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| Identifier | Subject | Date | Office | Classification | Tags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 08MOSCOW3254 |
GOR LIMITS NATIONALIST RALLIES ON RUSSIAN DAY OF [...] (SBU) Summary. Approximately 2,000 nationalist activists gathered in different parts of Moscow for the "Russian March," a rally organized by established nationalist groups, on Russia's Day of People's Unity. The holiday, held since 2005 on November 4 as a replacement for events remembering [...] |
2008-11-06 18:31:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PHUM PINR PREL RS |
| 08MOSCOW3265 |
RUSSIA'S LIBERALS SCORN MEDVEDEV'S PROPOSED [...] (SBU) Summary: Political liberal opposition leaders have rejected President Medvedev's proposed changes to political party laws as attacks against democracy and evidence of further consolidation of power in Russia. The head of the only independent election monitoring organization painted a bl [...] |
2008-11-07 14:51:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PHUM PREL RS |
| 08MOSCOW3269 |
RUSSIA RESPONSE: NO KNOWLEDGE OF RIO-PLUS-20 CONFERENCE [...] No summary [...] |
2008-11-10 11:26:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED | SENV RS |
| 08MOSCOW327 |
U/S JEFFERY'S JAN 30 MEETING WITH RUSSIA'S CENTRAL [...] (C) During a January 30 meeting with Under Secretary of State for Economic, Energy and Agricultural Affairs Reuben Jeffery, EEB Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Elizabeth Dibble and the Ambassador, Central Bank of Russia (CBR) Chairman Sergey Ignatiyev provided a generally optimistic outl [...] |
2008-02-08 10:10:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | EFIN ECON RS |
| 08MOSCOW3271 |
RUSSIA LOSES NO MATTER HOW THE IRANIAN NUCLEAR [...] (C) Summary: Russia will lose no matter how the Iranian nuclear controversy is resolved, according to analysts who argue that Russia faces either the prospect of a nuclear Iran causing instability in the Middle East, or a negotiated settlement that will lead Iran to "drop" Russia in favor of [...] |
2008-11-10 13:05:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL ENRG MARR MNUC IR RS |
| 08MOSCOW328 |
U/S JEFFERY'S JAN 30 MEETING WITH DEPUTY PRIME [...] (C) During a January 30 meeting with Under Secretary of State for Economic, Energy and Agricultural Affairs Reuben Jeffery, EEB Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Elizabeth Dibble, and the Ambassador, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Kudrin said that the end of Russia's WTO ac [...] |
2008-02-08 10:17:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON ETRD EFIN RS |
| 08MOSCOW3287 |
SUBJECT: GOOD NEWS AND BAD FROM RUSSIAN ELITE [...] (C) Summary: A study of the Russian elite, conducted by Mikhail Afanasev of the Niccolo-M consulting firm, found that a majority "second tier" leaders and managers supported a system based upon rule of law and a level playing field for economic competition. Except for respondents from the sec [...] |
2008-11-12 14:47:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM SOCI RS PINR |
| 08MOSCOW3289 |
DFM KARASIN AND EUR DAS BRYZA DISCUSS GEORGIA AND [...] (C) Summary: In a November 1 meeting, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Karasin and EUR DAS and U.S. Minsk Group Co-Chair Matt Bryza discussed Georgia, with Karasin striking a more constructive tone but insisting that access for international monitors to Abkhazia and South Ossetia had to be ne [...] |
2008-11-13 06:51:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV GG RS AZ |
| 08MOSCOW329 |
FM LAVROV PRESSES FOR 2+2 DATES [...] (C) At the request of FM Lavrov, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Kislyak contacted the Ambassador on February 8 to urge the U.S. to confirm the timing for the second round of the 2 2 ministerial dialogue. Noting the outstanding GOR proposal to meet in Washington on March 13, Kislyak said that [...] |
2008-02-08 10:25:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV MARR RS |
| 08MOSCOW3290 |
DAS BRYZA'S MEETING WITH SECURITY COUNCIL DEPUTY [...] (C) Summary: In a November 1 meeting with visiting EUR DAS Matt Bryza, Russian Deputy Security Council Secretary Yuri Zubakov insinuated that Georgia started the August conflict with U.S. acquiescence, arms, and funds. He dismissed Bryza's avowal that Georgia was not prepared for war in Aug [...] |
2008-11-13 06:51:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PREL PGOV GG RS |
| 08MOSCOW3297 |
(C) TNK-BP END GAME? [...] No summary [...] |
2008-11-13 13:01:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG ECON PREL RS |
| 08MOSCOW3303 |
UNDERSECRETARY BURNS' MEETING WITH FM LAVROV: [...] No summary [...] |
2008-11-14 08:23:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV MARR KNNP KACT MNUC EFIN AF GG AM |
| 08MOSCOW3308 |
NERPA DISASTER WILL CHANGE LITTLE [...] (C) Summary: On the evening of November 8, 20 people died and 21 were injured on the Russian nuclear submarine Nerpa when the fire extinguishing system activated, releasing Freon gas. The submarine, which was undergoing tests in the Sea of Japan before being leased to India, was not damaged, [...] |
2008-11-14 14:00:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL ECON MCAP RS |
| 08MOSCOW3309 |
RUSSIA-GEORGIA: GENEVA PROCESS, PEREVI; [...] (C) Summary: In a November 13 meeting, MFA fourth CIS directorate chief Andrey Kelin described the procedural difficulties EU Special Representative Morel faced in lining up the November 18 Geneva process talks. Russia's primary goal for the talks was to launch security discussions focused [...] |
2008-11-14 14:15:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV GG RS |
| 08MOSCOW3311 |
RUSSIA PUTS OFF PROHIBITIVE DUTY ON TIMBER EXPORTS [...] (SBU) In a major trade concession to the EU, PM Putin announced on November 12 that Russia would delay for 9-12 months the implementation of a prohibitive duty on uncut timber and round wood exports, which was scheduled to take effect as of January 1, 2009. Putin's announcement eliminates, at [...] |
2008-11-17 03:18:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ETRD EAGR EINV ENRG ECON RS |
| 08MOSCOW3314 |
BLUE LANTERN LEVEL 3: POST-SHIPMENT END-USE CHECK ON [...] No summary [...] |
2008-11-17 06:33:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED | CA ETTC KOMC RS |
| 08MOSCOW3315 |
BLUE LANTERN LEVEL 3: PRE-LICENSE END-USE CHECK ON LICENSE [...] No summary [...] |
2008-11-17 06:34:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED | ETTC KOMC RS |
| 08MOSCOW3321 |
THIRD-PARTY ACCESS TO GAZPROM'S PIPELINES MAY [...] (C) The GOR's calls for expanded third-party access (TPA) to Gazprom's pipelines reflect the influence of multiple factors, including a desire on the part of Putin and others to boost domestic gas production by independent producers and oil companies. Most analysts believe Gazprom will resist [...] |
2008-11-17 12:45:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG ECON PREL RS |
| 08MOSCOW3322 |
NEW CALLS FOR RUBLE TO BECOME A "RESERVE CURRENCY" [...] (C) President Medvedev and Prime Minister Putin have both recently repeated suggestions that the Russian ruble should become a "regional reserve currency" and that to achieve this Russian oil exports should be denominated in rubles. We discussed these proposals with a variety of local analysts [...] |
2008-11-17 13:11:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET EFIN ENRG ECON PREL RS |
| 08MOSCOW3323 |
RUSSIA'S CONCEPT OF THE GREATER MIDDLE EAST, [...] (C) Summary: With the prospect of a major Middle East conference being convened in Moscow in early 2009, analysts explained to us how Russia views the Middle East and how they believe the region, in turn, views Russia. For Russians, the "Middle East" is a concept more than a region, which inc [...] |
2008-11-17 13:39:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PROV PREL ECON MARR RS XF |
| 08MOSCOW3329 |
EXTRANCHECK: PRE-LICENSE CHECK: OOO - STC AND [...] Unauthorized disclosure of the information provided below is prohibited by Section 12C of the Export Administration Act. 2. Reftel requested a Pre-license check to determine the legitimacy and reliability of the end-user, OOO - STC and ELIM-TLT (OOO - STC), St Petersburg, Russia. The compa [...] |
2008-11-18 11:10:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED | BEXP ETRD ETTC RS |
| 08MOSCOW3330 |
RUSSIANS SPLIT ON FUTURE OF RELATIONS UNDER OBAMA [...] (SBU) Summary. The November 4 U.S. presidential elections elicited great media coverage and expert commentary in Russia, but opinions about the incoming Obama administration have been decidedly mixed. While many government leaders welcomed a change in U.S. leadership, others expected the st [...] |
2008-11-18 11:10:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PINR PREL RS |
| 08MOSCOW3333 |
UNDERSECRETARY BURNS' MEETING WITH FM LAVROV: [...] (C) Summary. FM Lavrov told U/S Burns and the Ambassador November 12 in Moscow that Russia saw the Sochi Strategic Declaration as the basis for future U.S.-Russian relations. He dismissed the contention that Medvedev's state of the union address had been a deliberate slap at President-elect O [...] |
2008-11-18 12:16:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV MARR KNNP KACT MNUC EFIN AF GG AM |
| 08MOSCOW3336 |
RUSSIA ON PIC AND EULEX [...] (C) Putting down markers on the upcoming Peace Implementation Council (PIC) meeting in Brussels, Russia's Special Representative on BiH and Kosovo Botsan-Kharchenko told us that Russia will seek a "balanced" statement, but would not insist on a timeline for transition. He called the current [...] |
2008-11-18 12:50:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV BH KV RU |
| 08MOSCOW3343 |
MEDVEDEV’S ADDRESS AND TANDEM POLITICS [...] (C) Summary. Medvedev's address to the Federal Assembly last week provided a prism for viewing the power relationship in the Medvedev-Putin tandem, refracting opinion amongst our contacts into three, very divergent, camps. The first group views Medvedev as ascendant, slowly accruing power as he pla [...] |
2008-11-19 06:43:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM SOCI RS |
| 08MOSCOW3344 |
TAFT GRANT RECIPIENT MARKS PROJECT COMPLETION [...] (U) Summary: The Moscow Protestant Chaplaincy (MPC) held a ribbon-cutting ceremony November 17 to celebrate successful renovations on its new Parish Center, a social services office and refuge for mainly African refugees and vulnerable migrants in Russia's capital. Approximately 35 attendees, [...] |
2008-11-19 08:38:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED | PREF KIRF EAID RS |
| 08MOSCOW3346 |
EURO-ATLANTIC SECURITY TREATY: MFA GIVES LIMITED [...] No summary [...] |
2008-11-19 09:40:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EUN RU |
| 08MOSCOW3347 |
