Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09MOSCOW938
2009-04-13 12:31:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Moscow
Cable title:  

RUSSIAN INTEREST IN SUDAN, AND AFRICA, DRIVEN BY

Tags:  PGOV PREL EAID EMIN ENRG CG SU RS 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO8373
PP RUEHBZ RUEHDBU RUEHDU RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHRN RUEHTRO
DE RUEHMO #0938 1031231
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 131231Z APR 09
FM AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2847
INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE
RUEHXD/MOSCOW POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L MOSCOW 000938 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/13/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL EAID EMIN ENRG CG SU RS
SUBJECT: RUSSIAN INTEREST IN SUDAN, AND AFRICA, DRIVEN BY
NATURAL RESOURCES

Classified By: Acting Political M/C David Kostelancik for reasons 1.4 (
b/d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L MOSCOW 000938

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/13/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL EAID EMIN ENRG CG SU RS
SUBJECT: RUSSIAN INTEREST IN SUDAN, AND AFRICA, DRIVEN BY
NATURAL RESOURCES

Classified By: Acting Political M/C David Kostelancik for reasons 1.4 (
b/d).


1. (C) Summary: Russian interest in Sudan is driven by a
desire to access the country's natural resources, according
to Russian analysts who are skeptical of Moscow's intention
of being drawn into the difficult negotiations that will be
necessary to reach a settlement between the Sudanese
factions. This interest in tapping natural resources extends
beyond Sudan to all of Africa, which explains GOR interest
over the past few years in expanding Russia's level of
engagement with various countries on the continent. The
analysts question the credentials of Mikhail Margelov, who
was recently appointed the Russian President's special envoy
to Sudan, contending that he is not a professional diplomat
with experience in Africa, but was chosen for this assignment
largely for his public diplomacy skills and ability to work
well in the West. End summary.


2. (C) Analysts Yevgeniy Satanovskiy of the Middle East
Studies Institute and Georgiy Mirskiy of the Institute of
Higher Economics told us in separate conversations that
Russian interest in Sudan was driven by an interest in the
country's natural resources. Satanovskiy contended that
there was a belief within the GOR that an end to the fighting
and instability in Sudan was necessary to unlock access to
the oil, gas, and minerals in Sudan and neighboring
countries. Sending the Russian President's special
representative, Mikhail Margelov, to the region could help
lay the groundwork for Russian economic activity, while also
giving the appearance that Russia would play a role in
reaching a peaceful settlement between the Sudanese factions.
Vladimir Shubin of the Institute of African Studies agreed
that Russian interest in Sudan, as well as Africa as a whole,
was driven by commercial interests. He pointed to the April
5-9 visit to Moscow of Democratic Republic of Congo FM
Tambwe, which was heavy on discussions of collaboration with
Russia in the mining and energy fields. In a public
statement following his April 7 meeting with Tambwe, Russian
FM Lavrov highlighted the economic potential in enhanced ties
with the DRC, "a country rich in natural resources." He said
that Russian companies were interested in working with their
Congolese partners "in virtually all areas."


3. (C) Shubin questioned Moscow's ability to fully exploit
energy and mineral deposits in Africa. Russia may already be
too late to access resources that have been sewn up by China,
which has scored success through its long-term activity on
the continent. The GOR did not show an inclination to commit
significant resources to its activities in Africa, or deliver
aid to countries there, when Russia was in a strong economic
situation. With the recent economic downturn, Shubin thought
it doubtful Russia would begin doing so now.


4. (C) Satanovskiy told us that his and other think tanks in
Moscow were consulted by Margelov before he set off on a
January trip to the region that was meant to mark Russia's
entry into high-profile African diplomacy. He believed that
Margelov, who is Chairman of the Federation Council's
International Affairs Committee, was given the job of special
envoy over a professional diplomat largely because he is well
known in the U.S. and Europe. Another factor may have been
that as an "Arabist," Medvedev assumed Margelov was familiar
with North Africa, although Satanovskiy thought that the
situation in Sudan and Darfur was distinct from the Maghreb
that Margelov knows from his previous experience in that
region. Mirskiy questioned Margelov's ability to serve as a
knowledgeable representative of Russia in Africa, and said he
believed the legislator was chosen for the job because he
"seems like an American" and gets along well in the West.
Satanovskiy understood that Margelov had Medvedev's backing
to convene an international conference on Sudan in Moscow in
September or October. The Institute for Contemporary
Development, an economic-oriented think tank headed by
Medvedev confidante Igor Yurgens, would be the host.
BEYRLE