NOTIFYING ALLIES OF FRIED-ANTONOV MEETING ON CFE

C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 130577 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/12/2018 TAGS: KCFE PREF PARM RS NATO SUBJECT: NOTIFYING ALLIES OF FRIED-ANTONOV MEETING ON CFE IN GENEVA ON DECEMBER 17 Classified By: EUR A/S Daniel Fried, for reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (U) This is an action message for embassies in all NATO capitals and USNATO. USOSCE should follow up as appropriate. ¶2. (C) Posts should contact appropriate host government authorities (USNATO should inform appropriate members of the International Staff) as soon as possible to let them know that A/S Fried will be meeting with Russian MFA International Security and Disarmament Director Antonov on CFE issues in Geneva December 17 as part of our collective effort to continue our constructive approach with Russia. Posts should be aware that Ambassador Fried will have briefed key interested Allies in advance of the December 17 meeting. Additionally, many Allies may have heard through their Joint Consultative Group representatives in Vienna about a possible Fried-Antonov meeting. ¶3. (C) Posts should indicate that Ambassador Fried expects to use his December 17 meeting with Antonov to review the status of all elements of the parallel actions package. He will also invite any Russian reaction to the specific suggestions he presented regarding intensified engagement at their last meeting in July. A/S Fried will outline U.S. ideas ) which we have discussed with Georgian authorities ) for addressing via CFE the implications of Russian military action in Georgia. We expect to brief Allies on the outcome of the meeting as soon as possible afterward. RICE