DEMARCHE ON RESULTS OF U.S.-RUSSIA PRESIDENTIAL

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 070576

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: RS PGOV PREL
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE ON RESULTS OF U.S.-RUSSIA PRESIDENTIAL
SUMMIT


1. This is an action request. See para 2 below.


2. All European posts are requested to deliver the following
points in paras 3 - 18 regarding President Obama's meetings
in Moscow July 6 - 7 orally to the highest appropriate host
government officials. Posts may also direct their
counterparts to fact sheets, joint statements, press
briefings, and presidential remarks located at
www.whitehouse.gov.

Begin Points:


3. President Obama and President Medvedev met in Moscow,
Russia July 6-8 for bilateral meetings on a range of subjects
including arms reduction, nuclear non- proliferation,
cooperation on securing and stabilizing Afghanistan,
cooperation on European missile defense, resuming bilateral
military-to-military relations, and establishing a bilateral
presidential commission, to better structure the U.S.-Russia
bilateral relationship.


4. The agreements reached at the summit end a period of
dangerous drift in U.S.-Russia relations. While there are
many areas where the United States and Russia disagree, and
will continue to disagree, there are many more areas where
our interests coincide. We seek to broaden these areas of
cooperation in a way that is mutually beneficial, serves the
national interests of both countries, and improves European
security and stability.


5. In this regard, the United States and Russia have agreed
to continue work on a follow-on agreement to the START
treaty, which expires on December 5, 2009. Negotiators have
been working non-stop and on July 6, President Obama and
President Medvedev signed a Joint Understanding to guide the
work of negotiators on the remainder of the agreement.


6. In the Joint Understanding, the United States and Russia
agreed to reduce their strategic nuclear warheads to a range
between 1500 and 1675, and to reduce their strategic delivery
vehicles to a range between 500-1100. Under the expiring
START and Moscow treaties, the maximum allowable levels of
warheads are 2200 and the maximum level of launch vehicles is

1600.


7. These numbers reflect a level of reductions that will be
lower than any existing strategic arms control agreements.
The new agreement will directly support the goals outlined by
President Obama during his speech in Prague in April 2009 and
will demonstrate Russian and American leadership in
strengthening the Non-Proliferation Treaty.


8. The Presidents also confirmed their commitment to
strengthening their cooperation to prevent the proliferation
of nuclear weapons and to stop acts of nuclear terrorism.
They also affirmed a common vision of growth of clear, safe,
and affordable nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.


9. On July 6, the United States and Russia also signed a
bilateral air transit agreement that will enable the United
States to transport its military personnel and equipment
across Russia in support of international and Coalition
forces in Afghanistan. This agreement will further diversify
our crucial supply routes and bring potential savings of up
to 133 million dollars in fuel, maintenance, and other
transportation costs. The agreement is a significant Russian
contribution to bringing security and stability to
Afghanistan.


10. Further to cooperation on Afghanistan, our presidents
released a joint statement affirming U.S. and Russian
commitments to the goals of the common fight in Afghanistan
against the threats of terrorism, armed extremism, and
illegal drug trafficking. The Presidents noted they are
prepared to increase the assistance provided to the
Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in
strengthening and developing the capabilities of the Afghan
National Army and police, and in training counter-narcotics
personnel.


11. The U.S. and Russia agreed to renew military-to-military
relations, which were suspended after the conflict in Georgia
last August. Our Chiefs of Defense signed a strategic
framework for military-to-military engagement that sets new
conditions, which raise military cooperation to a new level
and deepen mutual understanding between our respective armed
forces. The Armed Forces of the United States and Russian

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Federation have agreed in their work plan for 2009 to conduct
nearly 20 exchanges and operational events before the end of
the year.


12. The Presidents also agreed to continue discussing
cooperation in responding to the challenge of ballistic
missile proliferation and instructed our experts to work
together to analyze the ballistic missile challenges of the
21st century and to prepare appropriate recommendations. Our
experts are intensifying dialogue on establishing the Joint
Data Exchange Center, which is to become the basis for a
multilateral missile-launch notification regime.


13. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the
Russian Ministry of Health and Social Development signed a
Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the Field of
Public Health and Medical Science. The Memorandum
establishes a framework for deeper cooperation between these
government institutions to fight infectious diseases and
chronic and non-communicable diseases, to promote healthy
lifestyles and protect maternal and child health.


14. The two Presidents agreed to create a Bilateral
Presidential Commission, which they will chair, and, which
Secretary of State Clinton and Foreign Minister Lavrov will
coordinate. The Commission will include working groups on
nuclear energy and nuclear security; arms control and
international security, foreign policy and fighting
terrorism; drug trafficking; business development and
economic relations, energy and the environment, agriculture,
civil society, among other areas.


15. President Obama underscored U.S. support for the
territorial integrity of Georgia and Ukraine, rejected the
notion of privileged spheres of influence, and stressed the
right of all European countries to choose their security
alliances.


16. President Obama also emphasized the importance of
democracy, free media, and an independent judiciary.


17. The tone of the President's meetings with President
Medvedev was positive and constructive. The President also
had a professional and constructive meeting with Prime
Minister Putin. Discussion was cordial but frank in both
meetings.


18. The United States welcomes an improved relationship with
Russia. Our countries have many mutual interests and share
many mutual threats. The reset in our bilateral relationship
will not come at the expense of our friends and allies in the
region. It is time to leave this zero-sum thinking behind.
A better U.S. - Russia relationship will increase trust and
cooperation and ultimately enhance European security.

End Points.


18. Points of contact for this action are EUR/RUS Janine
Ellison, email: EllisonJM@state.gov, phone: 202-647-6763
and Daphne Stavropoulos, StavropoulosDZ@state.gov, phone:
202-736-4262. Please slug any email responses to the EUR/RUS
collective.
CLINTON