GOR MONITORING OF BANKS, ANTI-CRISIS FUNDS [...] (C) During a November 11 meeting with leaders of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI), President Medvedev outlined a plan for Central Bank (CBR) officials to ensure that banks receiving anti-crisis funds turn those resources into loans for domestic firms. At the meeting, RCCI [...] |
2008-11-19 10:35:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | EFIN ECON RS |
| 08MOSCOW3350 |
YET ANOTHER LIST- RUSSIA TO REQUIRE [...] No summary [...] |
2008-11-19 11:35:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EAGR ETRD TBIO WTO RS |
| 08MOSCOW3352 |
UNDERSECRETARY BURNS' LUNCH WITH DFM RYABKOV: [...] (S) Summary. DFM Ryabkov November 12 reiterated FM Lavrov's message to U/S Burns and the Ambassador that Russia saw the Sochi Strategic Declaration as the basis for future U.S.-Russian relations, and Medvedev's state of the union address had not been intended as a deliberate slap at President [...] |
2008-11-19 12:22:00 | Embassy Moscow | SECRET | PREL PGOV MARR KNNP KACT MNUC EFIN AF GG AM |
| 08MOSCOW3355 |
NEW KREMLIN-BACKED RIGHT CAUSE PARTY EMERGES FROM [...] (SBU) Summary: On November 16, a new Kremlin-supported "liberal" opposition party - Right Cause - emerged from the ashes of 1990s-era liberal standard-bearer Union of Right Forces (SPS), which along with two other vanity political parties (Democratic Party and Civil Force) voted to dissolve on [...] |
2008-11-19 14:54:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM PHUM RS |
| 08MOSCOW3356 |
LEAD WTO NEGOTIATOR DISCUSSES VETERINARY LETTERS [...] (SBU) In a November 18 meeting with Agricultural Affairs M-C and EconOffs, Russian Chief WTO Negotiator Maksim Medvedkov stated that the November 2006 U.S.-Russia side letter on meat and poultry inspections and certifications was still in force. However, he said Russian and U.S. veterinary an [...] |
2008-11-20 03:48:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EAGR ETRD ECON WTO RS |
| 08MOSCOW336 |
BP RUSSIA LAWYER DISCUSSES "IMMENSE CHANGES" IN [...] (C) BP Russia's chief lawyer, Michael Drew (protect), said that when TNK-BP was formed in 2003 there were profound differences in the business philosophies of senior Russian management at the former TNK and those of BP. When BP bought 50% of TNK, it found a company with no health, safety, or [...] |
2008-02-08 12:12:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG ECON PREL RS |
| 08MOSCOW3360 |
RUSSIAN VET SERVICE DELISTS ANOTHER [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: The Russian Federal Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance Service (VPSS) informed via official letter on November 14, 2008, that another U.S. poultry plant (P-13556) and pork plant (#17564) will be delisted as of November 24, 2008. According to the VPSS letter, routine tes [...] |
2008-11-20 08:32:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EAGR ETRD TBIO WTO RS |
| 08MOSCOW3362 |
RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH OVERCOMES BARRIERS, [...] (C) Summary. Uncertain economic and political circumstances are having an impact on the role that the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) plays and steps it must take to ensure its activities continue. In addition to domestic challenges facing the ROC, the financial crisis has compelled Patriarch [...] |
2008-11-20 12:04:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PINR PREL RS |
| 08MOSCOW3363 |
PANFILOVA STILL OPTIMISTIC THAT MEDVEDEV WILL [...] (C) In a November 14 meeting with the Ambassador, Transparency International's Executive Director Elena Panfilova said President Medvedev was taking concrete steps to follow through on his anti-corruption initiatives, motivated in part by a desire to distinguish his administration from the pr [...] |
2008-11-20 13:51:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EINV SOCI PGOV KCOR RS |
| 08MOSCOW3364 |
RUSSIA INCHES AWAY FROM ARMENIA [...] (C) Summary: In the aftermath of the Georgia conflict, Russian and Armenian officials assert there has been no change in Russian-Armenian relations, and see no detrimental impact of possible improved relations between Turkey and Armenia. Experts however argue that Russia is able to use the [...] |
2008-11-20 14:32:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV ECON AM AZ RS |
| 08MOSCOW3365 |
MOSCOW'S CHIEF MUFTI STRESSES TOLERANCE AND [...] (SBU) Summary: Chairman of the Kremlin-friendly Council of Muftis of Russia Ravil Gaynutdin told the Ambassador on November 13 that Russia's Muslims practice a tolerant form of Islam and are receiving increasing support from the GOR. This is most evident, according to Gaynutdin, in the huge [...] |
2008-11-20 14:41:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PGOV KISL KIRF PHUM SOCI PINR RS |
| 08MOSCOW3366 |
TANDEM FOCUS ON ECONOMIC CRISIS AT UNITED RUSSIA [...] (C) Summary. Both President Medvedev and Premier Putin honed in on economic issues as the main challenge facing Russia today, with Putin outlining a number of measures to bolster economic performance and mitigate the impact of the deepening crisis. Instead of the political intrigue that had do [...] |
2008-11-20 14:49:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PINR RS SOCI |
| 08MOSCOW3367 |
GOR EFFORTS TO AID RETAIL SECTOR RAISES QUESTIONS [...] (C) As Russia,s financial crisis gathered steam in recent weeks and began to spill over into the real economy, the GOR identified food retailers as a critical sector that the state should support. Industry insiders attributed the inclusion of the sector to a desire to support Russian agricultu [...] |
2008-11-21 06:55:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EFIN EINV EAGR RS |
| 08MOSCOW3368 |
RUSSIAN VET SERVICE DELISTS ANOTHER [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: The Russian Federal Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance Service (VPSS) informed via official letter on November 14, 2008, that another U.S. poultry plant (P-13556) and pork plant (#17564) will be delisted as of November 24, 2008. According to the VPSS letter, routine tes [...] |
2008-11-21 07:36:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EAGR ETRD TBIO WTO RS |
| 08MOSCOW3371 |
RUSSIA'S DUMA PASSES CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS [...] (SBU) Summary: On November 21, the Russian State Duma passed constitutional amendments proposed by President Medvedev increasing the term of Russia's next president from four to six years, and the terms of State Duma members from four to five years. The proposed amendments must now go to th [...] |
2008-11-21 12:45:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV KDEM PINR RS |
| 08MOSCOW3372 |
MFA ON AFGHANISTAN, PAKISTAN AND IRAN [...] No summary [...] |
2008-11-21 13:05:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL MARR AF IR PK RS |
| 08MOSCOW3376 |
PUTIN TAKES ON THE FINANCIAL CRISIS [...] (C) Prime Minister Putin's speech to the United Russia Congress on November 20 was arguably the GOR's most forthcoming public statement to date about the effects of the financial crisis in Russia. Although he reiterated that the cause of the current financial turmoil was the U.S. mortgage ma [...] |
2008-11-21 15:20:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | EFIN ECON RS |
| 08MOSCOW3379 |
MFA ON RUSSIAN AND AMERICAN ROLES IN CENTRAL ASIA [...] (C) Summary: On November 14, MFA officials expressed to DAS Krol Russian concern that the U.S. presence in Central Asia, combined with efforts to expand NATO, gave the appearance that Russia was "surrounded" and called for the U.S. to be transparent in its actions. The GOR understood, howeve [...] |
2008-11-24 06:26:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL ENRG SENV SMIG SNAR AF RS ZK |
| 08MOSCOW3380 |
(C) OIL TRADERS: PIPELINE EXPORTS TO EUROPE STILL \ [...] (C) The oil trading business in Russia has long been \ opaque, benefiting politically connected firms such as the \ secretive oil trading firm Gunvor. Contacts tell us, \ however, that the business has lately become more transparent \ because seaborne trade is now largely conducted via \ commercia [...] |
2008-11-24 06:35:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG ECON PREL RS |
| 08MOSCOW3386 |
GOR DENIES INVOLVEMENT IN GEORGIAN/POLISH [...] (SBU) Summary: The GOR has rejected allegations of Russian involvement in the November 23 shooting at the Georgian-Polish presidential motorcade. In reaction to the incident that garnered little attention in the Russian media, the MFA, MOD and security services unanimously called the incide [...] |
2008-11-24 11:34:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PGOV RS GG PL |
| 08MOSCOW339 |
LOWER PROFILE FOR KREMLIN YOUTH GROUP [...] (C) Summary: Recent Kremlin steps to rein in the United Russia-affiliated youth movement Nashi suggest that GOR neuralgia about a possible Orange Revolution has faded. With the Kremlin now confident that operation successor has been successfully launched and will encounter no opposition, Nas [...] |
2008-02-08 13:13:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM SOCI PINR RS |
| 08MOSCOW3390 |
FINANCING FOR DEVELOPMENT DEMARCHE DELIVERED [...] (SBU) On November 19, we shared reftel non-paper regarding the USG objectives for the UN-organized Doha conference on Financing for Development with Viktor Zagregov, Head of the UN Section in the MFA's International Organizations Department, and Grigoriy Ustinov, a second secretary in Zagregov' [...] |
2008-11-24 12:48:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EFIN EAID UNGA RS |
| 08MOSCOW3391 |
RUSSIA WATCHES U.S. WITH A "WARY EYE" IN CENTRAL ASIA [...] (SBU) Summary: Senior Russian analysts recently told SCA DAS Krol that while Moscow looked with suspicion upon U.S. activity in Central Asia, it was more concerned about the challenge presented by China, but was not sure how to counter a rival that had more resources at its disposal for winnin [...] |
2008-11-24 13:50:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PGOV SENV SOCI AF RS ZK |
| 08MOSCOW3393 |
DEMARCHE DELIVERED: OPPOSING UNGA RESOLUTIONS WITH [...] No summary [...] |
2008-11-24 13:54:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL UNGA IS PA LE SY |
| 08MOSCOW3394 |
BP VP TELLS AMBASSADOR COMPANY IS IN RUSSIA FOR LONG-TERM, GETTING OUT OF CPC [...] No summary [...] |
2008-11-24 14:44:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG ECON PREL RS |
| 08MOSCOW3395 |
ANNUAL GAS ROW WITH UKRAINE HEATS UP [...] (C) Gazprom's Director of Foreign Relations, Ivan Zolotov, told us November 24 that, despite press reports, there is "no serious discrepancy" between Russia and Ukraine on the amount of the outstanding gas debt, which he claimed is approaching $3 billion. He said negotiations to resolve debt r [...] |
2008-11-24 14:46:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG ECON PREL UP RS |
