C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 011918


NSC FOR JOYCE CONNERY

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/09/2019
TAGS: PARM PREL ETTC KNNP CBW TRGY GM JA RS CA UK FR IT
SUBJECT: JANUARY 27 MEETING OF THE G-8 GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP
WORKING GROUP (GPWG) IN ROME

Classified By: ISN/CTR DIRECTOR MATTHIAS MITMAN,
REASONS 1.4, (B, D, E, H)


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: At the first G8 Global Partnership
Working Group (GPWG) meeting of the Italian 2009 G8
Presidency, Chair Gianluca Alberini outlined a program of
work that included the two main G8 Global Partnership (GP)
objectives agreed to at the 2008 G8 Summit: (a) completing
current G8 Global Partnership commitments in Russia/Former
Soviet Union (FSU), and (b) expanding GP's geographic
focus to address emerging global WMD threats. USDEL held
bilateral meetings with G8 partners to discuss concrete
mechanisms to implement GP geographic expansion and
recruit new GP partners in 2009. Most G8 members strongly
supported Italy's focus on implementing GP expansion,
emphasizing scientist engagement activities worldwide and
promoting global biological engagement. Only Russia was
isolated in expressing a strong view that GP expansion
would jeopardize already lagging pledges from some GP
partners (e.g. Italy, France, Japan). Overall, Italy
agreed on the U.S. GP priorities for 2009, but making
progress will require overcoming strong opposition from
Russia. The next GPWG meeting will take place in Rome on
March 23, 2009. END SUMMARY.

-------------- --------------
ITALY BILAT: KEEPING THE FIRE BURNING ON GP EXPANSION
-------------- --------------


2. (SBU) On January 27, Matthias Mitman (State ISN/CTR)
led the USDEL for the first G8 GPWG meeting in Rome
chaired by Counselor Gianluca Alberini, Coordinator for
Nonproliferation Finance, Italian Ministry of Foreign
Affairs. During a January 26 bilateral with USDEL,
Alberini agreed to include global GP projects in 2009
Summit documents and supported holding workshops on the
margins of the April and June GPWG meetings to discuss
concrete global projects for other GP nations to consider
--two key

U.S. priorities for the GP in 2009. U.S.
Representative Mitman emphasized the U.S. goal to work
with Italy to implement the workshops, engage Russia in a
stronger partnership, and provide joint outreach to
potential new GP partners. The Italians expressed caution
about achieving consensus, but agreed to press ahead on
implementing GP geographic expansion, working to recruit
new partners, and emphasizing global scientist engagement
activities.


3. (SBU) Mitman stressed the need to build confidence
with Russia and tabled the possibility of holding
implementation workshops to help set milestones for
ongoing work in Russia. Chairman Alberini stressed that
Russia should be a full GP partner, not just a recipient,
and noted that Russia had recently expressed this same
sentiment to him. That said, he noted that he expects
continued resistance from Russia on GP geographic
expansion. Alberini added that completing Russia's GP
priorities of chemical weapons destruction (CWD) and
nuclear submarine dismantlement in Russia remain the
Russian Government's highest priority. Alberini planned
to meet with Russia following the GPWG to discuss Italy's
commitment on chemical weapons destruction at the Pochep
facility. Alberini confessed privately that Italy had
"lost momentum" due to parliamentary hang-ups following a
funding delay and modifications in the agreement with
Russia. He also emphasized that Swiss and German
involvement at Pochep makes Italy's specific role now less
clear - another possible parliamentary issue for Italy.


4. (SBU) Regarding new GP partners, Alberini admitted to
bilateral troubles with Brazil, which was approached in
2008 to join the GP but has not yet participated. He
agreed to work toward a GPWG consensus list of countries
to approach, and to even ask Russia to propose new
countries, noting Kazakhstan as one possible example.
Alberini also noted Italy's desire to achieve a set of
"principles" for expanded GP efforts, including the
possibility of framework agreements between donor and
recipient states. Mitman responded that the U.S. believes
such a proposed agreement could limit GP flexibility and
will require careful consideration. Alberini stated Italy
does not plan to explore extension of the GP beyond 2012
under its G8 Presidency, preferring to defer action to the
Canadian G8 Presidency in 2010.

