NATO-RUSSIA: ALLIES AGREE TO RUSSIAN PROPOSALS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 USNATO 000562 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/02/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL NATO RS SUBJECT: NATO-RUSSIA: ALLIES AGREE TO RUSSIAN PROPOSALS FOR NRC REF: USNATO 559 Classified By: Ambassador Ivo Daalder for reasons 1.4 (b/d). ¶1. (C) Summary: Seeking to force Russia into a position where it must agree to cooperate with NATO or be exposed as unwilling, Allies agreed on December 2 to accept all of Russia's proposed changes to three key NATO-Russia Council (NRC) documents that are potential deliverables for the NRC Ministerial on December 4. The matter was considered during a North Atlantic Council meeting, during which both the Secretary General and U.S. suggested to Allies that the Russian proposals did not significantly change the documents under consideration. Two Allies expressed potentially deal-breaking concerns that Russia intended take this opportunity to try to move discussion of its proposed European Security Treaty into the NRC. However, the U.S., Germany, Canada, and others recalled that NATO was already unified and had a policy in place to oppose such a Russian tactic. Following the meeting, all three documents were put under silence and the Russian Ambassador was informed of the Allied decision. Allies are now waiting to see if Russia was serious about its proposals, or whether it will find a reason once again oppose a way forward for the NRC. End summary. ¶2. (C) On December 2, NATO Secretary General Rasmussen provided the North Atlantic Council (NAC) with new Russian proposals for the three potential deliverables for the December 4 NRC Ministerial, the reform document "Taking the NRC Forward," the NRC Work Plan for 2010, and a tasking to launch a Joint Review of common security challenges. The SecGen explained that following the NAC meeting of December 1, he asked Russian Ambassador to NATO Rogozin to provide the latest Russian proposals in writing (reftel). Rogozin did so after reportedly speaking with Foreign Minister Lavrov about this issue. The SecGen thought the Russian proposals not unrealistic, and implored Allies to consider them since the NRC was close to agreement on the three documents. Opposition to Russian Language -------------- ¶3. (C) The Czech Republic came out first to argue that Russia's proposed language for the NRC Work Plan could provide an opening for Moscow to insert its draft European Security Treaty (EST) into the NRC. Romania supported the Czech position, and thought it necessary to change the Russian language to state clearly that the EST would not be negotiated at NATO. U.S. Provides the Way Forward -------------- ¶4. (C) Ambassador Daalder observed that the Russian proposals would have minor effects on all three NRC documents, and urged the NAC to accept the changes. This action would either allow the NRC to approve the documents and move forward, or call Russia's bluff. He expressed appreciation for the Czech position, but cautioned that changing the proposed Russian language would allow Moscow the opportunity to oppose the documents. The Ambassador stressed that Allies agreed the NRC was not the forum to discuss the EST, and accepting the Russian language to include "an exchange of views on issues relevant to Euro-Atlantic security" would not alter this fact. To further ease Allied fears and foster consensus, the Ambassador proposed including in the NATO Ministerial communique language reiterating that the EST should be discussed in the OSCE rather than the NRC. This proposal drew wide support from subsequent speakers. The Ambassador also proposed text on interoperability, which Russia asked be included in "Taking the NRC Forward" but offered no drafting suggestion. ¶5. (C) Germany offered strong support for the U.S. proposal, and made it clear that that Berlin had no intention of negotiating the EST in the NRC. Germany cautioned, however, that NATO would appear "ridiculous" if it ruled out any discussion of the Russian proposal, and said NATO was not required to react to the draft EST text just days after it had been released by Moscow. USNATO 00000562 002 OF 002 ¶6. (C) Canada thought the U.S. proposal would test Russia's political will to engage in substantive cooperation with NATO, and agreed there was agreement among Allies not to negotiate the EST in the NRC. Canada also asked the Allies to consider censuring Rogozin for holding a December 1 press conference at which he divulged NRC deliberations to the media and criticized Canada by misrepresenting statements made in the NRC. The Ball is in Russia's Court -------------- ¶7. (C) The SecGen concluded that the NAC had agreed to accept the Russian language, and said he would make the necessary changes to all three NRC documents and place them under silence. He intended to inform Rogozin of this development. ¶8. (C) The SecGen placed "Taking the NRC Forward," the NRC Work Plan for 2010, and the NRC Ministerial Tasking on launching a Joint Review of 21st Century Security Challenges under silence on December 2. Unless he hears to the contrary by 1400 Brussels time on December 3, the SecGen intends to transmit the three documents to NRC Ministers for approval at their meeting on December 4. DAALDER