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