AMBASSADOR CHURKIN SAYS RUSSIA BACKS U.S. NUCLEAR

C O N F I D E N T I A L USUN NEW YORK 000779 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/19/2019 TAGS: PREL KNNP PARM UNSC SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR CHURKIN SAYS RUSSIA BACKS U.S. NUCLEAR SUMMIT IN THE SECURITY COUNCIL/RAISES P5+1 ON IRAN Classified By: Ambassador Rice for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) During a series of calls to Ambassador Rice on August 13, Russian Perm Rep Vitaly Churkin said that Moscow, "after some hesitation" wants to work closely and cooperatively with the United States to prepare for the U.S. planned summit on nuclear disarmament and nuclear nonproliferation in September. Churkin, emphasized that Russia does not want to link the summit to specific states like Iran and DPRK. Ambassador Rice said the Council had already taken up these issues, most recently with the passage of UNSC resolution 1874 on DPRK. Churkin said he was raising this issue again because the U.S. appeared to be sending mixed signals about its intent on whether to specifically mention Iran and DPRK in a product. Ambassador Rice countered by saying that France, not the U.S., was sending these messages. ¶2. (C) Churkin also informed Ambassador Rice that he had received instructions from Moscow indicating their understanding that the P5 1 would meet at the level of political director, vice foreign minister, on September 21 or 22 on Iran. He suggested the G8 ministers might meet on the margins of the UNGA General Debate on a range of topics, one of which may include Iran. The view from Moscow was that there should be no/no P5 1 ministerial until Iran responds to the April proposal. Ambassador Rice pointed out the obvious flaw of this approach because Iran may never respond. RICE