| 08MOSCOW3396 |
RUSSIA RESISTING YUSHCHENKO'S BAIT, MOSTLY [...] (C) Summary: Russian political circles see Ukrainian president Yushchenko attempting to bait Russia in order to improve his domestic popularity and gain support from the West. However, mindful of the strong economic ties between the countries, Russia has so far limited itself to sniping bac [...] |
2008-11-25 03:52:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV ECON UP RS |
| 08MOSCOW340 |
Russian Companies: Emerging Global Players [...] (SBU) Russian companies are increasingly going "global" -- expanding rapidly overseas through acquisitions and investments. Russian companies, flush with cash, are joining their Indian and Chinese counterparts as a new breed of multinationals. Oil and gas companies are the most active but met [...] |
2008-02-08 13:45:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EINV ETRD RS |
| 08MOSCOW341 |
TERRORIST FINANCE: PRE-NOTIFICATION OF DESIGNATION [...] No summary [...] |
2008-02-08 14:08:00 | Embassy Moscow | SECRET | EFIN ECON RS |
| 08MOSCOW3410 |
GENERAL BUZHINSKIY WARNS DAS BRYZA ABOUT REARMING [...] (C) Summary. In a cordial but firm meeting with EUR Deputy Assistant Secretary Matthew Bryza November 1, Ministry of Defense Lt. General Yevgeniy Buzhinskiy articulated what are clearly GOR-wide talking points on Georgia, contending that "someone in the USG outside the State Department" had giv [...] |
2008-11-25 14:05:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV MARR GG RS |
| 08MOSCOW3411 |
ROSATOM TO SEND ONLY WORKING-LEVEL DELEGATION TO [...] No summary [...] |
2008-11-25 20:06:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | KNNP MNUC PARM TRGY IR RS |
| 08MOSCOW3419 |
DFM KARASIN ON IRAQ, GEORGIA, UKRAINE, [...] (C) Summary: In a November 25 meeting, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Karasin sought further information on the alleged November 19 collision between a U.S. convoy vehicle and a Russian embassy vehicle in Baghdad (reftel). He called the November 23 shooting near the Georgian and Polish pre [...] |
2008-11-26 09:49:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV GG RS AZ UP MD IZ |
| 08MOSCOW3423 |
PROPOSED GOBAL PARTNERSHIP FOR AGRICULTURE AND FOOD [...] (SBU) We shared reftel talking points regarding the proposed Global Partnership for Agriculture and Food (GPAF) with GOR officials in the MFA's International Organizations Department and in the International Relations Departments of the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Health and Social Dev [...] |
2008-11-26 12:13:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON ETRD EAGR TBIO RS |
| 08MOSCOW3424 |
MFA PREVIEWS RUSSIAN GOALS FOR OSCE MINISTERIAL [...] (C) At the December 4 OSCE ministerial in Helsinki, Russia will formally launch Medvedev's proposed European Security Treaty (EST), push its reform agenda, and seek "balance" in any Ministerial Declaration. The MFA tells us that they see the OSCE as a dated body that does not take into accou [...] |
2008-11-26 12:31:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PARM OSCE RS |
| 08MOSCOW3426 |
DAGESTAN: ATTENTION FOCUSED ON CONTINUED VIOLENCE [...] (C) Summary: The Moscow-based human rights organization Memorial has begun to focus more attention on the simmering violence that permeates Dagestan, one of Russia's most unstable regions. At a November 24 press conference, Memorial head Oleg Orlov said the situation in Dagestan is as bad a [...] |
2008-11-26 12:41:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV KISL PHUM PINR RS |
| 08MOSCOW3429 |
RUSSIA'S VIEWS ON THE IAEA REPORT ON IRANIAN AND [...] (C) On November 25, ESToff delivered reftel points on the IAEA reports on the Iranian and Syrian nuclear programs to Alexander Bolichiov, Second Secretary in the MFA Department of Security and Disarmament Affairs. Syria ------ 2. (C) Bolichiov was dismissive regarding the points on [...] |
2008-11-26 13:13:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | KNNP MNUC PARM IAEA TRGY IR SY RS |
| 08MOSCOW3431 |
RUSSIAN MFA QUESTIONED ON SUKHUMI RADIOACTIVE [...] (C) On November 25, ESToff requested clarification regarding the status of the four high-level radioactive sources located in Sukhumi from Alexander Bolichiov, Second Secretary in the MFA Department of Security and Disarmament Affairs. Bolichiov stated that he could not provide a definitive [...] |
2008-11-26 13:15:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | KNNP PARM PGOV PREL GG RS |
| 08MOSCOW3436 |
GOR ON EU-RUSSIA SUMMIT [...] (C) The MFA told us that Russia accomplished its objectives at the November 14 EU-Russia Summit in Nice: the normalization of EU-Russia relations after the events of Georgia, and a public endorsement of Medvedev's proposed Euroatlantic security proposal. Russia and the EU will resume negoti [...] |
2008-11-28 12:52:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV EU RS |
| 08MOSCOW3437 |
CYPRIOT PRESIDENT CHRISTOFIAS VISIT TO MOSCOW [...] (C) During a November 19-20 visit to Moscow, Cypriot President Christofias met President Medvedev but a scheduled meeting with PM Putin was canceled. Russia accomplished two objectives in the eight agreements signed during the visit: an agreement to request information on financial transacti [...] |
2008-11-28 12:54:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV EFIN CY RS |
| 08MOSCOW345 |
RUSSIAN-ESTONIAN BILATERAL RELATIONS UNDER MORE [...] (C) Summary. Russia and Estonia's already strained relationship took hits as Estonian contributions to the Schengen "blacklist" went into effect, closely followed by the beginning of trials in Tallinn from last May's Bronze Soldier incident. The MFA blamed new Schengen visa ineligibilites f [...] |
2008-02-08 14:40:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL EN RS |
| 08MOSCOW346 |
RUSSIA SEEKS, AND FINDS, A ROLE IN THE MIDDLE EAST [...] (C) Summary: Russia is playing a higher profile role in the Middle East peace process, designed to draw attention to Moscow's reemergence on the international stage, which remains a significant motivation in the Kremlin's diplomacy. Russia continues to position itself as a bridge between the [...] |
2008-02-08 14:47:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL LE IS SY RS XF |
| 08MOSCOW3464 |
PUBLIC CHAMBER TAKES UP PRESS FREEDOM [...] (C) Summary: In response to the recent attack on independent journalist Mikhail Beketov, the Public Chamber held a hearing on November 25 at which Lawyers Association head Pavel Astakhov proposed a legal amendment to the criminal code increasing the punishment for endangering the life of a jou [...] |
2008-12-01 14:53:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KDEM RS |
| 08MOSCOW3465 |
EXTRANCHECK: PRE-LICENSE CHECK: FEDERAL SECURITY SERVICE [...] Unauthorized disclosure of the information provided below is prohibited by Section 12C of the Export Administration Act. 2. Reftel requested a Pre-license check to determine the legitimacy and reliability of the end-user, Federal Security Service (FSB), Moscow, Russia. The company is listed [...] |
2008-12-02 07:43:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED | BEXP ETRD ETTC RS |
| 08MOSCOW3471 |
RUSSIA: AWAITING INTERAGENCY RESPONSE ON ARF [...] (SBU) In response to reftel request, Post reached out to Russian MFA's Department of ASEAN and Asia Pacific Regional Affairs regarding Russian participation in the May 4-8, 2009 ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Disaster Relief Exercise in the Philippines. According to Counselor Dmitriy Lukiyantsev [...] |
2008-12-02 13:49:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL EAID MARR MOPS ASEAN ARF RS |
| 08MOSCOW3472 |
ANNUAL START SLCM DELCARATION DELIVERED [...] No summary [...] |
2008-12-02 13:50:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PARM BO KACT KZ RS UP US START JCIC |
| 08MOSCOW3473 |
MINAG DELISTS 7 U.S. PORK FACILITIES. [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: The Russian Federal Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance Service (VPSS) advised via official letter that it had delisted 7 out of the first 9 pork facilities that were recently inspected as part of a joint audit. The results of the remaining 20 pork facilities are still p [...] |
2008-12-02 13:53:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EAGR ETRD ECON WTO RS |
| 08MOSCOW3475 |
POLISH MANPADS ALLEGED IN CHECHNYA [...] (C) On November 26 MFA DVBR First Secretary Andrey Odnoral passed us a nonpaper and video that allege Polish-made MANPADS were discovered in Itumkale, Chechnya. The video showed a raid on a home in Itumkale which housed a weapons cache, including small arms, ammunition, and MANPADS. According [...] |
2008-12-02 15:20:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER ETTC MASS MCAP RS PL GG |
| 08MOSCOW3476 |
KEEPING A WARY EYE ON THE STREETS: THE CRISIS [...] (C) Government statements and measures to contain the effects of the economic crisis are beginning to reflect official concern that a prolonged economic downturn could lead to social unrest as was the case in 1998. Senior analysts at two of Russia's leading research institutes claim that a sh [...] |
2008-12-03 06:45:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | EFIN ECON ELAB SOCI RS |
| 08MOSCOW348 |
REACTION TO ODIHR/OSCE-PA DECISION ON ELECTION [...] (SBU) As expected, the reaction to the decisions by ODIHR and the Parliamentary Assembly of OSCE not to observe the March 2 presidential elections has been loud and swift. Political analysts and members of the Duma from both United Russia and the Communist Party decried the decision not to sen [...] |
2008-02-08 15:07:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV KDEM PREL RS |
| 08MOSCOW3488 |
RUSSIA SATISFIED WITH U.S.-IRAQ AGREEMENTS [...] No summary [...] |
2008-12-03 13:53:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL IZ RS |
| 08MOSCOW3489 |
KITSMARISHVILI GETS AIRTIME IN RUSSIA, BRIEFLY [...] (C) Summary: While Russian government officials initially seized on the apparent sensationalism of former Georgian Ambassador to Russia Erosi Kitsmarishvili's November 25 testimony about Georgian responsibility for starting the war in August and his claims of U.S. support for Georgia's use o [...] |
2008-12-03 14:32:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV GG RS |
| 08MOSCOW349 |
(C) SAKHALIN ENERGY SEEKS QUIET WITHDRAWAL OF EXIM [...] (C) Shell has informed us that it and the other Sakhalin-2 partners (Gazprom, Mitsu and Mitsubishi) are reconsidering their need for export credit guarantees from a consortium of three export credit agencies: U.S. EXIM, the UK's ECGD, and Japan's JBIC. On February 5, the partnership, Sakhalin [...] |
2008-02-08 15:10:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG ECON PREL RS |
| 08MOSCOW3492 |
