RUSSIA-GERMANY TRANSIT AGREEMENT TO BE IMPLEMENTED

C O N F I D E N T I A L MOSCOW 003655 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/03/2018 TAGS: PREL PGOV PBTS MASS MCAP MOPS RS AF SUBJECT: RUSSIA-GERMANY TRANSIT AGREEMENT TO BE IMPLEMENTED Classified By: Deputy Political M/C David Kostelancik. Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (U) In a November 20 statement, the MFA characterized the rail transit of German military hardware through Russian territory as a reaffirmation of the GOR's commitment to Afghanistan stabilization. The statement praised the close cooperation between Germany and Russia and said this would be the first time foreign military goods would be transported via rail to Afghanistan. This was already agreed to in principle in October 2003, but Medvedev and Merkel made the political decision to begin shipping military goods via rail during the Russian-German Interstate Consultations in St. Petersburg on October 2. The final hurdle was cleared on November 10 when the Federal Customs Service issued a general permit for goods to be transited. -------------- The Return Of German Tanks To Russia? -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Due largely to the cost of shipping goods via air to Afghanistan, Germany approached Russia to make use of the pre-existing land transit agreement. According to the agreement, the Germans will be able to ship any military goods across Russia to Afghanistan to support ISAF, including tanks and other heavy weapons. The GOR can give its permission for such shipments to take place for up to one year. Germany must, however, declare what goods will be sent with each shipment. Germany also has agreements with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan covering the land transit of goods to support ISAF, although Germany has not yet concluded an agreement to ship weapons and ammunition through Uzbekistan. Other NATO countries may include their goods in German transit shipments to Afghanistan as well. No shipments are planned to take place before 2009. -------------- Rail Transport A Sign Of Special Relationship -------------- ¶3. (C) According to MFA NATO Desk Head Dmitriy Talanov, the activation of the rail transit agreement with Germany is a sign of the close strategic partnership the two countries have. Germany and Russia share many common interests, and the two countries are strategic partners, Talanov posited. He said both countries want to help stabilize Afghanistan and so it is natural that they cooperate in this venture. "Not many countries can transit military hardware across Russia, but we want to help Germany fulfill its obligations to ISAF," Talanov asserted. Other countries such as France and Spain, and indeed even NATO have transit agreements with the GOR, but Germany's agreement gives it freedom to transit goods via rail and air, and gives it permission to ship military as well as nonmilitary goods along various routes across Russia. BEYRLE