-------------- --------------
GPWG: Italy Seeks Expansion; Russia Opposes
-------------- --------------


5. (SBU) ITALY'S 2009 PROGRAM OF WORK: Alberini opened
the GPWG meeting on January 27 by outlining Italy's
planned program of work for 2009. The program strongly
supports GP geographic expansion and places an emphasis on
engaging scientists to reduce the WMD threat. Alberini
referred to the U.S. presentations made at the December
GPWG in Tokyo as having provided initial examples of such
global activities. He also highlighted bio threat
reduction and utilizing the International Science and
Technology Center (ISTC) in Moscow and the Science and
Technology Center in Ukraine (STCU) in Kyiv as
models/lessons learned for global scientist engagement and
redirection activities. Alberini underlined the
importance of improving coordination and information
sharing for the public about GP activities. All other G8
partners endorsed the Italian perspective on geographic
expansion with the exception of Russia. Russian
Representative Antonov asserted that in the current global
financial situation, the G8 should be cautious regarding
expansion and ensure that such funding is not diverted
from current GP commitments in Russia.


6. (SBU) RUSSIA PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION: The first half of
the GPWG focused on the status of implementing current GP
projects in Russia. Russian Representative Antonov made
strong statements urging caution on GP expansion and
brought a large Russian delegation to the meeting to
emphasize Russia's two GP priorities: CWD and nuclear
submarine dismantlement. Victor Kholstov, Deputy Head of
the Russian Federal Agency for Industry (Rosprom), which
is responsible for CWD in Russia, briefed on the status of
project completion at Russia's seven CWD sites. He stated
that nearly 12,000 tons of chemical agent have been
destroyed as of December 2008, with approximately 28,000
tons of chemical agent remaining. Kholstov implied U.S.
financial commitments to Russia are on target despite lack
of agreement on specific expenditures (which U.S.
delegates attempted to clarify on the margins). Italy and
France, however, have fallen far behind. Kholstov also
stressed Russia's own allocation of nearly 4.8 billion USD
for CWD in Russia. Regarding Russia's priority for nuclear
submarine dismantlement, Mr. Anatoly Grigoriev from
Rosatom briefed on the status, followed by an Italian
presentation on bilateral cooperation with Russia on
submarine dismantlement. Mr. Massimiliano Nobile of the
Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed positive
progress in meeting Italy's 2012 GP commitments with
respect to nuclear submarine dismantlement.


7. (SBU) G7 VERSUS RUSSIA ON GEOGRAPHIC EXPANSION: On
expansion, Alberini moved the agenda forward by
underscoring that expansion is already underway. He added
that Italy placed a strong focus on the engagement of
scientists and the potential for GP work in Iraq. Most
partners strongly supported Italy's focus on GP expansion
and emphasis on scientist engagement activities
worldwide. Only Russia expressed a strong view that GP
expansion would jeopardize already lagging pledges from
some GP partners (e.g. Italy, France, Japan). U.S.
Representative Mitman stressed that GP expansion has
already happened and must be flexible enough to address
new threats while also maintaining existing commitments.
Germany stated that it could only program GP funds for
Russia and Ukraine, but would clarify its position on
expansion with parliament. France noted the need to
coordinate with existing nonproliferation initiatives such
as the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism,
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540, and the
International Atomic Energy Agency. On the issue of
scientist engagement, France stressed the need for a clear
focus on proliferation risk.


8. (C) As discussions progressed, Russian Representative
Antonov increasingly objected to GP geographic expansion
and using the ISTC as a model, argued that the ISTC's work
on scientist redirection in Russia is complete. He
disavowed perceptions that threats were still emanating
from Russia due to unemployed WMD scientists. Antonov
conceded that Russia may support GP geographic expansion
after 2012, but repeatedly conveyed that Russia will not
budge on supporting geographic expansion until commitments
on CWD and nuclear submarine dismantlement are completed
in Russia.