SENATOR CORKER'S MEETING WITH DFM GRUSHKO: [...] (SBU) Summary: Deputy Foreign Minister Aleksandr Grushko told visiting U.S. Senator Bob Corker the U.S. and Russia should build off the Sochi Declaration to move the relationship forward. The U.S. was trying to impose its security interests on Russia with its missile defense proposal. Grush [...] |
2008-12-04 08:13:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PGOV MARR PARM KNNP OREP GG RS |
| 08MOSCOW3497 |
PUTIN CALLS FOR RUSSIAN INVESTOR CLASS [...] (C) In a December 1 cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Putin voiced frustration over the country's reliance on foreign markets to fund domestic growth. He blamed foreign investors for driving down the market value of Russian firms. While Russia would not place restrictions on foreign capital, P [...] |
2008-12-04 10:38:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | EFIN ECON RS |
| 08MOSCOW3498 |
SERBIAN EMBASSY SAYS SOUTH STREAM "GUARANTEE" [...] (C) Serbian Embassy Counselor Boris Sekulic told us December 1 that Gazprom CEO Alexey Miller will be in Belgrade on December 5 to attempt to conclude an agreement on Gazprom's purchase of 51% of Serbia's national oil company, NIS (reftels). According to Sekulic, however, the Serbian governme [...] |
2008-12-04 11:13:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG ECON PREL RS |
| 08MOSCOW3507 |
CHATTERING CLASS ON WHY PUTIN CAN'T FAIL [...] (C) Summary: Putin remains the linchpin of the Russian political system, with rumors over his return to the Kremlin or departure from the White House serving to keep all options open and everyone off balance. Despite disagreements over whether and why Putin might contemplate a "spring scena [...] |
2008-12-04 14:38:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PINR EFIN RS |
| 08MOSCOW3508 |
RUSSIA ON ENHANCING EFFORTS TO COMBAT PIRACY [...] (C) We discussed reftel points on enhancing efforts to combat piracy with the MFA Legal and Africa departments on December 4. Legal Department Director for Public Law Vasiliy Titushkin told us that the GOR was "fully prepared to support any reasonable effort" to tackle this issue and Russia wo [...] |
2008-12-05 06:57:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | MOPS PBTS PHSA PTER RS |
| 08MOSCOW3519 |
(C) OLIGARCH VEKSELBERG TELLS AMBASSADOR RUSSIAN [...] (C) In a December 3 meeting with the Ambassador, Viktor Vekselberg, billionaire Chairman of Renova Group and major partner in TNK-BP, said the worst is yet to come for the Russian economy. He suggested needed economic reforms, including for the oil sector, would have to wait as the government [...] |
2008-12-05 13:36:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG ECON PREL RS |
| 08MOSCOW3522 |
DEATH OF PATRIARCH ALEKSEY II [...] (SBU) Summary: Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) Patriarch Aleksey II, 79, died December 5 of heart failure. A temporary leader of the Church will be named on December 6, and a funeral is expected as early as December 7, but perhaps December 8 or 9. As a result, President Medvedev canceled a pla [...] |
2008-12-05 13:44:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL SCUL RS |
| 08MOSCOW3525 |
RUSSIAN VET SERVICE REQUESTS [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Russian Chief Veterinary Officer Nikolay Vlasov has requested, via official letter, consultations with USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) in Moscow before December 20, 2008 to discuss Russian concerns with the quality and safety of U.S. meat and poultry shipments [...] |
2008-12-05 14:03:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EAGR ETRD TBIO WTO RS |
| 08MOSCOW3526 |
MEDVEDEV BOLSTERS RUSSIA?S LATIN AMERICAN OUTREACH [...] (SBU) Summary: The MFA and experts saw President Medvedev?s November 22-28 trip to Latin America as pragmatic, and focused on trade and economic issues, not driven by ideology or efforts to compete with the U.S. or China. In a meeting with the Ambassador December 2, Deputy Foreign Minister Ser [...] |
2008-12-05 14:23:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PGOV MASS EAID ETRD EPET EINV ENRG RS XM |
| 08MOSCOW3527 |
MFA PREVIEWS POST-START ISSUES FOR DECEMBER 15 [...] (C) Vladimir Yermakov, head of the START Treaty section in the MFA Office of Security and Disarmament Affairs (DVBR), told us December 3 that the GOR was looking forward to a "frank discussion" of all the issues related to a post-START Treaty agreement at the December 15 meeting between the de [...] |
2008-12-05 14:56:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PARM KACT START RS |
| 08MOSCOW353 |
DFM KARASIN ON UKRAINE, GEORGIA, TRANSNISTRIA, [...] (C) Summary. In a February 8 meeting with the Ambassador, DFM Karasin strongly cautioned against the Ukrainian government's push for NATO membership, underlining that a decision by the Alliance would be met with counter measures that would test our strategic relationship. Karasin urged the [...] |
2008-02-08 16:51:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV GG UP MD AM BO RS |
| 08MOSCOW354 |
GAZPROM SAYS UKRAINE CUTOFF THREAT JUST A "WARNING [...] (C) Gazprom's international affairs director Ivan Zolotov told us February 8th that press accounts of Gazprom's threat to cutoff gas to Ukraine on February 11th were correct. However, he added that his "personal opinion" was that this was just a "warning shot" to Ukraine in the run up to upcom [...] |
2008-02-09 05:21:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG ECON PREL RS |
| 08MOSCOW3544 |
MEDVEDEV'S JUDICIAL PROPOSALS: WORDS OR ACTIONS? [...] (C) Summary: At the seventh All-Russian Congress of Judges, from December 2-5 in Moscow, Medvedev proposed a series of measures to restore public trust in the legal system. His stated goal was to improve transparency and judicial professionalism and impartiality, which, he said, would have th [...] |
2008-12-08 11:55:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KJUS RS |
| 08MOSCOW3546 |
SCENARIOS FOR RUSSIAN POLITICS IN ECONOMIC CRISIS [...] (C) Summary. An INDEM survey of top analysts suggests that the economic crisis has shifted elite opinion on Russia's course over the coming year, with a growing expectation that the Medvedev-Putin tandem will either muddle through or accelerate existing trends toward a "Pinochet" model - a d [...] |
2008-12-08 13:08:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PINR RS SOCI EFIN |
| 08MOSCOW3547 |
RUSSIA REACTS TO THE NATO MINISTERIAL [...] (C) Summary: The reaction by Russian officials to the December 2 NATO Ministerial was largely muted, with the MFA welcoming a "return to realism" as NATO decided to resume a political dialogue with Russia. GOR officials expect NATO to make the first step in reestablishing ties with Russia, a [...] |
2008-12-08 15:26:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV MARR RS NATO |
| 08MOSCOW355 |
GAZPROM SAYS UKRAINE CUTOFF THREAT JUST A "WARNING [...] (C) Gazprom's international affairs director Ivan Zolotov told us February 8th that press accounts of Gazprom's threat to cutoff gas to Ukraine on February 11th were correct. However, he added that his "personal opinion" was that this was just a "warning shot" to Ukraine in the run up to upcom [...] |
2008-02-09 05:21:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG ECON PREL RS |
| 08MOSCOW3552 |
SCA DAS KROL'S MEETING WITH GAZPROM [...] (C) Summary: In a 13 November lunch with visiting SCA DAS George Krol, Gazprom head of foreign relations Ivan Zolotov said that Gazprom seeks "market-based" relationships with its suppliers and customers, including in Central Asia; that he expected more continuity than change in the U.S.-Russi [...] |
2008-12-09 09:56:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG ECON PREL RS |
| 08MOSCOW3555 |
INITIAL RUSSIAN REACTION TO OSCE MINISTERIAL [...] (C) Russia's MFA has not yet issued a formal statement on the results of the OSCE ministerial, but the Russian press focused on President Medvedev's proposal for a new European security treaty and hailed the ministerial as an endorsement of it. Commentators were more restrained on the concept [...] |
2008-12-09 12:00:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PARM OSCE RS |
| 08MOSCOW3556 |
EXTRANCHECK: POST-SHIPMENT VERIFICATION: FLYLAL TECHNICS, [...] Unauthorized disclosure of the information provided below is prohibited by Section 12C of the Export Administration Act. 2. Reftel 1 requested a Post-shipment verification to determine the legitimacy and reliability of the end-user, FLYLAL Technics, Vilnius, Lithuania. The company is listed [...] |
2008-12-09 12:25:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED | BEXP ETRD ETTC RS |
| 08MOSCOW3557 |
EXTRANCHECK: POST-SHIPMENT VERIFICATION: UAB ARNIKA, [...] Unauthorized disclosure of the information provided below is prohibited by Section 12C of the Export Administration Act. 2. Reftel 1 requested a Post-shipment verification to determine the legitimacy and reliability of the end-user, UAB Arnika, Gardino g. 55, LT-66191, Drushkininkai (Vilnius [...] |
2008-12-09 12:26:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED | BEXP ETRD ETTC RS |
| 08MOSCOW3558 |
EXTRANCHECK: POST-SHIPMENT VERIFICATION: FLYLAL TECHNICS, [...] Unauthorized disclosure of the information provided below is prohibited by Section 12C of the Export Administration Act. 2. Reftel 1 requested a Post-shipment verification to determine the legitimacy and reliability of the end-user, FLYLAL Technics, Vilnius, Lithuania. The company is listed [...] |
2008-12-09 12:28:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED | BEXP ETRD ETTC RS |
| 08MOSCOW3559 |
MINAG DELISTS 7 MORE U.S. PORK [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: The Russian Federal Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance Service (VPSS) advised via official letter dated December 5, 2008, that it had delisted an additional 7 out of 9 pork facilities that were recently inspected as part of a joint audit. These results immediately follow [...] |
2008-12-09 12:30:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EAGR ETRD ECON WTO RS |
| 08MOSCOW3563 |
G20 DEMARCHE: RUSSIA IS CONSIDERING "SOME" [...] (SBU) In response to subject demarche Andrey Kushnirenko, Deputy Director of the Economic Development Ministry's Trade Negotiations Department, told us December 4 that Russia will make decisions related to duty increases based on "all relevant factors." He acknowledged that Russia had committe [...] |
2008-12-09 15:03:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ETRD EFIN EINV ECON RS |
| 08MOSCOW3564 |
SPOT REPORT: FUNERAL SERVICES FOR PATRIARCH [...] (SBU) Summary. On December 9, numerous religious leaders, government officials, and Orthodox faithful gathered at Christ the Savior cathedral in central Moscow for the funeral of Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Aleksey II who died on December 5. Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew I, [...] |
