DEMARCHE ON RESULTS OF U.S.-RUSSIA PRESIDENTIAL

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 071326

SIPDIS

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

REF: STATE 070576


1. This is an action request. This cable reiterates the
reftel message and expands the distribution from All
European posts to all diplomatic and consular posts.
See para 2 below.


2. 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.
It is important to note that these ranges will not
necessarily be included in the final text of the Treaty;
they are the subject of continuing negotiations and are
intended to be narrowed. 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 agreement on reductions to
levels 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

STATE 00071326 002 OF 002


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 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.


19. 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
EUR/RUS collective.


20. Minimize considered.
CLINTON