RUSSIA/COUNTERTERRORISM: RUSSIAN PLEDGES ETERNAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MUNICH 000317

SIPDIS

DEPT PLEASE PASS NSC, AFGHANISTAN COLLECTIVE, MOSCOW
COLLECTIVE, JOINT STAFF

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/24/2018
TAGS: PTER PREL PGOV EFIN US RS
SUBJECT: RUSSIA/COUNTERTERRORISM: RUSSIAN PLEDGES ETERNAL
FRIENDSHIP; MAKES SMALL COMMITMENTS

REF: A. REF MOSCOW 1865

B. USOSCE DAILY DIGEST SEPTEMBER 17

C. 2008

Classified By: Ambassador Dell Dailey, S/CT, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d
)


1. (C) Summary: Ambassador Anatoliy Safonov and Ambassador
Dell Dailey, coordinators of counterterrorism efforts by the
Russian Federation and the United States, met privately in
Munich on September 17 to discuss counterterrorism issues.
Safonov took pains to confirm that bilateral relationship was
intact "even with cold winds blowing." Although Russia said
it missed having U.S. participation at the September 4
informal luncheon in New York to promote Russian
public-private partnerships, he said the recent
counterterrorism meeting on public-private partnerships at
OSCE in Vienna went well. Safonov agreed seriously to
consider participating soon in a training demonstration by
the Federal Air Marshals, as long as it was planned in
conjunction with other business in Washington. Safonov only
acknowledged Ambassador Dailey's request that the Russians
revive work on the comprehensive work plan covering weapons
of mass destruction terrorism and several other areas.
Dailey agreed to share ideas with Safonov on how the United
States and Russia could cooperate in supporting the
counterterrorism efforts of Pakistan. Interestingly, Safonov
raised no issue from the Russian side that would require USG
action. Georgia was not discussed. End Summary.


2. (SBU) Participating for the Russian Federation were
Ambassador Anatoliy Safonov, Russian Special Presidential
Representative for Counterterrorism, Vladimir Andreyev,
Deputy Director of the Department of New Challenges and
Threats, and for the United States, Ambassador Dell Dailey,
Coordinator for Counterterrorism (S/CT),and Kit Traub,
Chief, Political/Economic Section, Consulate General Munich,
note taker. The Russians provided an interpreter.

"Durable Bond of Friendship" Supports the Working Relationship
-------------- --------------


3. (C) Safonov set a tone for the meeting that he returned
to time and again when he said that with counterterrorism
cooperation, the United States and Russia were engaged in "a
business of principal importance that rises above the
contradictions of our current circumstances." Safonov said
he did not want to go back to the days when the United States
and Russia had "stared at each other through field glasses"
and "nothing good had come of it." "That we meet and speak
openly in this way is very important," he said. Throughout
the meeting, unusually outgoing and voluble, Safonov put this
cooperation in the context of his feelings of "personal
friendship" with Dailey and insisted it would both endure and
carry their counterterrorism work forward through the current
crisis. He said that Russia and the United States had made
the "right strategic choice" to continue meeting over
counterterrorism issues. Alluding only obliquely to the
current crisis in Russian/US relations, he poetically
suggested it might be necessary for he and Dailey "to close
the windows into our work room to protect us from the cold
winds blowing around outside." To make the point, the
Russians presented USDel with small tokens of friendship and
picked up the tab for what was a cordial dinner.

CT Cooperation with the United States Formally
Established by Moscow With its Embassies
-------------- --------------


4. (C) Safonov said that the Russian Federation had
instructed its Embassies to cooperate with the U.S. on
counterterrorism matters. Russia had also "warned critical
third countries to waste no time trying to find holes in our
mutual agreement to cooperate," he revealed. Safonov said he
regularly coordinated on counterterrorism matters with the
Russian Ministries of Interior, Defense, Foreign Affairs, and
Justice, Special Services, the Prosecutor General, Emergency
Situation Service, Financial Intelligence, and Anti-drug
Services.

MUNICH 00000317 002 OF 002




5. (C) Safonov pointedly noted that Russia had missed U.S.
participation at the September 4 informal luncheon in New
York to promote Russian public-private partnerships, but he
said Ambassador Dailey's remarks at the Carnegie lecture had
reassured Russia that the United States still supported
cooperation with the Russian Federation. Safonov said the
United States and Russia had worked well together at the
OSCE,s September 15-16 meeting on Public-Private
Partnerships in Combating Terrorism (Ref. B).

Safonov Agrees in Principle to Air Marshal Training;
No Firm Commitment on WMD Work Plan
-------------- --------------


6. (C) Ambassador Dailey secured Safonov's agreement in
principal to attend a training simulation by the Federal Air
Marshals. Dailey agreed to tailor the demonstration to the
needs of the Russians and estimated it would last about
one-half day. Safonov said that Ambassador Kislyak, before
he left for his new post heading the Russian Embassy in
Washington, had encouraged him to keep working closely with
Ambassador Dailey and encouraged him to come with a small
group to visit Washington to continue their engagement.
Safonov's only caveat was that the Marshals, training be
made to coincide with other business in Washington for the
Russian side. Ambassador Dailey reminded Safonov that the
USG still wanted to continue work on the comprehensive work
plan on Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Terrorism. He
noted that the United States understands Russia's refusal for
now to include Consequence Management in this work. Safonov
acknowledged the request with a "yes, yes" without making
firm commitments to really engage.

Coordinating on Engaging Pakistan and India
--------------


7. (C) Safonov mentioned that he will lead a delegation of
military and special services to Pakistan in the second half
of October and asked for USG advice on issues to raise. "The
U.S. and Russia remain allies on the subject of Pakistan
because of its nuclear weapons and terrorism," he asserted.
Ambassadors Dailey and Safonov agreed that Russia and the
United States shared a dilemma on how to keep pressure on
Pakistan to act against terrorist groups but not to push too
hard politically, for fear of destabilizing President
Musharraf in the past or new President Zardari, whom Safonov
assessed as "even weaker than Musharraf." Ambassador Dailey
agreed with Safonov's assessment that Russia and the United
States should encourage Pakistan accept the risk and engage
its well-trained special forces against dangerous targets
like bin Laden. Ambassador Dailey agreed to get back to
Safonov with suggestions on how better to engage with
Pakistan. Safonov will also travel to India in late October,
he said.


8. (U) Ambassador Dailey cleared this cable.
NELSON