2008-12-09 15:05:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PHUM PINR PREL RS SOCI |
| 08MOSCOW3572 |
EXTRANCHECK: POST-SHIPMENT VERIFICATION: ARVEKA UAB, [...] Unauthorized disclosure of the information provided below is prohibited by Section 12C of the Export Administration Act. 2. Reftel 1 requested a Post-shipment verification to determine the legitimacy and reliability of the end-user, Arveka UAB, L. Stuokos Guceviciaus 9-6, Vilnius, Lithuania. [...] |
2008-12-10 08:40:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED | BEXP ETRD ETTC RS |
| 08MOSCOW3573 |
UNITED TO FLY DIRECT FROM WASHINGTON TO MOSCOW BY [...] (SBU) On December 1, Oracio Marquez, United Airlines' Manager for International Regulatory Affairs, confirmed to Embassy Moscow's FAA Attache that United would start direct, non-stop flights as of March 29, 2009 between Dulles International Airport (IAD) and Moscow's Domodedovo International A [...] |
2008-12-10 11:28:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EAIR ETRD EINV ECON RS |
| 08MOSCOW3574 |
RUSSIAN TRAVEL AGENCIES EAGER TO PROMOTE TRAVEL TO THE [...] (U) Summary: RussiaQs recent economic growth has brought about a dramatic rise in Russian tourist travel to foreign destinations. While traditional beach resorts in Turkey and Egypt still attract the bulk of Russian travelers, Russians are traveling to more varied destinations, including to the [...] |
2008-12-10 13:38:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED | CVIS PGOV ETRD RS |
| 08MOSCOW3575 |
SMOLENSK: HOPE IN GOD AND PUTIN, APATHY IN ALL ELSE [...] (SBU) Summary: Recent conversations with government, political, business, religious and NGO officials in Smolensk revealed the divisions between official messages of calm and stability and the nervousness and discontent among citizens. Senior United Russia officials, speaking in their capacity [...] |
2008-12-10 14:53:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL PHUM ECON EFIN RS |
| 08MOSCOW3576 |
RUSSIA REVIEW FOR SUSPENSION OF TITLE III OF THE [...] (SBU) In response to reftel, GOR support for democracy and human rights in Cuba has been minimal. Both President Medvedev and Deputy PM Sechin have visited Cuba within the last six months, but the visits produced no major political or economic agreements. Despite these efforts to strengthen [...] |
2008-12-10 15:15:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ETRD ETTC PREL CU RS |
| 08MOSCOW3581 |
UNION STATE AND JOINT AIR DEFENSE AT A CROSSROADS [...] (C) The Kremlin and Russian White House have provided no details on why the Union State has postponed, for the second time, the State Supreme Council meeting scheduled for December 1. Both sides reported that there is an ongoing dispute over the council's agenda, which will now require a mee [...] |
2008-12-11 09:32:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV MARR MCAP BO RS |
| 08MOSCOW3582 |
THE GOR'S ECONOMIC CHOICES: RESERVES AND THE RUBLE [...] (C) As Russia's economic downturn deepens, it is forcing the GOR to make difficult economic choices. One of the first of these choices is what to do about the deteriorating ruble, which has lost roughly 20 percent of its value to the dollar since August. Initially, the GOR strongly defended t [...] |
2008-12-11 13:32:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EFIN ETRD PGOV PREL RS |
| 08MOSCOW3584 |
MFA Discusses the Kiril Islands with Codel Rohrabacher [...] (SBU) Summary: Visiting Congressman Dana Rohrabacher (R, CA) met with Russian MFA's Director of Asia-Pacific Regions Mikhail Galuzin on December 6 to discuss the Kiril Islands dispute between Russia and Japan. The Congressman presented to Galuzin his proposed solution to the dispute, whil [...] |
2008-12-11 15:11:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PGOV OREP RS JA |
| 08MOSCOW3585 |
CHAIRMAN OF RUSSIA'S SECOND-LARGEST BANK SAYS U.S. [...] (C) In a December 8 meeting with the Ambassador, VTB Chairman Andrey Kostin said next year would be very difficult for Russia's economy and that the U.S. economy's recovery would be the key to an economic turnaround in Russia. Kostin praised the GOR's response to the financial crisis to date [...] |
2008-12-12 07:31:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | EFIN ECON RS |
| 08MOSCOW3586 |
DEUTSCHE BANK CHIEF ECONOMIST ON CRISIS IN RUSSIA, [...] (C) In a December 6 meeting with EEB Special Representative Frank Mermoud, Deutsche Bank's Chief Economist Yaroslav Lissovolik said that investors, foreign and Russian, were concerned about increased GOR control over the economy. He said the GOR's intervention in support of the ruble was a mis [...] |
2008-12-12 07:48:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EINV ENRG ETRD EFIN PREL PGOV RS |
| 08MOSCOW3588 |
EXTRANCHECK: PRE-LICENSE CHECK: NII PM FGUP QTSENKIQ, [...] Unauthorized disclosure of the information provided below is prohibited by Section 12C of the Export Administration Act. 2. Reftel requested a Pre-license check to determine the legitimacy and reliability of the end-user, NII PM FGUP QTSENKIQ, Moscow, Russia. The company is listed on BIS lic [...] |
2008-12-12 08:23:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED | BEXP ETRD ETTC RS |
| 08MOSCOW359 |
BLUE LANTERN LEVEL 3: COMPLETED POST-SHIPMENT END-USE CHECK [...] (U) Summary: Mikhail Andreyev, Director General of Okhotnik and Rybolov, confirmed the delivery of rifles imported under license 05-1009959. Subsequently, we verified the bona fides of Okhotnik and Rybolov and recommend it as a reliable end-user of United States Munitions List (USML) items. [...] |
2008-02-11 11:12:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED | ETTC RS KOMC |
| 08MOSCOW3590 |
RUSSIA DENIES CYBER-ATTACKS [...] (C) Summary: The Russian MFA issued a strong denunciation on December 4 of press reports accusing Russia of attacks on the DoD's classified computer network and of denial of service attacks on Georgia and Estonia. The GoR has not yet responded to December 10 press accusations and statements [...] |
2008-12-12 10:55:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL EINT TINT MOPS PINR RS |
| 08MOSCOW3591 |
CPC EXPANSION AT HAND? [...] (SBU) Andrew McGrahan, Chevron Russia's Vice President in charge of CPC, told us December 10 that an MOU on CPC expansion will be signed on December 17. McGrahan said BP, which is attempting to divest itself of shares in CPC, may not sign the MOU but is likely to allow the expansion plans to [...] |
2008-12-12 11:09:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EPET ENRG ECON PREL RS |
| 08MOSCOW3592 |
DFM RYABKOV ON RUSSIA-U.S. RELATIONS - MEETING [...] (SBU) Summary: In a December 6 meeting with Representatives Bill Delahunt and Dana Rohrabacher, Deputy Foreign Minister Ryabkov explained that while the GOR looked upon the advent of a new U.S. administration as an opportunity to improve bilateral ties, Moscow did not necessarily expect a sea [...] |
2008-12-12 11:30:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PGOV KNNP OREP RS |
| 08MOSCOW3595 |
Scenesetter [...] No summary [...] |
2008-12-12 11:32:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PGOV MARR PARM KNNP OREP RS |
| 08MOSCOW3597 |
SENIOR ANALYST WARNS OF THE DANGER OF IGNORING [...] (SBU) Summary: Moscow Carnegie Center Director Dmitri Trenin provided an overview of Russia-U.S. relations for visiting Representatives Bill Delahunt and Dana Rohrabacher, explaining that Moscow was troubled by U.S. indifference toward Russian security concerns, and that Washington failed to [...] |
2008-12-12 11:55:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PGOV OREP RS |
| 08MOSCOW3599 |
RUSSIAN COAL: PRODUCERS WAITING FOR SIGNS OF DEMAND [...] (C) Summary. Russian coking coal producers on 27 November appealed to the government for assistance as they grapple with unpaid bills owed to them by Russia's struggling steelmakers. Although coal producers' most immediate priority is to remain solvent in the face of their customers' non-paym [...] |
2008-12-12 12:45:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | EFIN ECON ELAB SOCI RS |
| 08MOSCOW36 |
A WINDOW ON CORRUPTION: THE CASE OF VETERINARIAN [...] (C) SUMMARY: The November arrest and indictment of Moscow Oblast's chief veterinary officer briefly opened a window on the scope of corruption in Russia's legendarily crooked federal veterinary service. Accused along with three colleagues of extortion, the now ex-CVO's case is scarcely one of [...] |
2008-01-09 14:15:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | EAGR KCRM PGOV PINR RS |
| 08MOSCOW3603 |
INFO ON LACEY ACT AMENDMENTS DELIVERED [...] (SBU) We shared reftel information on the recent amendments to the Lacey Act and the phased-in implementation of new U.S. import requirements for plant and wood products, with Russian officials in the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Economic Development, and Natural Resources and Ecology, and in [...] |
2008-12-12 13:14:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SENV EAID EAGR ETRD EINV TBIO RS |
| 08MOSCOW3604 |
RUSSIA ON PREVENTING IMPLEMENTATION OF SYRIA'S [...] (C) On December 12, ESToff delivered the reftel non-paper urging Russia to support efforts to prevent the implementation of a Syria-requested Technical Cooperation (TC) Project to conduct a feasibility study and site selection for a nuclear power plant in Syria to First Secretary Olga Kuzne [...] |
2008-12-12 13:59:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | KNNP MNUC PARM IAEA TRGY SY RS |
| 08MOSCOW3605 |
SEEKING RUSSIAN UPDATE ON SUKHUMI RADIOACTIVE [...] (C) On December 12, ESToff requested an update on the four radioactive sources located in Sukhumi, Abkhazia from First Secretary Olga Kuznetsova, Nuclear Affairs Officer in the MFA Department of Security and Disarmament Affairs. While she was aware of the issue and its history, she said that [...] |
2008-12-12 14:01:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | KNP ENRG IAEA PARM PREL GG RS |
| 08MOSCOW3606 |
RUSSIAN RESPONSE ON AMENDING NSG GUIDELINES FOR [...] No summary [...] |
2008-12-12 14:02:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | KNNP ENRG ETTC MNUC PARM TRGY RS |
| 08MOSCOW3607 |
RUSSIA RESPONSE ON LRTAP PROTOCOL AMENDMENT ISSUES [...] (SBU) Post delivered reftel talking points to Igor Maydanov, Director of the Office of International Cooperation at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Ecology. On December 11, in a written response from the same office, Acting Director Anatoliy Totskiy wrote that Russia is conducting an int [...] |
2008-12-12 14:09:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON ETRD SENV RS |
| 08MOSCOW3609 |
