DFM RYABKOV TAKES STOCK FOLLOWING "VERY GOOD"

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MOSCOW 001835 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/15/2019 TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM ECON EAGR MARR MNUC PARM IR RS SUBJECT: DFM RYABKOV TAKES STOCK FOLLOWING "VERY GOOD" SUMMIT, WELCOMES JTA DELEGATION IN LATE JULY REF: MOSCOW 1831 Classified By: Ambassador John R. Beyrle for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov told the Ambassador July 16 that the Russian government viewed the Obama-Medvedev summit as a "very good visit," and said the MFA was preparing next steps for post-START negotiations, the ballistic missile joint threat assessment, and the bilateral commission. Ryabkov promised a reply on the proposed visit of ISN/PDAS Van Diepen, and subsequently confirmed July 29 or ¶30. He agreed that U/S Tauscher and he should meet before the proposed Lavrov-Clinton meeting, and offered September 3-4 in London on the side of a tentative P5 deputies meeting. Ryabkov offered his views on the bilateral commission's operations, saying he prefers a detailed terms of reference document. He reinforced Medvedev's statements at the G-8 that Russia was not seeking to end its individual application for WTO accession. Ryabkov offered greater support for the family of Paul Klebnikov, murdered in 2004. He tried to delink Russia's lifting of meat import restrictions against two U.S. states from any political considerations. End Summary. Scheduling for Arms Control and Disarmament Talks -------------- -------------- ¶2. (C) An upbeat Ryabkov expressed appreciation for all of the work done before the summit, which ensured what the GOR assessed as "a very good visit." The MFA had used the time since the summit to take stock on commitments for the START follow-on agreement, the ballistic missile joint threat assessment (JTA),and the bilateral commission, particularly the Arms Control and International Security Working Group which he co-chairs with U/S Tauscher. Ryabkov appreciated the offer for ISN/PDAS Vann Van Diepen and team to travel to Moscow for the first JTA meeting. Ryabkov was concerned that many of the same experts who were supporting talks in Geneva would not have time to prepare or be available for an end-of-month JTA visit. On July 17, however, he phoned to offer July 29 or 30 as a date for expert-level talks, hosted on the Russian side by Anatoliy Antonov. ¶3. (C) Ryabkov also agreed that he and U/S Tauscher, as co-chairs of the Arms Control and International Security Working Group, should meet and settle on an agenda before Secretary Clinton and Minister Lavrov have their inaugural commission meeting in the fall. He suggested meeting on the margins of a proposed September 3-4 P5 deputies session in London, in lieu of the August 12 session currently under discussion. Ryabkov welcomed the Ambassador's suggestion to use video teleconferencing to reduce the travel and expense for the series of working group meetings under the bilateral commission. Ryabkov commented that the MFA had good video conferencing facilities in-house. ¶4. (C) Amb. Beyrle asked if MFA Director for Arms Control and Disarmament Anatoliy Antonov would focus solely on the START follow-on treaty, or continue to attend to other duties. The U.S. was concerned that Antonov would need to devote full energy to START in view of the tight December deadline agreed by the Presidents. Ryabkov assured the Ambassador that the Post-START negotiations would remain Antonov's "top priority;" he would retain other responsibilities, but his deputies could also cover some of his portfolio. Ryabkov also asked if Ambassador Mull would continue to lead MD discussions. Bilateral Commission -------------- ¶5. (C) Ryabkov said the MFA was already involved in start-up preparations for the bilateral commission ministerial. He expected that the working group co-chairs would meet before the Lavrov-Clinton session in the fall. He also reported that there was a debate with the GOR on the preferred mechanics for the commission -- ONE camp advocated for working group specific approaches, while the other sought a terms of reference that defined the working group structures and their responsibilities, reporting chains, and timelines. Ryabkov made clear that he preferred the latter approach, and related his concept for an annual plenary that would review MOSCOW 00001835 002 OF 002 the efforts of the working groups which would then be put forward as a report to the presidents. But he stressed there was no final decision on this yet. WTO --- ¶6. (C) Ryabkov stated that according to "his understanding" of Russia's WTO accession plans as recently expressed by President Medvedev, Russia was not seeking simultaneous accession with Belarus and Kazakhstan, but said the process should not complicate the separate applications of the countries or the operation of the customs union. He underlined that Russia wanted to retain the results of prior rounds of negotiations and move forward on the remaining issues. He said that Russia was well aware that there was no precedent for a customs union to negotiate as a bloc for accession, but that the rules do not bar it either. The Ambassador affirmed the U.S. was committed to supporting Russia's accession sooner rather than later and that he would meet with Presidential economic advisor Dvorkovich and First Deputy Prime Minister Shuvalov to better understand how to move the process forward. The Ambassador reiterated that Russia, the EU, and the U.S. had laid a foundation for real progress on Russia's WTO accession at the June 4-6 St. Petersburg Economic Forum, and we hoped to maintain that momentum. Civil Society/Klebnikov and Estemirova Murders -------------- - ¶7. (C) The Ambassador noted U.S. statements of concern regarding the murder of Russian human rights activist Nataliya Estemirova, and said President Medvedev's immediate statement on the killing had been noted in Washington. He also welcomed the renewed sense of urgency in the 2004 Paul Klebnikov murder case, and praised the efforts of the GOR to meet with the family and with members of U.S. law enforcement (reftel). Ryabkov said that the Klebnikov murder "was not a closed chapter," and "what help and comfort we can provide to the family, we will." Ryabkov also said that the GOR was aware of the effect the Klebnikov case had on bilateral relations. Phyto-Sanitary Bans on Pork -------------- ¶8. (C) In response to the Ambassador's recognition of the lifting of pork bans on two more U.S. states (New York and Utah),Ryabkov said that this was part of a larger review of the policy, taking into account the latest findings of the World HEALTH Organization. He underscored that Mexico, Canada, and Brazil would also be affected by this review and stressed that it was not a political decision made in the wake of the U.S.-Russia summit. The Ambassador said the U.S. side is gathering additional information to facilitate removing bans on the last two states (Wisconsin and Florida). Note: late on July 16, we were informed that Wisconsin had already been removed. BEYRLE