NATO-RUSSIA: PUTTING "NO BUSINESS AS USUAL" INTO

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 093447

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/27/2018
TAGS: MOPS NATO PREL GG RS
SUBJECT: NATO-RUSSIA: PUTTING "NO BUSINESS AS USUAL" INTO
PRACTICE

REF: USNATO 309

Classified By: Assistant Secretary Dan Fried for reasons
1.4 (B and (D)


1. (C) Pursuant to the agreement among NATO Foreign
Ministers at their August 19 meeting that there can be
"no business as usual" in the NATO-Russia relationship
under the current circumstances, Washington supports
Mission's view (reftel) that it is important "not to use"
the NRC as currently structured. Our goal is to send a
strong political signal to Russia in a way that will
preserve Allied unity, without provoking Russia to sever
its relationship with NATO and end NATO-Russia
activities we deem of benefit to the Alliance and the
U.S., such as ISAF transit.


2. (C) Mission may draw on the following points at the
September 2 NATO PermReps discussion:

-- Consistent with the NAC's decisions on "no business as
usual," and to reflect the reality of the NATO-Russia
relationship at the present time, it is not possible to
use the NRC structures and procedures during this time.

-- In practice, this means that the NRC should not meet at
the Ambassadorial level, nor hold regular Prep Coms.
NATO-Russia working-level meetings should occur only on an
ad-hoc basis in order to address specific
issues -- such as areas of cooperation that support the
Alliance's larger goals such as Afghanistan, ISAF transit,
counterterrorism, counternarcotics, and humanitarian issues --
and must be pre-coordinated by the Allies.

-- We do not exclude a priori future meetings at
Ambassadorial level, although any such meeting at present is
premature and would need to be carefully pre-coordinated in
terms of substance and format and require instructions from
Washington.

-- Mission should make clear that the U.S. is not proposing a
formal suspension or annulment of the NRC. We agree with Allie
that it is important to keep open channels of communication wit
Russia.

-- Washington supports Mission's recommendation that the
NATO International Staff remain engaged with the Russian
Mission to provide an additional channel of communication.

-- Other NATO activities and mechanisms that include
Russia as only one of a number of partners should
continue. Russia should not be allowed to prevent us from
doing the important work of the Alliance. This includes
the activities and meetings of the Partnership for
Peace/Euro-Atlantic Partnership council (PfP/EAPC),of
which Russia remains a member. Mission should engage with
the International Staff to ensure Russia is not permitted
to use these meetings solely as a platform for rhetorical
attacks against NATO or its partners.


3. (C) In addition to the NATO-Russia specific points
above, Washington instructs Mission to make the following
points on related topics at the September 2 PermReps
Lunch:

A) NATO AID TO GEORGIA:

-- NATO's contribution to the reconstitution of the
Georgian military should include assistance and advice
relating to the national military structure, airspace,
leadership education and training, and command and control
issues.

B) NATO-GEORGIA COMMISSION:

-- We support a short framework document, which should be
agreed as quickly as possible;

-- The Commission should be used to accelerate Georgia's

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integration into NATO as mandated at Bucharest, and coordinate
the implementation of the Alliance's assistance to Georgia;

-- The Commission should provide a political framework to
highlight NATO's close strategic relationship with Georgia,
including at the ministerial and heads of state and government
level;

-- The Commission should include a mechanism for emergency
consultations;

-- We should hold a "26 plus 1" meeting with Georgia prior
to the NAC visit to Tbilisi. Mission should confirm that
the Private Office intends to schedule one for September
10;

-- We should hold the first meeting of the NATO-Georgia
Commission during the NAC's September 15-16 visit to
Tbilisi.
RICE