Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09USNATO27
2009-01-28 16:11:00
SECRET//NOFORN
Mission USNATO
Cable title:  

RUSSIA SEEKS TO RENEW ENGAGEMENT IN THE

Tags:  NATO PREL MOPS GG RS 
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DE RUEHNO #0027/01 0281611
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O 281611Z JAN 09
FM USMISSION USNATO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2629
INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEHKV/AMEMBASSY KYIV IMMEDIATE 0188
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW IMMEDIATE 6238
RUEHSI/AMEMBASSY TBILISI IMMEDIATE 5717
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S E C R E T USNATO 000027 

NOFORN
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/05/2017
TAGS: NATO PREL MOPS GG RS
SUBJECT: RUSSIA SEEKS TO RENEW ENGAGEMENT IN THE
NATO-RUSSIA COUNCIL

Classified By: Ambassador Kurt Volker for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

S E C R E T USNATO 000027

NOFORN
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/05/2017
TAGS: NATO PREL MOPS GG RS
SUBJECT: RUSSIA SEEKS TO RENEW ENGAGEMENT IN THE
NATO-RUSSIA COUNCIL

Classified By: Ambassador Kurt Volker for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (S/NF) SUMMARY: Allies met with Russian Ambassador
Dmitri Rogozin on January 26 for the first time since the
Georgia crisis in August 2008. Welcoming the Ministerial
decision to re-engage Russia in a phased approach, Allies
emphasized that the NATO-Russia Council (NRC) is a tool for
fair as well as foul weather. In much more measured tones
than usual, Rogozin criticized NATO for abandoning the NRC
structure and refusing to hold an emergency NRC on Georgia
when it was needed most. Rogozin called for the NRC to
function as intended in its founding documents as 27 equal
partners acting in their national capacities, and not as a
NATO bloc plus Russia. In response, the UK, Canada,
Hungary, and Lithuania cited Russia's disregard of NRC
principles as the grounds for the Alliance's decision to
suspend "business-as-usual" within the NRC. Allies called
for more cooperation on Afghanistan, counter-terrorism, and
piracy. Rogozin sought a Russian invitation to any
upcoming ISAF contributors' meeting. Germany looked for
ways for the NRC to re-start its military cooperation with
both parties saving face. Defending their principled
stance on Georgia, Allies called for Russia to allow full
access to OSCE monitors to South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
Rogozin made an offer for the Russian CHOD to brief NATO on
the military events in Georgia, arguing that it would prove
to Allies that Russia had not used disproportionate force.
Rogozin blamed the recent Russia-Ukraine gas dispute on
political turbulence in Kyiv, adding that Russia would not
be blackmailed. In a united voice, Allies -- including
Spain and Germany -- said the gas crisis cast doubts on
Russia's reliability as an energy supplier and urged Russia
to avoid a reoccurrence. END SUMMARY.


2. (U) On January 26, the Secretary General presided over
the first informal NRC Ambassadorial meeting since the
Russian invasion of Georgia in August 2008. NATO Foreign
Ministers authorized informal NRC meetings at their
December 2 meeting.

--------------
RUSSIA AND MOST ALLIES READY FOR MORE NRC
--------------


3. (S/NF) Allies welcomed the meeting as a good first step
towards increased NRC engagement. France, Italy, and
Norway said they look forward to normalization of NRC
relations. In contrast, the UK, Canada, Lithuania, and
Hungary defended NATO's "no business as usual" policy of
not meeting with Russia since the Georgia crisis in August

2008. Ambassador Volker said we should not minimize our
differences, but not be mesmerized by them either. Rogozin

said that he did not expect the meeting's constructive tone
and that Allies had taken the wind out of his sails. He
then called on Allies to re-engage in the NRC according to
the procedures of the NRC Founding Act and Rome
Declaration. Specifically, he asked Allies to act in their
national capacities, not to act a a bloc, and to take
decisions "at 27" treating Russia as an equal partner.


4. (S/NF) Allies called for more cooperation on
Afghanistan, counter-terrorism, and piracy. Ambassador
Volker noted that the U.S. hopes to take advantage of the
NATO transit arrangement with Russia soon and called on
Russia to support our efforts with Kyrgyztan to extend the
lease on the Manas Air Base; Canada also supported the U.S.
position (NOTE: During the Political Committee meeting
later in the day, Spain noted with displeasure that it has
reports that Russia is playing an unhelpful role with
Kyrgyzstan on the base renewal. END NOTE). Allies pushed
for Russian support on transit; Rogozin said Russia is
ready to implement the arrangement as soon as NATO is
ready, but discouraged Allies from seeking to expand the
list to lethal goods until arrangements with Uzbekistan and
Kazakhstan were in place. Rogozin wanted Russia to be
invited to any upcoming Afghanistan-related meetings,
including ISAF contributors' meetings. He suggested
regular NRC meetings on Afghanistan with high-level experts
to discuss issues, such as the "Talibanization of

Pakistan." Poland, supported by Russia, the U.S., and
Turkey, called on Allies to solve the urgent financial
problems to allow the Cooperation Airspace Initiative to
enter phase III.

