Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08STATE128096
2008-12-04 23:17:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Secretary of State
Cable title:
POLISH MANPADS ALLEGED IN CHECHNYA
how-toVZCZCXYZ0015 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHC #8096 3392323 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P R 042317Z DEC 08 FM SECSTATE WASHDC TO RUEHWR/AMEMBASSY WARSAW PRIORITY 2548 INFO RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 6436 RUEHSI/AMEMBASSY TBILISI 9290
C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 128096
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/04/2018
TAGS: ETTC MCAP PREL PTER MASS GG PL RS
SUBJECT: POLISH MANPADS ALLEGED IN CHECHNYA
REF: MOSCOW 3475
Classified By: Anita E. Friedt, EUR/PRA Office Director.
Reasons 1.4 (B) and (D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 128096
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/04/2018
TAGS: ETTC MCAP PREL PTER MASS GG PL RS
SUBJECT: POLISH MANPADS ALLEGED IN CHECHNYA
REF: MOSCOW 3475
Classified By: Anita E. Friedt, EUR/PRA Office Director.
Reasons 1.4 (B) and (D).
1. (SBU) This is an action message; please see para 3 below.
2. (C) On November 26, Russian MFA DVBR First Secretary
Andrey Odnoral passed to Embassy Moscow a nonpaper and video
that allege Polish-made MANPADS were discovered in
Itum-Kalinsk (Itumkale),Chechnya. The nonpaper requested
from the USG any information or materials relating to this
alleged incident of illegal trafficking of the Polish MANPADS
in the context of implementing the 2005 U.S.-Russian MANPADS
Arrangement.
3. (C) The GOR claims it not raised this issue with the
Georgian or Polish government, but Russian representatives
raised it during the December 2-3 Wassenaar meeting plenary
in Vienna in a presentation on destabilizing accumulations of
conventional arms in conflict zones. The GOR asserted that
in 2007, Poland supplied 100 "Grom" MANPADS to Georgia,
produced with Russian-manufactured components. The GOR
further asserted that Poland re-exported these MANPADS to
Georgia without GOR consent, violating GOR export rules.
4. (SBU) Action Request: Embassy Warsaw should inform the
appropriate Government of Poland (GOP) officials that the
Russians have raised with the U.S. the alleged incident of
Polish MANPADS trafficked to Chechnya as per the reference.
Post should draw upon information in the reference without
passing the full text, and should ask for Polish assessment.
In particular, Post should highlight Russian claims that
Polish MANPADS, originally transferred to Georgia, have been
recovered by Russian forces in Chechnya. (Note: Washington
notes that the Russians have raised this alleged incident at
a time of escalating violence in the Northern Caucasus.
Washington wonders whether Russia is raising the alleged
incident to continue to argue for an arms embargo against
Georgia, criticizing countries that provide weapons to
Georgia as undermining regional stability.) Post should also
inquire how the Poles plan to respond if the Russians raise
this alleged incident during upcoming Polish-Russian Export
Control talks on December 9, 2008.
RICE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/04/2018
TAGS: ETTC MCAP PREL PTER MASS GG PL RS
SUBJECT: POLISH MANPADS ALLEGED IN CHECHNYA
REF: MOSCOW 3475
Classified By: Anita E. Friedt, EUR/PRA Office Director.
Reasons 1.4 (B) and (D).
1. (SBU) This is an action message; please see para 3 below.
2. (C) On November 26, Russian MFA DVBR First Secretary
Andrey Odnoral passed to Embassy Moscow a nonpaper and video
that allege Polish-made MANPADS were discovered in
Itum-Kalinsk (Itumkale),Chechnya. The nonpaper requested
from the USG any information or materials relating to this
alleged incident of illegal trafficking of the Polish MANPADS
in the context of implementing the 2005 U.S.-Russian MANPADS
Arrangement.
3. (C) The GOR claims it not raised this issue with the
Georgian or Polish government, but Russian representatives
raised it during the December 2-3 Wassenaar meeting plenary
in Vienna in a presentation on destabilizing accumulations of
conventional arms in conflict zones. The GOR asserted that
in 2007, Poland supplied 100 "Grom" MANPADS to Georgia,
produced with Russian-manufactured components. The GOR
further asserted that Poland re-exported these MANPADS to
Georgia without GOR consent, violating GOR export rules.
4. (SBU) Action Request: Embassy Warsaw should inform the
appropriate Government of Poland (GOP) officials that the
Russians have raised with the U.S. the alleged incident of
Polish MANPADS trafficked to Chechnya as per the reference.
Post should draw upon information in the reference without
passing the full text, and should ask for Polish assessment.
In particular, Post should highlight Russian claims that
Polish MANPADS, originally transferred to Georgia, have been
recovered by Russian forces in Chechnya. (Note: Washington
notes that the Russians have raised this alleged incident at
a time of escalating violence in the Northern Caucasus.
Washington wonders whether Russia is raising the alleged
incident to continue to argue for an arms embargo against
Georgia, criticizing countries that provide weapons to
Georgia as undermining regional stability.) Post should also
inquire how the Poles plan to respond if the Russians raise
this alleged incident during upcoming Polish-Russian Export
Control talks on December 9, 2008.
RICE