UPDATE ON RUSSIA'S POSSIBLE TRANSFER OF IGLA-S

S E C R E T MOSCOW 000467 NOFORN STATE FOR EUR/PRA YOUNG, ISN/CATR GANEM, WHA/AND E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/25/2019 TAGS: PREL PGOV ETTC MCAP MARR MOPS PARM PINR PTER RS SUBJECT: UPDATE ON RUSSIA'S POSSIBLE TRANSFER OF IGLA-S (SA-24) MANPADS TO VENEZUELA REF: A. MOSCOW 406 ¶B. STATE 14070 ¶C. MOSCOW 405 Classified By: DCM Eric Rubin. Reasons 1.4(b) and (d) (S/NF) DCM reiterated Amb. Beyrle's strong demarche (ref A) on the possible transfer by Russia of Igla-S (SA-24) Manpads to Venezuela to MFA North America Director Igor Neverov on February 25. In accordance with DFM Ryabkov's request in response to Amb. Beyrle's demarche, DCM delivered open-source material detailing information obtained from the FARC hard drives and press articles reporting the diversion of Venezuelan weapons to the FARC. Neverov responded "your signal has been heard," and said that because of U.S. concern in this case, the MFA had sent out the information the U.S. had provided previously to all relevant agencies and would reply once it received all the responses and reactions. He reiterated oft-heard GOR arguments that Russia has very strict end user requirements and guarantees. In response to the DCM's noting that concern over this matter was coming from very high levels in Washington, Neverov asked whether the issue would be on the agenda for the Secretary and FM Lavrov's meeting in Geneva on March 6. BEYRLE