Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09MOSCOW649
2009-03-17 14:16:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Moscow
how-toVZCZCXRO1706 PP RUEHBZ RUEHDBU RUEHDU RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHRN RUEHROV RUEHTRO DE RUEHMO #0649 0761416 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 171416Z MAR 09 FM AMEMBASSY MOSCOW TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2425 INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE RUCNFUR/DARFUR COLLECTIVE RUEHXD/MOSCOW POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L MOSCOW 000649
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/17/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL SU RS
SUBJECT: RUSSIAN DISSONANCE ON SUDAN
REF: MOSCOW 619
Classified By: Political M/C Alice G. Wells for reasons 1.4 (b/d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L MOSCOW 000649
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/17/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL SU RS
SUBJECT: RUSSIAN DISSONANCE ON SUDAN
REF: MOSCOW 619
Classified By: Political M/C Alice G. Wells for reasons 1.4 (b/d).
1. (C) FM Lavrov struck a measured tone on Sudan during his
March 13 meeting with visiting UK Minister of State for
Africa Malloch-Brown, according to a British Emboff. Lavrov
said that President Bashir's decision to expel international
NGOs in response to the ICC arrest warrant was "unfortunate."
Russia was concerned by the risk of an escalation in
tensions in Sudan, and the GOR would do what it could to
"calm the situation." Lavrov gave no indication that Russia
would send emergency food or medical supplies to Sudan to
compensate for the aid that had been provided by the expelled
NGOs. In contrast, the Russian President's recently
appointed special envoy for Sudan and Chairman of the
Federation Council's International Affairs Committee, Mikhail
Margelov, has continued to say publicly that Russia was
considering sending aid to Sudan (reftel).
2. (C) Margelov told Malloch-Brown during their March 12
meeting that he would travel shortly to Khartoum to discuss
the situation with the Sudanese government, and intended to
deliver the message that the NGO expulsions were a "mistake"
that had damaged Khartoum's international standing, according
to our British EMBASSY contact. Margelov also played down
his earlier talk of holding an international conference on
Sudan in Moscow later this year, telling Malloch-Brown that
he only intended this to be an "experts' level" meeting.
3. (C) Margelov is currently in the Middle East, where, he
told the press, he would visit Lebanon and Qatar to discuss
the views of Arab states on the Bashir warrant, among other
issues. Margelov has not given any public indication that he
intends to travel to Sudan.
BEYRLE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/17/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL SU RS
SUBJECT: RUSSIAN DISSONANCE ON SUDAN
REF: MOSCOW 619
Classified By: Political M/C Alice G. Wells for reasons 1.4 (b/d).
1. (C) FM Lavrov struck a measured tone on Sudan during his
March 13 meeting with visiting UK Minister of State for
Africa Malloch-Brown, according to a British Emboff. Lavrov
said that President Bashir's decision to expel international
NGOs in response to the ICC arrest warrant was "unfortunate."
Russia was concerned by the risk of an escalation in
tensions in Sudan, and the GOR would do what it could to
"calm the situation." Lavrov gave no indication that Russia
would send emergency food or medical supplies to Sudan to
compensate for the aid that had been provided by the expelled
NGOs. In contrast, the Russian President's recently
appointed special envoy for Sudan and Chairman of the
Federation Council's International Affairs Committee, Mikhail
Margelov, has continued to say publicly that Russia was
considering sending aid to Sudan (reftel).
2. (C) Margelov told Malloch-Brown during their March 12
meeting that he would travel shortly to Khartoum to discuss
the situation with the Sudanese government, and intended to
deliver the message that the NGO expulsions were a "mistake"
that had damaged Khartoum's international standing, according
to our British EMBASSY contact. Margelov also played down
his earlier talk of holding an international conference on
Sudan in Moscow later this year, telling Malloch-Brown that
he only intended this to be an "experts' level" meeting.
3. (C) Margelov is currently in the Middle East, where, he
told the press, he would visit Lebanon and Qatar to discuss
the views of Arab states on the Bashir warrant, among other
issues. Margelov has not given any public indication that he
intends to travel to Sudan.
BEYRLE