Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09USNATO413
2009-09-28 17:15:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Mission USNATO
Cable title:
RFG: RESPONDING TO NATO SECRETARY GENERAL'S PROPOSALS FOR NATO RUSSIA COOPERATION
how-toVZCZCXRO6145 OO RUEHDBU RUEHSL DE RUEHNO #0413 2711715 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 281715Z SEP 09 FM USMISSION USNATO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3422 INFO RUEHXD/MOSCOW POLITICAL COLLECTIVE RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE RUEHNO/USDELMC BRUSSELS BE RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE RUEHBS/USNMR BRUSSELS BE RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L USNATO 000413
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/28/2019
TAGS: PREL, MARR, NATO, RS
SUBJECT: RFG: RESPONDING TO NATO SECRETARY GENERAL'S
PROPOSALS FOR NATO RUSSIA COOPERATION
REF: USNATO 400
Classified By: Charge John Heffern for reasons 1.4 (b/d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L USNATO 000413
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/28/2019
TAGS: PREL, MARR, NATO, RS
SUBJECT: RFG: RESPONDING TO NATO SECRETARY GENERAL'S
PROPOSALS FOR NATO RUSSIA COOPERATION
REF: USNATO 400
Classified By: Charge John Heffern for reasons 1.4 (b/d).
1. (U) This is a Request for Guidance by OOB Brussels,
September 30. Please see para 2.
2. (C) NATO Secretary General Rasmussen proposed during his
September 18, 2009, speech on NATO-Russia relations that NATO
and Russia undertake a "joint threat assessment" and that the
NATO Russia Council (NRC) serve as a forum to discuss the
European Security Treaty (reftel). Discussion of these
topics is likely to occur at an informal NAC luncheon on
September 30, when we expect the SecGen to explain how he
intends to move forward on the initiatives raised in his
speech. We request Department's initial reaction and
guidance as to how to respond to these initiatives:
-- Joint Threat Assessment (JTA): The SecGen proposed
undertaking a "joint review of NATO's and Russia's common
threats and challenges," to serve as an analytical platform
from which to enhance practical cooperation. This proposal
has raised concern among certain NATO members. Allies have
suggested that a NATO-Russia JTA should be limited to
counter-terrorism, Afghanistan, missile defense,
nonproliferation, and maritime security, the very areas the
SecGen laid out in his speech as priorities for NATO-Russia
cooperation. Unless otherwise directed, we will tell the
SecGen that Washington is not yet in a position to agree to
discuss this issue with Russia in the NRC. We will note that
we need more information regarding a number of questions in
order to make a more informed decision on whether/how to move
forward. These include: If we go forward, what parameters
should be set for the activity and what
information/intelligence could we share with Russia through
the NRC.
-- Discussion of European Security Treaty (EST): The SecGen
recognized in his speech that the OSCE was the primary forum
for discussion of the EST, but stated that a NATO-Russia
dialogue on this issue "could provide real added value." He
did not elaborate on how he intended to go about this other
than to say that it was necessary to develop a European
security architecture in which Russia saw itself "reflected"
and did not feel marginalized. Unless otherwise instructed,
we will indicate that any NATO-Russia conversation on the EST
must wait until after December in order to allow the Corfu
Process to run its course.
HEFFERN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/28/2019
TAGS: PREL, MARR, NATO, RS
SUBJECT: RFG: RESPONDING TO NATO SECRETARY GENERAL'S
PROPOSALS FOR NATO RUSSIA COOPERATION
REF: USNATO 400
Classified By: Charge John Heffern for reasons 1.4 (b/d).
1. (U) This is a Request for Guidance by OOB Brussels,
September 30. Please see para 2.
2. (C) NATO Secretary General Rasmussen proposed during his
September 18, 2009, speech on NATO-Russia relations that NATO
and Russia undertake a "joint threat assessment" and that the
NATO Russia Council (NRC) serve as a forum to discuss the
European Security Treaty (reftel). Discussion of these
topics is likely to occur at an informal NAC luncheon on
September 30, when we expect the SecGen to explain how he
intends to move forward on the initiatives raised in his
speech. We request Department's initial reaction and
guidance as to how to respond to these initiatives:
-- Joint Threat Assessment (JTA): The SecGen proposed
undertaking a "joint review of NATO's and Russia's common
threats and challenges," to serve as an analytical platform
from which to enhance practical cooperation. This proposal
has raised concern among certain NATO members. Allies have
suggested that a NATO-Russia JTA should be limited to
counter-terrorism, Afghanistan, missile defense,
nonproliferation, and maritime security, the very areas the
SecGen laid out in his speech as priorities for NATO-Russia
cooperation. Unless otherwise directed, we will tell the
SecGen that Washington is not yet in a position to agree to
discuss this issue with Russia in the NRC. We will note that
we need more information regarding a number of questions in
order to make a more informed decision on whether/how to move
forward. These include: If we go forward, what parameters
should be set for the activity and what
information/intelligence could we share with Russia through
the NRC.
-- Discussion of European Security Treaty (EST): The SecGen
recognized in his speech that the OSCE was the primary forum
for discussion of the EST, but stated that a NATO-Russia
dialogue on this issue "could provide real added value." He
did not elaborate on how he intended to go about this other
than to say that it was necessary to develop a European
security architecture in which Russia saw itself "reflected"
and did not feel marginalized. Unless otherwise instructed,
we will indicate that any NATO-Russia conversation on the EST
must wait until after December in order to allow the Corfu
Process to run its course.
HEFFERN