RUSSIA SURPRISED BY URGENT MEETING OF CONTACT

UNCLAS MOSCOW 001149 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL MARR RS SUBJECT: RUSSIA SURPRISED BY URGENT MEETING OF CONTACT GROUP ON PIRACY REF: A. STATE 45157 ¶B. 08 MOSCOW 3508 ¶1. (SBU) We delivered ref A demarche on May 5 to MFA Department of New Threats and Challenges Attache Azamat Nurgushiyev, who expressed the MFA's surprise at the U.S. proposal to hold a Contact Group meeting on May 29 in New York. The GOR had expected the meeting to be held in July, following the conclusion of the piracy working group meetings underway in various locations. Nurgushiyev said that Russia would be represented at the Contact Group meeting by officials from Moscow, although he could not predict at what level. He thought it likely that the MFA and MOD would be represented as the ministries that have the lead on piracy, and possibly the Ministry of Transport, which deals with merchant shipping issues. Nurgushiyev asked that Russia be sent a formal invitation to the May 29 Contact Group meeting. ¶2. (SBU) Nurgushiyev could not explain President Medvedev's proposal to establish an international court to prosecute pirates, which, he said, the GOR interagency process was only just beginning to examine. According to press reports, on May 5, Medvedev urged Russian prosecutors to discuss with their foreign counterparts the possibility of establishing an international body to try pirates such as the 30 currently held by a Russian naval vessel off the coast of Somalia. Nurgushiyev thought that the GOR might be able to present details at the Contact Group meeting in New York, or at the next working group meeting that focused on the legal side of counter-piracy efforts. ¶3. (SBU) Nurgushiyev could not elaborate on the GOR's approach to tackling piracy other than to say that Russia would continue to have a ship off the coast of Somalia to assist international anti-piracy efforts. He explained that piracy had only recently been handed to the Department of New Threats and Challenges, which would take the lead on the issue while working in conjunction with the MFA Africa and Legal departments. ¶4. (SBU) Comment: We understand from our MFA contacts that there has been something of a turf battle within the Ministry over piracy, with various offices seeking to either take the lead or deflect responsibility for the issue (ref B). The MFA has also proven unable to provide details on the Russian naval response to piracy and directed us on several occasions to the MOD, suggesting problems within the GOR interagency process as well. These factors appear to have stymied the GOR's ability to provide much on its views on combating piracy. We will report septel as additional information becomes available. End comment. BEYRLE