FM LAVROV'S ANNUAL FOREIGN POLICY REPORT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MOSCOW 000161

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/22/2020
TAGS: PREL PGOV RS IR HA
SUBJECT: FM LAVROV'S ANNUAL FOREIGN POLICY REPORT

Classified By: Political External Chief Eric Green for reasons 1.4 (b,d
)


1. (C) Summary. On January 22, FM Lavrov held his annual
press conference on Russian foreign policy, covering a wide
range of issues such as START, missile defense, Patriot
missiles in Poland, Iran, the Middle East, European security
and Haiti. He highlighted areas of friction with the west on
a range of issues and emphasized the new challenges of the
"multipolar" world. He said Russia's foreign policy would
continue to focus on increasing Russia's influence by
developing its economy, protecting its neighborhood and
making headway on Medvedev's signature European Security
proposal. He cited improved confidence between Russia and
the U.S. in the context of the START negotiations, but he did
not highlight other elements of U.S.-Russian cooperation.
End summary.

Russian Foreign Policy: Correct and Continuing
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2. (SBU) Lavrov began by taking stock of the MFA's efforts,
noting that Russia's foreign policy concept adopted in 2008
had correctly addressed the challenges of today's "multipolar
world system" and proved an adequate tool for the MFA during
its work in 2009. He said that, in 2010, Russian diplomats
would link their efforts abroad with the ongoing push towards
modernization and innovation in Russia's economy. He said
that among the MFA's main goals this year were: establishing
a more safe environment for Russian business abroad; calming
crisis and conflict zones; and enhancing stability along
Russian borders.

START Talks: New Treaty a Result of
Improved Confidence Building Measures
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3. (SBU) On START, Lavrov was upbeat about ongoing
consultations in Moscow between Admiral Mullen and General
Markarov, noting that these talks "will help clarify
instructions for both delegations in order to make it easier
for them to outline compromise solutions." He stressed that
both Russia and the U.S. were guided by their national
security interests in the negotiations and stated that, "the
new treaty will be signed during a period of sharply improved
confidence building measures between our countries, when it
is possible to work together on all issues exclusively on an
equal basis and taking account of each other's interests."
Lavrov said that bilateral talks on START would resume in the
beginning of February.

GOR Not Ready for Joint Missile Defense,
Unclear on Patriot Missiles
--------------


4. (SBU) Despite constructive U.S.-Russian dialogue on MD,
Lavrov cast the issue in a negative light, saying, "We have
told the U.S. and NATO that it is necessary to start
everything from scratch -- to jointly analyze the origin and
types of missile proliferation risks and threats...But they
have simply told us: these are the systems we plan to
develop, and you will have to contribute your radars. This
is not the kind of approach we are ready to support." He
also mentioned that, regarding plans for a joint
U.S.-Japanese missile defense system in the Far East, GOR
would examine possible consequences this system would have on
the strategic stability in that region.


5. (SBU) On the deployment of the U.S. Patriot missile
system in Poland, Lavrov stated that while this was a matter
of bilateral relations between the U.S. and Poland, the fact
that they were located so close to Russia deserved an
explanation, lest the deployment give the impression that
Poland is being fortified against Russia. He reiterated that
this was a bilateral issue between two NATO allies, and
expressed the GOR's interest in advancing relations with both
Poland and NATO on the basis of confidence and respect for
each other's interests.

Iran and the Middle East
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6. (SBU) On Iran, Lavrov said Russia "regrets the fact that
Iran does not think it is possible to agree to the formula
regarding the production of fuel for Tehran's experimental
reactor." However, referring to sanctions, Lavrov cautioned
that, "to punish Iran is not a very sober-minded approach."

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On the Middle East peace process, he stated that the GOR will
continue to engage with Hamas, noting, "In our work with
Hamas we intend to persuade our partners not to drag out the
implementation of the understanding that Cairo is promoting."
He stressed that resuming talks would require a united
Palestinian Authority, and that the main obstacle to talks
was the Israeli policy of settlements. A ministerial session
of the Middle East Quartet was needed soon, he said, because
the Quartet "still bears specific responsibility for the
implementation of agreements" between the parties and of the
UN Security Council.


European Security: GOR's Proposal a Test
of NATO Partners' Sincerity
--------------


7. (SBU) Lavrov struck a particularly antagonistic tone in
discussing Russia's proposed European security treaty,
repeatedly questioning whether NATO partners' reservations
about Russia's proposals meant that they were insincere about
European unity, friendship and security. He stressed that
Russia's draft treaty is designed to make legally binding the
political commitments made by western countries in the 1990s.
"We simply wanted to understand whether our partners were
sincere when in the 1990s they solemnly declared that nobody
would strengthen one's own security at the expense of the
security of others," he said.

Haiti: U.S. Troop Presence Understandable
--------------


8. (SBU) Concerning Haiti, Lavrov highlighted Russia's
active participation to help the people of Haiti. He stated
that humanitarian disasters such as this often demand the use
of the military because of its speed and effectiveness, and
likewise the GOR was not concerned about the presence of U.S.
troops in Haiti. However, Lavrov noted that the GOR hoped
that no country would take advantage of the situation in
Haiti for purposes other than those of humanitarian aid.

Comment
--------------


9. (C) As is his wont, Lavrov used this public forum to
highlight areas of friction between Russia and the west on a
range of issues and to emphasize multi-polarity and downplay
Moscow's improved relations with the U.S. (In private, he
has been much more supportive of improving U.S.-Russian
relations.) Russia's foreign policy priorities, as
articulated by Lavrov, are not surprising: a continued focus
on building up Russia's influence by developing its economy,
protecting its "privileged interests" in its immediate
neighborhood and making headway on Medvedev's signature
European Security proposal.
Beyrle