RUSSIA SUPPORTS EFFORTS TO COUNTER ILLICIT DIAMOND [...] (SBU) Post delivered reftel points concerning illicit diamond activity in Zimbabwe to Vladimir Borisyuk, Acting Deputy Director of the MFA's Department of Economic Cooperation. Boriskyuk told us the GOR was aware of the diamond trading trends in Zimbabwe. He maintained that the GOR would co [...] |
2008-12-12 14:33:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL ETRD ECON EFIN ASEC RS ZI |
| 08MOSCOW361 |
TERRORIST FINANCE: RUSSIA TO SUPPORT DESIGNATION [...] No summary [...] |
2008-02-11 13:19:00 | Embassy Moscow | SECRET | EFIN ECON RS IZ SY |
| 08MOSCOW3610 |
OPIC FINANCE: ZAO STAR NETWORKS [...] No summary [...] |
2008-12-12 14:35:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EFIN ECON RS |
| 08MOSCOW3611 |
SCENESETTER FOR CODEL TAUSCHER [...] No summary [...] |
2008-12-12 14:44:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PGOV MARR PARM KNNP OREP RS |
| 08MOSCOW3612 |
RUSSIA'S APPOINTED AMBASSADOR ON ABKHAZIA [...] (C) Summary: Newly appointed Ambassador to Abkhazia Semyon Grigoriev assured us December 11 that Russia would not welcome or condone any Abkhaz effort to redraw boundaries along the Enguri river. In order to improve border security, Russia and Abkhazia planned to sign an agreement on joint b [...] |
2008-12-12 14:56:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV GG RS |
| 08MOSCOW3614 |
RUSSIA RESPONSE ON ANTARCTIC TREATY ANNIVERSARY AND [...] No summary [...] |
2008-12-15 06:41:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED | AORC KTIA SENV TPHY KSCA AY RS |
| 08MOSCOW3615 |
DFM KARASIN ON GEORGIA AND U.S. RELATIONS - MEETING [...] (SBU) Summary: In a December 6 meeting with Congressman Bill Delahunt and Congressman Dana Rohrabacher, Deputy Foreign Minister Karasin conceded Russia had lost the p.r. battle in the August conflict with Georgia, but reiterated why Russia had been compelled to respond militarily and then r [...] |
2008-12-15 06:53:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PGOV MARR PARM KNNP OREP RS |
| 08MOSCOW3616 |
Scenesetter for Senator Lugar's Visit to Russia [...] (SBU) Your visit to Moscow comes at a time of real disconnect in the U.S.-Russian relationship. Disagreements over European security, Russia's role in its neighborhood, and the Kremlin's creeping authoritarianism were followed by the rupture over Russia's decision to send forces into Georgia [...] |
2008-12-15 06:55:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PGOV ECON EAGR MARR PARM KNNP OREP RS |
| 08MOSCOW3624 |
DEMARCHE ON UNSC SOMALIA PIRACY RESOLUTION [...] (C) We delivered ref A demarche on December 15 to MFA Department of International Organizations Senior Counselor Valentin Berezovskiy, who said that the GOR remained concerned about elements of OP4 of the draft UNSC resolution on Somali piracy, but had yet to determine a final position on the [...] |
2008-12-15 11:25:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PHUM PHSA EWWT KCRM UNSC SO XA XW RS |
| 08MOSCOW3628 |
RECENT VIOLENCE AND ECONOMIC WOES SEND TAJIKS [...] (SBU) Summary: The recent murder and decapitation near Moscow of an ethnic Tajik guest worker has added to the insecurity among the ethnic Tajik community whose low-wage, low-skill jobs have been the first casualties of the economic downturn here. The leader of an NGO assisting the Tajik co [...] |
2008-12-15 12:32:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PINR SOCI RS TI |
| 08MOSCOW3633 |
RUSSIA: NEW TELEPHONE AREA CODE FOR MFA [...] No summary [...] |
2008-12-15 12:49:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PINR PREL AMGT RS |
| 08MOSCOW3636 |
DISSENTERS' DAY PROTESTS LEAD TO ARRESTS IN MOSCOW [...] (C) Summary: Police arrested more than 150 people across Moscow on December 14 in separate Dissenters' Day protests, with an additional 60 protesters arrested in St. Petersburg. In the largest Moscow protest, organized by Garry Kasparov and Eduard Limonov, police detained approximately 100 Othe [...] |
2008-12-15 14:10:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KDEM PHUM RS |
| 08MOSCOW3637 |
AT INAUGURAL CONGRESS, SOLIDARITY SELECTS LEADERS [...] (C) Summary: On December 12-13, the Solidarity opposition movement held its inaugural national congress, bringing together several political opposition and human rights organizations. The congress elected leaders, including Garry Kasparov and Boris Nemtsov, and also elaborated its program to [...] |
2008-12-16 03:23:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM RS |
| 08MOSCOW364 |
JCIC DEMARCHE DELIVERED [...] No summary [...] |
2008-02-11 13:46:00 | Embassy Moscow | SECRET | PARM KACT START JCIC US RS UP BO KZ |
| 08MOSCOW3641 |
ISTC GOVERNING BOARD IN MOSCOW APPROVES STATEMENT ON [...] SUMMARY: At the International Science and Technology Center (ISTC) Coordinating Committee (CC), Roundtable, and Governing Board (GB) meetings held December 9-11, 2008, the GB agreed on a Statement of Principles on Transformation and called for Russia to confirm the ISTC's tax-exempt status. Th [...] |
2008-12-16 06:28:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED | KNNP PARM TSPL RS |
| 08MOSCOW3648 |
DELIVERY OF DRAFT MOU AND IA BETWEEN DHS AND [...] (SBU) On December 9, ESToff delivered the reftel draft Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and Implementing Agreement (IA) between the Department of Homeland Security and the Russian Academy of Sciences in English and Russian to Oleg Rozhkov, Deputy Director of the MFA Department of Security a [...] |
2008-12-16 13:40:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PARM PREL GKGIC PTER KSCA KNNP RS |
| 08MOSCOW3649 |
WILL RUSSIA JOIN OPEC? [...] (C) President Medvedev recently fed speculation about Russia's intentions to cooperate with or join OPEC, telling the press on December 11 that Russia "must defend" higher oil prices, including by reducing oil production and, possibly, joining "organizations of producers." Most Moscow-based a [...] |
2008-12-16 14:57:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG ECON PREL RS |
| 08MOSCOW3650 |
RUSSIAN POSITION ON HUMAN CLONING [...] No summary [...] |
2008-12-17 03:59:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED | TBIO UNESCO RS |
| 08MOSCOW3654 |
RUSSIA-GERMANY TRANSIT AGREEMENT TO BE IMPLEMENTED [...] (U) In a November 20 statement, the MFA characterized the rail transit of German military hardware through Russian territory as a reaffirmation of the GOR's commitment to Afghanistan stabilization. The statement praised the close cooperation between Germany and Russia and said this would be t [...] |
2008-12-17 12:23:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PBTS MASS MCAP MOPS RS AF |
| 08MOSCOW3655 |
RUSSIA-GERMANY TRANSIT AGREEMENT TO BE IMPLEMENTED [...] (U) In a November 20 statement, the MFA characterized the rail transit of German military hardware through Russian territory as a reaffirmation of the GOR's commitment to Afghanistan stabilization. The statement praised the close cooperation between Germany and Russia and said this would be t [...] |
2008-12-17 12:37:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PBTS MASS MCAP MOPS RS AF |
| 08MOSCOW3656 |
DEMARCHE DELIVERED: SUPPORT FOR THE SPECIAL [...] No summary [...] |
2008-12-17 13:04:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PTER LE SY UNSC EUN RS |
| 08MOSCOW3657 |
FOREIGN ORGANIZATIONS SEEK COVER AS GOR DITHERS ON [...] (C) Summary: Despite the looming January 1, 2009 deadline for the possible end of a tax exemption for recipients of some grants from foreign non-commercial organizations, the GOR has yet to come up with the criteria and procedures for such donors to apply for inclusion on the list of foreign [...] |
2008-12-17 13:52:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV KDEM PHUM PINR EAID RS |
| 08MOSCOW3659 |
RUSSIA CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC ABOUT NAGORNO-KARABAKH [...] (C) Summary: In a December 10 meeting, MFA Counselor Elena Kravchenko said the Minsk Group planned to organize another meeting of the Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents in the new year. She said the major obstacles for a conflict resolution were the Lachin corridor and the unwillingness of [...] |
2008-12-17 14:13:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV AZ RS |
| 08MOSCOW366 |
GOR ADVISOR ON DIFFICULTIES FIGHTING GROWING [...] (C) Economic Experts Group (EEG) Director Yevsey Gurvich told us February 5 that fighting growing inflation was a GOR priority but that the tools at the government's disposal were inadequate to the task. In particular, the GOR had few levers with which to temper growing demand. Gurvich spec [...] |
2008-02-11 14:08:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | EFIN ECON RS |
| 08MOSCOW3660 |
RUSSIA'S DEMOGRAPHIC SITUATION: SERIOUS, BUT NOT [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: For several years, demographics and public health experts have prophesied Russia's demographic demise and warned of a potentially catastrophic loss of population. Russia indeed faces major public health and demographic problems (reftels). However, in certain areas there has bee [...] |
2008-12-17 14:19:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | TBIO KHIV SCUL SOCI EAID PGOV ECON PREL RS |
| 08MOSCOW3665 |
EXTRANCHECK: POST-SHIPMENT VERIFICATION: S.P.KOROLEV ROCKET [...] Unauthorized disclosure of the information provided below is prohibited by Section 12C of the Export Administration Act. 2. Reftel requested a Post-shipment verification to determine the legitimacy and reliability of the end-user, S.P.Korolev Rocket and Space Corp., Korolev, Russia. The comp [...] |
2008-12-18 06:35:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED | BEXP ETRD ETTC RS |
| 08MOSCOW3669 |
SURVIVING THE CRISIS: THE RUSSIAN AUTOMOBILE [...] (C) Russia's deepening economic downturn has severely crippled the automobile sector. Car sales are starting to plummet for foreign and domestic companies alike, with the worst still to come. The slowdown in domestic manufacturing portends large job losses. Prime Minister Putin, who before [...] |
2008-12-18 13:21:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EINV RS |
| 08MOSCOW3673 |
CLIMATE CHANGE: RUSSIA'S ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE [...] SUMMARY: In response to reftel request, Post reports that Russia's lead agency on the political aspects of climate change is the Ministry of Natural Resources and Ecology (MNRE). The Federal Service for Hydro-meteorology and Environmental Monitoring (Roshydromet), a semi-autonomous agency unde [...] |
2008-12-18 14:12:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SENV ENRG KGHG RS |
| 08MOSCOW3678 |
JOHN DEERE CONCERNED ABOUT HIGHER DUTIES AND [...] (C) On December 11, PM Putin proposed raising the duties on imported combine harvesters and ending GOR-financing for purchases of foreign agricultural equipment. Deere and Company Russia Country Director Sidney Bardwell told us December 16 that PM Putin's recent proposals would have a catastr [...] |