9. (SBU) PATH FORWARD ON ATTRACTING NEW GP PARTNERS: No G8
representative opposed the need to attract new GP
partners. In separate bilaterals, the U.S. engaged the
UK, Canada and Japan to identify a shortlist of potential
new GP donors to be presented to the Chair for joint
demarches. In keeping with previous years, the March GPWG
will include an expanded session with all 23 GP members.
Alberini welcomed suggestions for additional invites
beyond the GP members.


10. (SBU) LEVERAGING MULTILATERAL INSTITUTIONS TO MEET THE
EXPANDED GP AGENDA: Alberini referenced Italy's desire to
increase GP linkages with other multilateral institutions
such as the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical
Weapons, the International Atomic Energy Agency and the
Biological Weapons Convention. He noted Italy's desire to
leverage these fora to determine donor-recipient needs,
particularly as related to global biological
nonproliferation. To that end, Alberini proposed a
presentation for the March GPWG from the Chairman of the
2009 Biological Weapons Convention, Canadian Ambassador
Marius Grinius. Most G8 representatives supported this
proposal, though the Russian representative expressed
skepticism about what would be gained.

--------------
ITALY: FOCUS ON HUMAN FACTOR
--------------


11. (SBU) ISTC AS A MODEL FOR GP EXPANSION: Alberini
reiterated Italy's emphasis on engaging scientists to
prevent the proliferation of WMD and related expertise, a
focus the U.S. strongly supports. As part of that agenda,
Italy invited the ISTC Executive Director, Adriaan van der
Meer, to the GPWG to give a presentation on the ISTC as a
possible model for GP implementation of global scientist
engagement projects. Van der Meer outlined the ISTC's
fifteen years of experience in redirecting former WMD
scientists into peaceful civilian research and noted that
this model may be applied proactively worldwide to ensure
dual-use expertise is not diverted for malicious
purposes. He stressed the importance of building a global
culture of awareness and scientific responsibility
globally. Van der Meer also emphasized ISTC lessons
learned, such as the need to develop sustainable
partnerships in recipient countries. Most G8 members
expressed support for utilizing the lessons learned from
the ISTC. Russian Representative Antonov, nevertheless,
emphasized that scientist redirection is now complete in
Russia. While he appeared to support the use of the ISTC
as a model, Antonov strongly suggested that the ISTC
should be moved outside of Russia if the Center would be
used to implement GP projects outside of the Former Soviet
Union.


12. (SBU) IRAQI SCIENTIST ENGAGEMENT HIGHLIGHTED: As a
second presentation on GP project expansion, Italy's
former Ambassador to Iraq, GianLudovico De Martino briefed
on Italy's scientist engagement activities in Iraq. De
Martino stated that Italy has allocated approximately 1.4
million Euro for seminars, scholarships and workshops to
train Iraqi scientists. He stressed the need to develop a
cross-sector approach to Iraqi scientist engagement,
including ensuring involvement of private industry as well
as leveraging the Provincial Reconstruction Teams as
platforms to engage at the local level. Antonov commented
that Russia would discuss this possible area of focus in
Moscow. That said, he noted that the security situation in
Iraq and the global financial situation would prevent
Russia from engaging in this area in the near term.

