SENATOR CORKER'S MEETING WITH DFM GRUSHKO:

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MOSCOW 003492 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR PARM KNNP OREP GG RS SUBJECT: SENATOR CORKER'S MEETING WITH DFM GRUSHKO: U.S.-RUSSIA RELATIONS, MISSILE DEFENSE, NATO, GEORGIA ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Deputy Foreign Minister Aleksandr Grushko told visiting U.S. Senator Bob Corker the U.S. and Russia should build off the Sochi Declaration to move the relationship forward. The U.S. was trying to impose its security interests on Russia with its missile defense proposal. Grushko reiterated Russia's arguments regarding the war in Georgia and said it was up to Georgia to determine the future of Russian-Georgia relations. Senator Corker responded that while Saakashvili had made mistakes, Russia's response seemed excessive. End Summary. U.S.-Russia Relations Should Build off Sochi -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Noting that he hoped for a new start in U.S.-Russian relations, Deputy Foreign Minister Aleksandr Grushko told visiting Senator Bob Corker November 7 that the U.S. was Russia's most important partner on security issues, and he hoped the two could build off the Sochi Declaration in seeking to overcome the obstacles between us. He stressed that our relations should be on an equal footing, account for the security interests of both sides, and not attempt to "impose" one another's security interests on the other. This was the problem Russia had with U.S. missile defense (MD) plans; they undermined Russia's strategic potential. U.S. arguments that MD was designed to protect U.S. interests and Europe from an Iranian threat, he contended, were questioned because Europe had not asked for such protection. Although Europe was interested in exploring theater MD, their lack of strong support for U.S. MD showed we should try to build a system in common. ¶3. (SBU) It was also important for the U.S. and Russia to focus on strategic stability issues, including arms control and a post-START agreement, Grushko said. He also lamented the lack of "real economic ties," saying this was the weakest part of the relationship. If we were more interdependent economically, we would listen to each other better and be more flexible. NATO Chooses Georgia -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Grushko, who is responsible for European security issues, including NATO, in the Ministry, reviewed Russia-NATO relations. The most attractive thing about the NATO-Russia Council (NRC),he said, was that all members were on an equal footing and acted in their individual capacities; it was not "26-plus-1." He lamented that NATO members had "clearly taken Georgia's side" during the "aggression of Georgia against South Ossetians and Russian peacekeepers." Under pressure from the U.S., Grushko claimed, the NATO Secretary General had failed to convene an extraordinary meeting of the NRC to discuss the situation. Despite Georgia's "violations of all norms," NATO, instead of condemning Georgia, had granted it the "bonus" of creating a NATO-Georgia Commission. ¶5. (SBU) Senator Corker said that while it appeared that Saakashvili had made a number of mistakes, Russia's response had gone beyond what was necessary. In response to his question about the apparent extensive burning of farmland in South Ossetia, Grushko claimed Russian troops had not been involved in such destruction, but he could not exclude that "others" had done things "not fully in line with how war should be conducted." ¶6. (SBU) Grushko reiterated Russian arguments that their troops had only been sent into the enclaves in response to the killing of Russian peacekeepers and to protect civilians. They could have marched on Tbilisi, since there was "no resistance, and the Georgian army was running away" but Medvedev had ordered them to stop. Now, they had withdrawn from Georgia per agreement with the EU. ¶7. (SBU) In response to Senator Corker's question about the future of Russia-Georgia relations, Grushko said it was up to Georgia to decide. MOSCOW 00003492 002 OF 002 Referring to historic and "spiritual" ties between the two countries, Grushko said the events of August had been "a tragedy." He went through a history of the region and relations since the fall of the Soviet Union, saying Russia had never stationed forces abroad; the peacekeepers in Abkhazia and South Ossetia (and Transnistria) had already been there and were kept on pursuant to the agreements reached in the mid-90's. Russia had withdrawn its forces in accordance with the CFE Treaty and Istanbul commitments, and started negotiations on the few remaining outposts in Batumi and Gudauta. But then Saakashvili came to power and insisted Russia withdraw all of its forces, which Russia had done in 2007. If Russia had kept strong military units in the two zones, Saakashvili would have thought twice about attacking Tskhinvali, Grushko contended. He told the Senator Russia would keep approximately 7200 troops in the two enclaves to "prevent a new aggression." Echoing Medvedev's and FM Lavrov's complaints, he said the EU also needed to do more to guarantee security. ¶8. (SBU) The delegation has cleared this cable. BEYRLE