Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09MOSCOW464
2009-02-25 14:45:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Moscow
Cable title:
MFA ASKS HOW CAN WE AID GAZA WITHOUT INVOLVING
how-toVZCZCXRO2198 PP RUEHAG RUEHDBU RUEHDE RUEHDF RUEHDH RUEHDIR RUEHIK RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHMO #0464 0561445 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 251445Z FEB 09 FM AMEMBASSY MOSCOW TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2124 INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE RUEHXD/MOSCOW POLITICAL COLLECTIVE RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA 0546 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0463
UNCLAS MOSCOW 000464
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EFIN PGOV PTER PHUM KPAL KWBG RS
SUBJECT: MFA ASKS HOW CAN WE AID GAZA WITHOUT INVOLVING
HAMAS?
REF: STATE 14575
UNCLAS MOSCOW 000464
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EFIN PGOV PTER PHUM KPAL KWBG RS
SUBJECT: MFA ASKS HOW CAN WE AID GAZA WITHOUT INVOLVING
HAMAS?
REF: STATE 14575
1. (SBU) We delivered reftel demarche on February 25 to MFA
Counselor for Israel and Palestine Aleksandr Rudokov, who
said that Russia recognized the importance of the March 2
conference in Sharm al-Sheikh to address the humanitarian
needs of the Palestinian people, but previous commitments
could prevent FM Lavrov from attending. Lavrov is presently
scheduled to accompany Medvedev to Italy on March 1 and Spain
on March 2, although the MFA hoped that he could make it to
Sharm al-Sheikh in time to participate in the conference.
(Note: MFA North America Department Director Neverov told
the DCM on February 25 that he believed Lavrov would go to
Sharm.) Rudokov could not say what Russia would contribute
to Palestinian reconstruction, which could be in the form of
a combined financial and in-kind contribution.
2. (SBU) Rudokov responded to the U.S. intention to address
the humanitarian needs of Gaza through the Palestinian
Authority and UN, while isolating Hamas, by asking how it
would be possible to deliver aid to Gaza and reconstruct
badly damaged infrastructure and housing without Hamas
involvement. The PA did not have the ability to deliver aid
to Gaza, and even the UN could not work there without dealing
with Hamas, he maintained. Rudokov could not say whether the
GOR would press this point during the March 2 conference, but
reminded us that Russia did not consider it prudent to
isolate Hamas, which needed to reconcile with the PA and be
part of a meaningful peace agreement between Israel and the
Palestinians.
BEYRLE
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EFIN PGOV PTER PHUM KPAL KWBG RS
SUBJECT: MFA ASKS HOW CAN WE AID GAZA WITHOUT INVOLVING
HAMAS?
REF: STATE 14575
1. (SBU) We delivered reftel demarche on February 25 to MFA
Counselor for Israel and Palestine Aleksandr Rudokov, who
said that Russia recognized the importance of the March 2
conference in Sharm al-Sheikh to address the humanitarian
needs of the Palestinian people, but previous commitments
could prevent FM Lavrov from attending. Lavrov is presently
scheduled to accompany Medvedev to Italy on March 1 and Spain
on March 2, although the MFA hoped that he could make it to
Sharm al-Sheikh in time to participate in the conference.
(Note: MFA North America Department Director Neverov told
the DCM on February 25 that he believed Lavrov would go to
Sharm.) Rudokov could not say what Russia would contribute
to Palestinian reconstruction, which could be in the form of
a combined financial and in-kind contribution.
2. (SBU) Rudokov responded to the U.S. intention to address
the humanitarian needs of Gaza through the Palestinian
Authority and UN, while isolating Hamas, by asking how it
would be possible to deliver aid to Gaza and reconstruct
badly damaged infrastructure and housing without Hamas
involvement. The PA did not have the ability to deliver aid
to Gaza, and even the UN could not work there without dealing
with Hamas, he maintained. Rudokov could not say whether the
GOR would press this point during the March 2 conference, but
reminded us that Russia did not consider it prudent to
isolate Hamas, which needed to reconcile with the PA and be
part of a meaningful peace agreement between Israel and the
Palestinians.
BEYRLE