2008-12-19 08:25:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | ETRD EAGR EINV ECON RS |
| 08MOSCOW3683 |
MINAG DELISTS 5 MORE U.S. PORK [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: The Russian Federal Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance Service (VPSS) advised via official letter dated December 12, 2008(transmitted to the U.S. Embassy on December 16, 2008) that starting on January 1, 2009, an additional 5 pork facilities will be delisted. This action [...] |
2008-12-19 11:07:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EAGR ETRD ECON WTO RS |
| 08MOSCOW3684 |
RUSSIA DOES LITTLE ON INDIA-PAKISTAN TENSIONS [...] (C) Summary: Russia has taken minimal action to calm tensions between India and Pakistan following the Mumbai attacks. While Medvedev stressed that the attacks should not be allowed to jeopardize India's dialogue with Pakistan, and has played up Russia's limited counter-terrorism cooperation [...] |
2008-12-19 11:26:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER ETRD MARR IN PK RS |
| 08MOSCOW3685 |
RUSSIA DOES NOT HAVE A POSITION ON THE UNESCO [...] No summary [...] |
2008-12-19 11:27:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL UNESCO EG RS |
| 08MOSCOW3687 |
ROSTOV: TRADE HUB, PRODUCES GRUB, SUPPORTS CHUB [...] (C) Summary. As one of the country's most populous and temperate weather regions, Rostov Oblast in southwestern Russia boasts of being a leading agricultural and trade center. Recent travel to the region's capital, Rostov-Na-Donu (Rostov), gave us the opportunity to see how it has thrived i [...] |
2008-12-19 13:02:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PINR PREL RS SOCI ECON EFIN |
| 08MOSCOW3688 |
NATIONALIST GROUP MARCHES PEACEFULLY, BUT [...] (SBU) Summary. On December 12, Constitution Day, the Movement Against Illegal Immigration (DPNI) and the Slavic Union held the second "Russian March" in as many months. The peaceful and authorized gathering, attended by approximately 300 supporters under the banner "Support Your Constitution [...] |
2008-12-19 14:22:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PHUM PINR PREL RS SOCI |
| 08MOSCOW3689 |
FEAR, PARANOIA, AND TREASON - MOSCOW PREPARING FOR [...] (C) Summary: As the economic crisis deepens, a GOR-proposed expansion of the definition of espionage is being interpreted as a blatant attempt to further restrict and intimidate critics of the United Russia dominated government from organizing any opposition to the present power structure. In [...] |
2008-12-19 14:31:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PINR RS SOCI |
| 08MOSCOW3693 |
IN MOSCOW, GREEN CONSCIOUSNESS SLOWLY TAKING ROOT [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Slowly but surely, green practices are taking root in Moscow. Even the most ardent of Moscow's capitalist consumerists can no longer ignore the region's rapid environmental degradation as the once fish-chock streams and mushroom-rich forests that attracted flocks to build mini- [...] |
2008-12-22 04:24:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SENV ECON ETRD SOCI EAID PGOV RS |
| 08MOSCOW3707 |
SENATOR LUGAR MEETS FM LAVROV: U.S. RELATIONS, POST-START, [...] (SBU) Summary: In a December 18 meeting, FM Lavrov welcomed the visit of Senator Lugar as recognition that the Senate appreciated the importance of relations with Russia. Lavrov emphasized Russia's interest in concluding a post-START treaty by December 2009 and urged a "quick start" to the [...] |
2008-12-22 06:11:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PGOV KNNP ECON PARM OREP RS |
| 08MOSCOW3708 |
SENATOR LUGAR: BUILDING BLOCKS FOR U.S. RELATIONS [...] (SBU) Summary: Senator Lugar heard a mixed, but mostly positive, message on Russian receptivity towards rebuilding U.S.-Russian relations, with a range of officials and respected observers calling for a return to the official diplomatic architecture that once governed bilateral dialogue. Th [...] |
2008-12-22 06:12:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PGOV EFIN MARR PARM KNNP OREP RS IR AF |
| 08MOSCOW371 |
U/S JEFFERY'S MEETING WITH MINISTER OF INDUSTRY [...] (SBU) Minister of Industry and Energy Viktor Khristenko told U/S Jeffery and Ambassador Burns on January 29th that the GOR expects rising domestic gas prices and a liberalized electricity market to raise energy efficiency in Russia as industries and consumers adopt energy saving technologies an [...] |
2008-02-11 14:57:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EPET ENRG ECON PREL RS |
| 08MOSCOW3712 |
ROSNEFT AND LUKOIL TELL SENATOR LUGAR OIL TAX [...] (SBU) In separate meetings on December 17 and 18, Lukoil Executive V.P. Ravil Maganov and Rosneft V.P. for Finance Peter O'Brien told Senator Lugar that they strongly believe major oil tax reform is inevitable in Russia in order to stop the slide in production (reftels). They both suggested, [...] |
2008-12-22 09:20:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON ENRG EPET OREP PREL RS |
| 08MOSCOW3719 |
GOR CALM ABOUT U.S.-UKRAINE STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP [...] (C) Summary: In a December 22 meeting, MFA Ukraine desk Director Vyacheslav Yelagin told us that the GOR had not yet developed a formal position on the proposed U.S.-Ukraine strategic partnership agreement, but noted Ukraine had the right to conclude treaties with any country it wanted to. H [...] |
2008-12-22 12:59:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV ECON UP RS GG |
| 08MOSCOW3720 |
RUSSIAN RESPONSE TO U.S. DRAFT START TREATY [...] (S) In the course of U.S. and Russian security discussions in Moscow December 15 (septel), DFM Ryabkov handed Acting U/S Rood a seven-page non-paper in Russian with a summary of Moscow's response, which the U.S. could consider as "an authoritative reply" to the U.S. draft text provided on Oct [...] |
2008-12-22 12:59:00 | Embassy Moscow | SECRET | PREL PGOV KACT PARM MARR RS |
| 08MOSCOW3728 |
DFM Ryabkov meets Codel Tauscher: Iran, Missile Defense, [...] (SBU) Summary: Meeting the Codel Tauscher delegation on December 16, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov stressed that Russia wanted improved relations with the U.S., even as he acknowledged the "negative mindset" of the Russian public and the damage that issues like NATO enlargement had p [...] |
2008-12-23 12:07:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PGOV MARR PARM KNNP OREP RS |
| 08MOSCOW3735 |
AGMIN DEMANDS ADDITIONAL INSPECTIONS AS [...] No summary [...] |
2008-12-24 06:11:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EAGR ETRD ECON WTO RS |
| 08MOSCOW3736 |
FREE AT LAST? IVANOVO UZBEKS WIN AT ECHR [...] (U) Summary: Since their June 2005 arrest in connection with violent unrest in Andijan, 13 ethnic Uzbeks have been in limbo, caught between the threat of refoulement to Uzbekistan and an offer of refugee status in Sweden. In a decision announced December 15, the European Court of Human Rights [...] |
2008-12-24 06:14:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED | PREF PHUM PREL SMIG OEXC RS |
| 08MOSCOW3737 |
VPSS TO CLARIFY REQUIREMENTS FOR RELISTING PORK AND POULTRY [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: US Embassy officials met with the Russian Federal Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance Service (VPSS) to seek clarity on the Russian response to a work plan for relisting U.S. pork and poultry plants as proposed by USTR and USDA during meetings in Moscow on December 17 and [...] |
2008-12-24 06:24:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EAGR ETRD ECON WTO RS |
| 08MOSCOW374 |
SOCHI REGION FACES OLYMPIC-SIZED CHALLENGES [...] (SBU) A meeting of Putin and his team on February 5 underscored the Kremlin's recognition that the "eyes of the world" are on Sochi, not only for the 2014 Winter Olympic Games themselves, but also in the way in which Russia manages the preparations. In addition to overcoming significant engin [...] |
2008-02-12 14:33:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR KDEM ECON SOCI RS |
| 08MOSCOW3741 |
PRESIDENT'S ECONOMIC ADVISOR DISCUSSES ANTI-CRISIS [...] (C) In a December 19 meeting with Senator Lugar, President Medvedev's Chief Economic Advisor, Arkadiy Dvorkovich, was uncharacteristically pessimistic about Russia's growth prospects over the short and medium term and predicted a protracted global economic slow down. Dvorkovich said that dep [...] |
2008-12-24 10:30:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EFIN EINV OREP PREL RS |
| 08MOSCOW3742 |
LUKASHENKO POSTURES IN MOSCOW [...] (C) In a December 22 visit, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko and President Medvedev concluded an unspecified agreement on gas prices and a new date for the signature of an air defense agreement to unify the two countries' air defense networks. Lukashenko, in a belligerent public per [...] |
2008-12-24 10:36:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV MARR MCAP BO RS |
| 08MOSCOW3743 |
VOLGOGRAD: POLITICIANS CALM BEFORE ECONOMIC STORM, [...] (C) Summary: A December 17-19 visit to Volgograd revealed politicians and observers focused on maintaining political stability amid the deepening economic crisis. One Regional Duma Deputy predicted the crisis will last for up to two more years, with regional production slipping by as much as 3 [...] |
2008-12-24 10:38:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KDEM PHUM ECON RS |
| 08MOSCOW3745 |
RUSSIA REACTS TO DUTY INCREASES ON CARS [...] (C) In the first sign of open discontent with GOR measures to deal with the financial crisis, protests continue to mount throughout Russia over increased duties on imported cars and tighter restrictions on imported used cars (Refs A, B, C). Thus far, the GOR has largely rebuffed the protesters, [...] |
2008-12-29 03:57:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | ETRD EIND EINV ECON PGOV RS |
| 08MOSCOW375 |
THE INSTITUTE FOR DEMOCRACY AND COOPERATION; [...] (C) Summary: The GOR has decided to establish an Institute for Democracy and Cooperation, which will be headquartered in Moscow with branch offices in New York and Paris. The Institute is intended to end what the GOR sees as the western "monopoly" on defining and reporting human rights abus [...] |
2008-02-12 14:39:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KDEM SOCI PINR RS |
| 08MOSCOW3752 |
IPR ROUNDTABLE: "WORKING WITH RUSSIAN LAW ENFORCEMENT" [...] (U) Summary: On December 11, the Embassy and the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) co-hosted an IPR roundtable, "Working with Russian Law Enforcement on IPR Cases". This was the first joint IPR Roundtable with AmCham and a deliverable of the U.S.-Russia IPR Working Group. The Ministry of [...] |
