GOR SATISFIED WITH LONDON CONFERENCE ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L MOSCOW 000285 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/09/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL RS AF IR SUBJECT: GOR SATISFIED WITH LONDON CONFERENCE ON AFGHANISTAN, CONCERNED ABOUT DEMONSTRATIONS IN IRAN REF: STATE 12108 Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Susan Elliott for reasons 1 .4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: We met with Alexey Dedov, newly appointed Deputy Director for Afghanistan and Iran, of the MFA's Second Asia Department. On Iran, Dedov said Russia was concerned that upcoming February 11 events could turn chaotic and violent if the pro-government demonstrators and opposition protesters clashed. Dedov indicated that the GOR was content with the outcome of the London Conference on Afghanistan although Moscow would have preferred more mention of the importance of the struggle against Afghan drugs. End Summary. -------------- -------------- Concerned about Demonstrations and Human Rights in Iran -------------- -------------- ¶2. (C) Noting that the Iranian government would likely organize large pro-government demonstrations February 11, Dedov indicated concern about the potential for simultaneous counter-demonstrations. He said that Iranian opposition groups could choose to organize protests at the same venues as the government-organized demonstrations, which would increase chaos and escalate the possibility for violence. He was unsure if Iranian opposition leaders would be able to control their supporters and direct them to stage events at other locations. ¶3. (C) When asked Moscow's opinion of recent executions and human rights violations in Iran, Dedov said that the Russian government had taken notice of the situation. He expressed interest in finding ways to engage Tehran on its human rights practices and said he would discuss with his superiors the possibility of a GOR statement on the Iranian human rights situation. (reftel) Dedov commented that Russia was against capital punishment in any form, a view not shared by the U.S.. -------------- -------------- Content with London; Still Looking for Work in Afghanistan -------------- -------------- ¶4. (C) Dedov reported that the GOR was generally satisfied with the London Conference on Afghanistan. He said Moscow was pleased that the final communique stressed the fight against the entire supply chain of Afghan drugs. Dedov remarked that Moscow was also pleased that the efforts of transit and non-troop contributing countries were recognized. He did note Moscow's disappointment that the UN's leading role was omitted from the communique. When asked about recent statements by Viktor Ivanov, Director of Russian Federal Drug Control Service (FSKN),that the Afghan drug problem should be raised to the UN Security Council, Dedov said that there was general agreement in Russia that the problem should be recognized as a threat to peace and international security. ¶5. (C) Dedov said that FM Lavrov had spoken to President Karzai several years ago about a list of 142 projects in Afghanistan that the Soviet Union had built and for which Russian workers could offer expertise in rebuilding. Dedov admitted that Karzai did not respond to the list at the time. He said that, currently, Moscow's list of five potential project areas in Afghanistan includes the Salang Tunnel and other economic development projects. Dedov commented that the Afghan government itself was now offering contracts for work. He assessed that Russian companies could be judged as very competitive for some of these projects because they had been involved in their original construction. On the issue of military equipment donations, Dedov was unable to confirm the plan to donate 20,000 Ak-47s in 2010. He said that in such cases, while the MFA is the lead Russian agency, other GOR Ministries are also involved. Beyrle