ENCOURAGING U.S. SHIP VISITS TO RUSSIA

UNCLAS MOSCOW 000812

FROM THE AMBASSADOR FOR ADMIRAL MULLEN

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL MARR PGOV RS

SUBJECT: ENCOURAGING U.S. SHIP VISITS TO RUSSIA


1. Resetting relations with Russia is a key foreign policy objective
for the Obama administration. We need to reduce levels of tension
and mistrust, and refocus the relationship on ways to integrate
Russia into regional and global institutions as a responsible player
that can dramatically affect a range of issues critical to US
national security.


2. One potentially fruitful area of engagement is our
military-to-military relationship. Interagency discussions are now
considering how to move forward in light of the reduced contacts
following the conflict in Georgia and Russian failure to follow
through on many activities on the mil-mil work plan. I believe we
should look carefully at the full range of military-to-military
engagement, with the hope that these activities could revitalize the
relationship and reap the benefits that they have provided over the
years.


3. US Navy and Coast Guard port visits and joint exercises and
operations in the Pacific have, for years, helped promote
confidence-building, professionalization of the Russian military and
public diplomacy. The Coast Guard has even conducted successful
joint operations with the Russian border guards, resulting in the
interdiction of vessels using illegal drift nets. The US and Russia
are neighbors in the Pacific, and robust cooperation on the high
seas is in our mutual interest. Joint training promotes
counter-terrorism and counter-narcotics operations as well.


4. For several years, US ships, like the USS STETHEM last year, have
taken part in Victory Day celebrations in Vladivostok on May 9. This
has become a tradition that has both political and public diplomacy
benefits, honoring our successful alliance to defeat Nazi Germany in
World War Two in a way that still has profound popular resonance in
Russia today. It is a natural segue to successful cooperation today
in space, trade, and we hope a number of security areas as well,
including Iran, North Korea, and Afghanistan.


5. For all of these reasons, I hope that we can agree to approve a
visit of a US Naval ship to Vladivostok for this year's Victory Day
celebration, as well as the previously-planned July 2009 port visit,
assuming the Russians will agree. As always, the Embassy will
support the visit, and the Consulate will arrange community
relations events for the sailors with local orphanages, veterans'
homes, and local officials. I know from previous ship visits I have
hosted that the sailors on board are some of the finest Ambassadors
who serve our country. I look forward to welcoming them back to
Vladivostok in May.
BEYRLE