--------------
RUSSIA'S INTEREST IS CWD - FULL STOP
--------------


13. (C) On the margins of the GPWG, U.S. Representative
Mitman met with Russian Representative Antonov to discuss
Moscow's concerns about completing priority GP projects in
Russia and to ask for Antonov's views on possible areas
for GP geographic expansion that could be supported in
Moscow. Antonov agreed that implementation of U.S-funded
projects in Russia is "working," but said that other G8
nations have "lied" to Russia about plans to complete work
on Russian priority projects. Antonov further noted that
he has never trusted "parallel tracks" of working to
complete current GP projects while also discussing
geographic expansion. Antonov plainly stated that Russia
would not consider GP global expansion projects until it
completes chemical weapons destruction in 2012. Antonov
expressed fears that Russia would be isolated in the G8
over GP expansion, while Mitman stressed that Russia
cannot afford to ignore global threats. On the subject of
the ISTC in Moscow, Antonov gave lip service to the ISTC's
utility as a model for global scientist engagement in the
GPWG, but made it clear that he considers the ISTC's
redirection mandate in Russia to be complete. When
presented with the reality that Russia should and does
care about terrorism and proliferation beyond Russia,
Antonov allowed that Russia might prefer to link
activities under an expanded GP to other fora supported in
Russia - like the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear
Terrorism and/or United Nations Security Council
Resolution 1540. Comment: Antonov's agreement on this
possibility may have been a way for him to end the meeting
on a positive note, following his repeated inflexibility
to even consider GP expansion outside of Russia. End
Comment.

-------------- --------------
UK/CANADA/JAPAN STAY STRONG ON EXPANSION, GERMANY STILL IN
LIMBO
-------------- --------------


14. (SBU) CANADA AND UNITED KINGDOM: During a USDEL
trilateral, Canada and the UK continued to strongly
support implementing GP geographic expansion. Referencing
Russian objections to expansion, Canadian Representative
Troy Lulashnyk preferred to focus on implementing GP
expansion, recognizing that GP expansion has already
occurred as referenced in the 2008 G8 Summit language. UK
Representative Nick Low also stressed that we should move
beyond rhetoric and make global programming happen.
Lulashnyk also stressed Canada's view that the worldwide
WMD threat is real and that biosecurity is "hugely
underrepresented." Concerning new GP partners, there was
trilateral agreement to develop a list of potential new
donor countries for possible joint demarches.
U.S.-UK-Canada agreement was also reached on the need to
continue to press other G8 nations to fulfill commitments
in Russia.


15. (SBU) JAPAN: In a breakfast meeting on the margins of
the GPWG, Director of Arms Control and Disarmament
Yasanuri Morino (and 2008 GPWG Chair) assured the U.S. of
Japan's continued support for geographic expansion.
Morino stated this included listing global projects in the
2009 GP documents, while stressing Japan's preference for
specific milestones and goals. Regarding new donors,
Japan mentioned China and India, with a focus on the
latter. Morino did, however, note the possibility of
bureaucratic problems in this aspect of expansion.
Concerning the U.S. proposal for expansion project
workshops, Morino was supportive. He also relayed that
Japan will receive a budget line item for GP activities in
April 2009 and might be able to support a separate
regional workshop in Southeast Asia, possibly focused on
biological threat reduction activities. Mitman stressed
U.S. support for such an activity, while also emphasizing
the importance of conducting workshops in April and June
on the margins of official GPWG meetings in Rome.


16. (SBU) GERMANY: In a meeting with USDEL on the margins
of the GPWG and Nonproliferation Directors Group (NPDG)
meetings, German Representatives Dietrich Becker (GPWG)
and Claus Wunderlich (NPDG) made clear that Germany cannot
spend GP funding outside of Russia and Ukraine.
Wunderlich explained that Germany supports the ideas
behind GP geographic expansion but cannot muster support
for additional funding due to lack of GP popularity in
parliament, largely associated with the GP link to Russia
and increasing Russian economic prosperity (prior to last
fall's financial crisis).

--------------
NEXT STEPS
--------------


17. (U) Italy will host the next GPWG in Rome on March 23,

2009. U.S. Representative Mitman will remain in close
contact with GPWG Chair Alberini and other GP partners to
press for workshops on the margins of the April and June
GPWG meetings to present concrete project ideas for GP
geographic expansion in the areas of global biological,
nuclear and chemical threat reduction. ISN/CTR will also
work with the UK, Canada and Japan to determine a
consensus shortlist of potential new GP partners to
present to Italy for demarches.


CLINTON