AUSTRALIANS RESPOND TO US READ-OUT ON US-RUSSIA

UNCLAS CANBERRA 000650 SIPDIS EUR/RUS COLLECTIVE, JANINE ELLISON, DAPHNE STAVROPOULOS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: RS PGOV PREL AS SUBJECT: AUSTRALIANS RESPOND TO US READ-OUT ON US-RUSSIA PRESIDENTIAL SUMMIT REF: (A) CANBERRA 642 (B) STATE 71326 ¶1. (SBU) In response to our earlier demarche (ref A) on the outcome of the U.S.-Russia Presidential Summit, Michael O'Bryne, Executive Officer, Northern, Central and Eastern Europe Section told the Embassy on July 14 that the GOA's overall response is positive. O'Bryne expressed pleasure that the United States and Russia have agreed to continue work on a follow-on agreement to the START treaty. He asked if there was a sense that Russia now felt the need to reciprocate the "big gesture" that the U.S. has made in the course of this summit. ¶2. (SBU) Comment: The Australians are very interested in the follow-ons from the Summit. Moore asked specifically if there was an active time table for the Bilateral Presidential Commission. CLUNE