--------------
MILITARY COOPERATION -- THE BLAME GAME
--------------


5. (S/NF) Germany said both NATO and Russia blamed each
other for freezing NRC military cooperation, but it is time
to get beyond this "chicken and an egg" debate and begin to
move forward on re-engaging our cooperation. Noting that
Russia had frozen military cooperation with NATO, the Czech
Republic asked if Moscow was requesting to re-engage on
military cooperation. Rogozin argued that NATO halted
military cooperation when it did not certify the Russian
frigate for participation in Operation Active Endeavor and
suggested NRC Military Representatives find a face-saving
way for military cooperation to re-start. (NOTE: In the
Political Committee, a number of Allies emphasized the need
for political guidance from the NAC before the NATO
Military Authorities can resume NRC military cooperation.
END NOTE).

--------------
GEORGIA - ALLIES STICK TO THEIR PRINCIPLES
--------------


6. (S/NF) Allies pushed Russia to allow full access of OSCE
monitors in Abkhazia and South Ossetia and to engage in
good faith in the Geneva talks. Spain and Canada condemned
Russia's disproportionate use of force and its recognition
of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Slovakia opposed any
attempt to change borders by force and found Russian legal
and political arguments on the subject to be completely
unjustifiable. Germany called on Russia to permit EU
monitors to enter the contested regions and to develop
relations on the ground between EU monitors and the Russian
forces. Rogozin suggested that the NRC invite the Russian
CHOD to brief on the events in Georgia, adding that Allies
would not accuse Russia of disproportionate use of force
after such a meeting. Ambassador Volker cautioned that we
need to carefully consider whether to accept this offer
since we would be discussing another NATO partner, and it is
more constructive to look forward than backwards.

--------------
ENERGY SECURITY - CHEESE IN THE MOUSETRAP
--------------


7. (S/NF) The U.S., Germany, and Spain joined those Allies
directly affected by the Russia-Ukraine gas dispte to urge
Russia to avoid a recurrence of the cisis. Allies said
the crisis cast doubts on th reliability of both Russia
and Ukraine as energ suppliers. Bulgaria, the Czech
Republic, and Hungary characterized it as a security
issue. "There is no free cheese, except in a mouse trap,"
quipped Rogozin, contending that Ukraine should pay the
full market price for gas. The conflict, he said, was
settled, and besides, the real cause was the political
turbulence in Kyiv. He said the EU must impose more
controls as the gas enters into EU territory from Ukraine.
While defending Russia as a reliable energy supplier,
Rogozin said Russia would not be blackmailed by Ukraine.
(NOTE: This was the first energy security dialogue in the
NRC as both Germany and Russia have previously always
blocked any discussion of this subject. END NOTE).

--------------
ROGOZIN'S PRESS PERFORMANCE A MIXED BAG
--------------


8. (S/NF) Rogozin also seemed to try to be more balanced in
his press statements before and after the meeting, but he
still could not resist the cutting soundbite. After the
meeting, he characterized the discussion as "tough, but
trust-based and diplomatic" and said that "everything was
constructive." He told the press that the resumption of

work in the NRC is only possible on the basis of the
principles of the Rome declaration, which were forgotten by
NATO during Georgia's attack on South Ossetia. Before the
meeting, he told the Russian press that the most important
step (NATO) could make is to refrain from any aggressive
intentions and expansionism in regards to the geopolitical
space that Russia controls.

--------------
COMMENT - DR. JEKYLL OR MR. HYDE
--------------


9. (S/NF) Rogozin, the often fiery nationalist politician,
avoided the bombastic rhetoric that so irks the NATO
Secretary General and Ambassadors. While not shirking away
from Russian positions on Georgia and energy security, his
tone was positive and constructive on the value of the NRC
for Russia. This contrasts sharply with NRC meetings
before the Georgia crisis in which Rogozin would make
outrageous statements that he repeated to the Russian press
at the meeting's conclusion. The Russian mission to NATO
often emphasizes that Rogozin has a direct and positive
relationship with President Medvedev. If Rogozin continues
to mature as a diplomat and keeps the press-seeking Mr.
Hyde under control, perhaps, the NRC channel can be
exploited for our mutual benefit. At the same time, we
note with concern the willingness of some Allies to air
their differences on the speed of NRC re-engagement in
front of Rogozin. This is not keeping with the
Ministerial agreement that Allies would pre-coordinate
positions nor the agreement that NRC formal engagement
would not take place before the Secretary General has
reported to Ministers. END COMMENT
VOLKER

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