Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08MUNICH68
2008-02-14 09:39:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Munich
Cable title:  

A/S FRIED'S MEETING WITH DUMA COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN

Tags:  MARR NATO PARM PREL GM RS 
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FM AMCONSUL MUNICH
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4288
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PRIORITY 0322
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RHMFISS/COMSOCEUR VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY
RHMFISS/CDRUSAREUR HEIDELBERG GE PRIORITY
RHMFISS/HQ USAFE RAMSTEIN AB GE PRIORITY
RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEHRL/USDAO BERLIN GE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MUNICH 000068 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/14/2018
TAGS: MARR NATO PARM PREL GM RS
SUBJECT: A/S FRIED'S MEETING WITH DUMA COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN
KOSACHEV AND OSTROVSKIY

REF: MUNICH 52

MUNICH 00000068 001.2 OF 002


Classified By: CONSUL GENERAL ERIC G. NELSON, REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MUNICH 000068

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/14/2018
TAGS: MARR NATO PARM PREL GM RS
SUBJECT: A/S FRIED'S MEETING WITH DUMA COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN
KOSACHEV AND OSTROVSKIY

REF: MUNICH 52

MUNICH 00000068 001.2 OF 002


Classified By: CONSUL GENERAL ERIC G. NELSON, REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).


1. (C) Summary: A/S Fried noted that Deputy Prime Minister
Ivanov's Munich speech was a welcome change in tone from
other senior Russian statements. The discussion focused
primarily on Kosovo. Fried urged Russia to be constructive
with Serbia and Kosovo; the U.S. had a disagreement over
Kosovo and it was critical that Russia not take steps that
would lead to a crisis, e.g., recognizing Abkhazia. Kosachev
expressed interest in exploring the difference between a
"disagreement" and a "crisis," while also offering standard
arguments against Kosovo independence. Ostrovskiy painted a
lurid picture of U.S. &hegemonial aspirations8 and proposed
a U.S.-Russian division of "spheres of influence." End
summary.

Kosachev on Kosovo and its Implications
--------------


2. (C) Assistant Secretary Dan Fried met February 10 with
Duma Committee Chairmen Konstantin Kosachev and Aleksey
Ostrovskiy on the margins of the Munich Security Conference.
Fried told Kosachev that Deputy Prime Minister Sergey
Ivanov's speech to the conference had been constructive in
tone, a change from last year,s speech by President Putin,
and that participants had seen it that way. Fried added that
he disagreed with Ivanov,s defense of state-led,
authoritarian modernization, but noted that at least Ivanov
had taken the trouble to make the case in rational terms.
Kosachev said there had been a discussion within the Russian
delegation about what approach Ivanov should take; a decision
was made in favor of the constructive approach, and all were
happy with the outcome.


3. (C) Kosachev said we had a real test in front of us over
Kosovo and said he had heard that Kosovo would declare
independence February 17, with recognition by most EU member
states the next day. Fried said that he was aware of this
speculation but did not confirm it. Kosachev asked whether

the U.S. would recognize Kosovo the day after a declaration
of independence. Fried told him one would have to assume so.


4. (C) Fried said it was clear that Russia and the West had
a disagreement over Kosovo. The question was whether the
disagreement would become a crisis. If Russia expressed its
disagreement with Kosovo independence and did not recognize
it, that would be a disagreement only. If Russia recognized
Abkhazia as revenge for Kosovo,s independence, that would
constitute a crisis. Kosachev picked up on this line of
thinking and asked whether it would be a crisis or a
disagreement if Russia blocked OSCE membership for Kosovo.


5. (C) Fried said he thought it would be unfortunate if
Russia blocked Kosovo's membership in the UN, although it was
clear Russia might take that step. UN membership for Kosovo
would strengthen moderate forces in that country. He
observed that Russia was not in a position to block Kosovo
membership in the World Bank or IMF. Russia would hopefully
come to recognize, Fried continued, that we faced a common
challenge to strengthen constructive forces in the region and
isolate extremists. The U.S. would do its best to support
responsible Kosovar leaders. The U.S. was sorry that Serbian
Radical Party presidential candidate Nikolic had been
received in Moscow.


6. (C) The international community would remain in Kosovo --
one of its goals would be to protect the Serb minority, Fried
said. The U.S. hoped that Russia would be responsible and
would not encourage radical Serbs to cross the border and
make trouble on the ground in Kosovo. Kosachev said that
Russia would not "stimulate" Serb actions with respect to
Kosovo and said Russia would not be "more Serb than the
Serbs." Fried noted the U.S. had told Serbia to refrain from
adventurism and expected Moscow to do the same with its
greater influence with Kostunica. It was in our interests to
move Serbia closer to Europe and ensure stability in Kosovo.


7. (C) Kosachev shared his view that Kosovo independence

MUNICH 00000068 002.2 OF 002


would be a mistake; by solving a "small problem" in Kosovo,
the West would encourage separatism in Russia (Chechnya,
e.g.),South Ossetia, and Abkhazia. The Russian problem had
less to do with Kosovo itself than with the loss of status of
the UNSC, which had not accepted Kosovo,s independence.
Fried replied that Russia had missed the opportunity to work
constructively in the UNSC to obtain a clear statement that
Kosovo was not a precedent. Russia had pulled its troops out
of Kosovo years ago, and did not have the same stake that
Western countries did. The U.S., for its part, would never
accept attempts to use Kosovo as a precedent in other
regions, whether in the Basque lands, northern Cyprus,
Chechnya, or elsewhere.


8. (C) Fried said the U.S. wanted to cooperate with Russia
on Missile Defense (MD) and CFE. We had listened to Russian
concerns, and Secretaries Rice and Gates had responded to
them seriously. Fried pointed out that Ivanov's speech had
referred to strategic cooperation with the U.S. -- this was
important, and he had already informed the Secretary about
it. The U.S. and Russia did not have to agree on every
issue, but there was more that united us than divided us:
counter-terrorism, counter-proliferation, and some regional
issues among them.

Ostrovskiy Pleads for U.S.-Russian Condominium
-------------- -


9. (C) Ostrovskiy, who had been silent up to that point,
told Fried that the U.S. was making a "big mistake" by
continuing a "cold war" against Russia. The U.S. desire for
global hegemony would in the end damage U.S. interests, since
that goal was unachievable. Attempts by the USG to minimize
Russian influence in Central Asia and the southern Caucasus
would be counterproductive and stoke Islamic extremism.
Already, in Iraq, Afghanistan, and potentially in Iran, the
U.S. was overstretched. Ostrovskiy proposed that the U.S.
and Russia divide up spheres of influence and establish a
bi-polar world order.


10. (C) Fried told Ostrovskiy that he misunderstood U.S.
foreign policy, which did not aspire to control the globe,
either on its own or with others. The U.S. favored an open,
liberal order, in which we could cooperate with many
countries, especially democracies.


11. (C) Ostrovskiy expressed admiration for American
democracy, but said Georgian President Saakashvili was a
"dictator;" the presidential elections were completely
falsified. President Putin was a hundred times better, he
asserted. Fried pointed out that the U.S., and ODIHR, had
been critical of flaws in the Georgian presidential election.
We hoped that the parliamentary election would be better.
But in Georgia, Fried pointed out, one did not know the
outcome of an election in advance; this contrasted with some
other countries.


12. (U) This cable was cleared with A/S Fried and
coordinated with Embassy Berlin.


13. (U) For more information on the 44th Conference and past
conferences, visit:"http://www.securityconference.de".


14. (U) Previous reporting from Munich is available on our
SIPRNET website at www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/munich/.
NELSON