DEMARCHE DELIVERED: COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW PARTICIPATION

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MOSCOW 001926 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PARM PREL AORC KPAO PTER UNSC RS RU CM SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED: COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW PARTICIPATION REF: STATE 76723 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: MFA DVBR Deputy Director Mashkov told us Russia wanted the upcoming UNSCR 1540 Comprehensive Review to address serious issues, and was concerned that allowing participation of international organizations such as the Australia Group, Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie, and the G8 Global Partnership would prevent the review from accomplishing its substantive goals. Contending that Russia had not agreed to the international organizations' participation in December 2007 and that they would not add value to the Comprehensive Review, Mashkov said Russia could instead support participation by the individual member states. He suggested that the UNSCR 1540 Committee needed to speak with one voice if states like the DPRK were to take it seriously, and adding international organizations to the list of participants would make it less likely for this to happen. Ambassador raised the issue with MFA North America Director Neverov who claimed it was not his issue and suggested follow-up with other MFA senior officials. End summary. -------------- UNSCR 1540 Has Become Too Stylish -------------- ¶2. (SBU) On July 24 we delivered reftel demarche to MFA DVBR Deputy Director Grigoriy Mashkov, who told us that the GOR shared the same strategic goals as the U.S. regarding UNSCR 1540. While the September 30-October 2 Comprehensive Review should be open to all interested governments, Mashkov complained however, that UNSCR 1540 had become "stylish," and so many international organizations that did not conduct business related to UNSCR 1540's goals want to join in the Comprehensive Review and discuss topics unrelated to UNSCR 1540, such as human rights concerns. "Wedding Generals are not needed," he said, arguing that Russia took the UNSCR 1540 Comprehensive Review seriously and wanted it to accomplish serious goals. Many international organizations "say much and do nothing," he said, and would add no value to the proceedings. He said that so many international organizations were already scheduled to take part in the Comprehensive Review that it would take a full day just to listen to all the introductory remarks as the organizations "told everyone how great they were." Russia did not want the Comprehensive Review to be simply a "showcase." Russia wanted real results, he said. -------------- 
Need to Continue Serious Work -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Mashkov argued that the Comprehensive Review would discuss many sensitive issues such as the structure of the UNSCR 1540 committee and how it functions. Only those serious about the committee's work should therefore be allowed to participate in the meeting. He added that the committee was just beginning its serious work, and that approximately 30 countries had not yet submitted their initial reports. It was therefore very important that the Comprehensive Review achieve concrete results. -------------- - UNSCR 1540 Committee Must Speak With One Voice -------------- - ¶4. (SBU) Mashkov posited that countries such as DPRK would listen to the UNSCR 1540 committee only if it spoke with one voice. He expressed concern that international organizations whose mandates were beyond the purview of UNSCR 1540 would distract the committee by raising potentially contentious issues. He pointed out that Australia, with U.S. support, was already doing this by raising the issue of human rights during UNSCR 1540 meetings. This should not continue, he argued. -------------- Opposition to the Australia Group -------------- ¶5. (SBU) The Australia Group (AG) is the only major arms-control regime to which Russia is not a member, and this has been a sore spot for the GOR, Mashkov said. He denied the GOR had ever agreed to the AG's participation, despite reftel information that the GOR had agreed at a December 17, 2007, meeting. He said the GOR would never agree to AG participation under any circumstances. If the AG participated in the Comprehensive Review, Russia would walk out, he insisted. When it was suggested that the GOR at least talk to the AG to see what value it could add to the Comprehensive Review, Mashkov replied that, since Russia was not a member, the AG "did not even exist" as far as the GOR was concerned. He finished by saying that we "should not even try" to include the AG. -------------- Opposition to OIF -------------- MOSCOW 00001926 002 OF 002 ¶6. (SBU) Mashkov also denied the GOR agreed to Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF) participation at the December 17, 2007 meeting. He argued the OIF's desire to join in the Comprehensive Review was a symptom of UNSCR 1540 becoming "stylish," and he wondered what an organization set up to promote French language and culture could contribute. (Note: He also wondered why the U.S. would support the OIF, other than for reasons of NATO solidarity. End note.) The group's mandate is simply not related to UNSCR 1540. He worried this might set a precedent for other similar groups. Mashkov said the GOR would not object if the individual member states participated in the meeting, but the OIF should not be used to somehow "sponsor" or facilitate their participation. He said that about two-thirds of the states that had not yet submitted their initial reports were in Africa, but he encouraged their participation only as individual states. He said the OIF would add no value to the meeting. -------------- Opposition to the G8 Global Partnership -------------- ¶7. (SBU) Mashkov claimed the G8 Global Partnership did not have a mandate that related to UNSCR 1540. (Note: This despite the G8 Global Partnership's expressed mandate for assisting states with UNSCR 1540 implementation. End note.) He also questioned who would lead the organization's delegation at the Comprehensive Review. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶8. (SBU) Mashkov was strongly opposed to the participation of international organizations in the Comprehensive Review, repeatedly saying they would add no value to the meeting. He turned down our suggestion that Russia talk to these entities regarding their interest in the Comprehensive Review before the GOR made a final decision on the matter. Ambassador already raised the issue of UNSCR 1540 with MFA North America Director Igor Neverov, who claimed little knowledge of this matter. BEYRLE