2008-12-29 10:33:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ETRD KIPR ECON PGOV RS |
| 08MOSCOW3753 |
RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR TO SOUTH OSSETIA [...] (C) Summary: In a December 24 meeting, Russia's ambassador to South Ossetia, Elbrus Kargiev, told us "president" Kokoity needed to gain experience in running a peacetime government, while making quiet progress on security and economic development instead of overreacting to accusations in the [...] |
2008-12-29 12:10:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV RS GG |
| 08MOSCOW3754 |
MOSTLY QUIET IN THE WESTERN NORTH CAUCASUS [...] (SBU) Summary: The North Caucasus republics of Kabardino-Balkaria and Karachay-Cherkessia have largely been spared the violence and instability of their eastern neighbors North Ossetia, Ingushetiya, Chechnya and Dagestan. In view of the sustained improvement in the security situation there, [...] |
2008-12-29 13:38:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PHUM KDEM SOCI PTER RS |
| 08MOSCOW3755 |
GOR SUPPORTS UNSC RESOLUTION ON SOMALIA BUT [...] (U) This message is sensitive but unclassified, and is not meant for Internet distribution. 2. (SBU) Per reftel request, Poloff discussed the draft Security Council resolution on establishing a peacekeeping mission in Somalia with MFA Department of International Organizations First Secr [...] |
2008-12-29 13:40:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL UNSC KPKO SO ET RS |
| 08MOSCOW3757 |
MEDVEDEV'S ASSESSMENT - 2008, A YEAR OF DIVERSE [...] (SBU) Summary. Russian President Medvedev took to the air on December 24 to speak on the three most important events of the year past: his inauguration, the war in Georgia, and the economic crisis. He reminded the audience of his legal responsibility as commander-in-chief and took personal res [...] |
2008-12-29 14:17:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PINR RS SOCI |
| 08MOSCOW3760 |
RUSSIA THEATENS FODDER TRADE [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: The Russian Federal Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance Service (VPSS) raised the bar in requesting a list of U.S. fodder exporters to Russia in its December 26, 2008, letter by threatening to ban U.S. fodder exports if a list is not produced by January 1, 2009. The ori [...] |
2008-12-30 07:23:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EAGR ETRD TBIO WTO RS |
| 08MOSCOW3763 |
RUSSIAN MFA UNDECIDED ON LEAD DEPARTMENT FOR [...] (SBU) In response to reftel requests, Post sent invitations for the January 13-14, 2009 inaugural meeting of the Contact Group on Somalia Piracy (CGSP) in New York and the January 13 pre-meeting of key countries to the Legal, International Organizations, and North Americas Departments of the [...] |
2008-12-30 14:00:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED | EWWT KCRM MOPS PBTS PHSA PTER RS |
| 08MOSCOW3766 |
DEMARCHE: AVOIDING GAS SUPPLY DISRUPTIONS FROM [...] (S) We delivered points per reftel para. 16 to Gazprom's Director of Foreign Relations, Ivan Zolotov and the Senior Economic Advisor to the MFA's North America Desk, Vyacheslav Moshkalo. Both reported that as of 12/30, negotiations between Russia and Ukraine were underway to resolve the debt [...] |
2008-12-30 15:11:00 | Embassy Moscow | SECRET | EPET ENRG ECON PREL RS |
| 08MOSCOW3773 |
GOR NEVER RECEIVED INFO FROM POLAND REGARDING [...] (C) On December 30 we delivered ref A nonpaper to MFA DVBVR First Secretary Andrey Odnoral, who told us the GOR passed a diplomatic note regarding Polish GROM MANPADS sales to Georgia to the GOP via the Russian Embassy in Warsaw in June 2008, prior to the August conflict. To date, the GOR has [...] |
2008-12-31 08:31:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER ETTC MASS MCAP RS PL GG |
| 08MOSCOW3775 |
Medvedev's Anti-Corruption Package: Two Views [...] (SBU) Summary: Transparency International Director Yelena Panfilova praised President Medvedev's anti-corruption bill that was signed into law on December 25 as an "extremely valuable" first step, while recognizing the deep flaws in its content and how it was promulgated. Arguing that waiti [...] |
2008-12-31 11:38:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV ECON PINR SOCI EAID RS |
| 08MOSCOW3776 |
GENERAL BUZHINSKIY MEETS CODEL TAUSCHER: MD COOPERATION TO [...] (SBU) Summary: Meeting the Codel Tauscher delegation on December 16, Lt. Gen. Buzhinskiy argued the U.S. and Russia could cooperate on short- and medium-range MD systems, but not if the U.S. also moved forward with plans to deploy a long-range MD system in Poland and the Czech Republic. He to [...] |
2008-12-31 12:38:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PGOV MARR PARM KNNP OREP RS |
| 08MOSCOW3777 |
DUMA DEFENSE COMMITTEE FIRST DEPUTY CHAIR BABICH - MEETING [...] (SBU) Summary: In a December 15 meeting with Representatives Ellen Tauscher, Loretta Sanchez, Rick Larsen, and Doug Lamborn, Duma Defense Committee, First Deputy Chair Mikhail Babich said that Russia had high expectations for the incoming Obama Administration. He welcomed the proposal for regu [...] |
2008-12-31 12:40:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PGOV KNNP OREP RS |
| 08MOSCOW3778 |
KOSACHEV MEETS CODEL TAUSCHER: MORE DIALOGUE NEEDED [...] (SBU) Summary: Duma International Relations Committee Chair Konstantin Kosachev told CODEL Tauscher on December 16 that parliamentary dialogue between the U.S. and Russia needed to be revitalized. He suggested that the Duma International Relations and Defense Committees should meet with the H [...] |
2008-12-31 12:57:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PGOV MARR PARM KNNP OREP RS |
| 08MOSCOW378 |
PUTIN'S HUMAN RIGHTS ADVISER ON "FROZEN" [...] (C) Summary: In her February 11 meeting with the Ambassador, Putin's human rights adviser, Ella Pamfilova said the Duma elections had been a "turning point," leading her to "divorce" herself from GOR actions and adopt a low public profile. While she welcomed FM Lavrov's engagement with the [...] |
2008-02-12 15:08:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PINR RS |
| 08MOSCOW380 |
SEPARATISM NOT THE ROOT CAUSE OF INSTABILITY IN [...] (SBU) Summary: While Moscow-based experts believe that the insurgencies in the various North Caucasus republics are different in nature, none think that separatism is their root cause. Experts tell us that while the insurgency in Dagestan may have a religious basis, violence in Ingushetiya a [...] |
2008-02-12 15:18:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR KDEM SOCI PHUM PTER ECON RS |
| 08MOSCOW387 |
FORMER PM PRIMAKOV ON US-GOR DIALOGUE, MD, MAP, [...] (C) Summary: In a February 12 meeting with the Ambassador, former Prime Minister Primakov praised his dialogue with Dr. Kissinger and pushed for strategic reengagement on missile defense. He related Putin's unhappiness over the perceived shift in the post-2 2 U.S. offer, but argued that a [...] |
2008-02-13 14:25:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV MARR ECON RS |
| 08MOSCOW390 |
KING ABDULLAH'S LOW KEY MOSCOW VISIT [...] (C) Jordanian King Abdullah met Putin and his presumptive successor, First Deputy Prime Minister Medvedev, during a February 11 visit that focused on maintaining continuity in Russia-Jordan relations. MFA First Secretary Elbrus Kutrashev and Jordanian Consul Hasan Saraireh told us separately [...] |
2008-02-13 14:56:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL JO RS |
| 08MOSCOW391 |
RUSSIA CAUTIOUSLY APPROACHES IMPROVEMENT IN TIES [...] (C) Summary: The MFA told us that Russia remained committed to improving bilateral relations with Georgia, and was prepared to discuss "anything and everything" with the two Georgian DFMs visiting Moscow on February 15, but stressed that Russia was interested only in concrete action from Geor [...] |
2008-02-13 15:07:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV RS |
| 08MOSCOW392 |
RUSSIA ON UNSC DISCUSSIONS ON CHAD, KENYA, [...] (C) Summary. The MFA told us that it would send four helicopters and 200 personnel to Chad, and was concerned over growing tensions on the Ethiopia/Eritrea border, but would take a "wait and see" approach to further UNSC involvement in conflicts in Kenya. The GOR believed that international [...] |
2008-02-13 15:08:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR ZF XW RS |
| 08MOSCOW393 |
U/S JEFFERY'S MEETING WITH SEVERSTAL DIRECTOR [...] (SBU) Summary: Meeting with Under Secretary of State for Economic, Energy and Agricultural Affairs Reuben Jeffery, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Finance and Development Elizabeth Dibble and EcMinCoun on January 30, Aleksey Mordashov, General Director of Severstal Gr [...] |
2008-02-13 15:29:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EINV ETRD WTO RS |
| 08MOSCOW394 |
RUSSIA AND UKRAINE RESOLVE GAS DISPUTE, AGREE TO [...] (SBU) As most watchers expected, Russia and Ukraine came to a last minute agreement to settle the latest gas dispute (reftel) and avert a cutoff of gas flows. Announced by President Putin following a meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart just as the 6:00pm February 12th deadline arrived, the [...] |
2008-02-14 03:34:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG ECON PREL RS |
| 08MOSCOW396 |
INSIDE ROSOBORONEXPORT [...] (C) Summary: On February 7, officials at RosoboronExport (ROE), the Russian government's monopoly arms exporter, made it clear how little control the company has over decisions regarding Russia's military sales. Most of the decisions affecting the company, including what products and to which [...] |
2008-02-14 07:16:00 | Embassy Moscow | SECRET | EIND ETRD PGOV PREL RS MASS |
| 08MOSCOW400 |
ANGARSK INTERNATIONAL ENRICHMENT CENTER: MOVING [...] (SBU) Development of the International Uranium Enrichment Center (IUEC) in Angarsk continues to move forward, though the center is still a "virtual" one to be carved out of the existing Angarsk Chemical Complex. Embassy was warmly received during a visit to the complex. Embassy toured the ca [...] |
2008-02-14 13:15:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | KNNP PARM RS |
| 08MOSCOW401 |
RUSSIA "SATISFIED" WITH BURMA'S ROADMAP FOR [...] (U) The MFA issued a statement February 12, expressing "satisfaction" with the Burmese regime's recent announcement of the next steps in its "Roadmap" for political change (reftel). The MFA said that Russia hoped that the regime's decision to set dates for the "next phases of political change [...] |
2008-02-14 13:53:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM BM RS |
| 08MOSCOW408 |
ROSATOM STATE CORPORATION GETS UNDERWAY [...] (SBU) Prime Minister Zubkhov officially appointed Sergey Kiriyenko Director General of the newly formed Rosatom State Corporation on February 4. Natasha Klishina, head of the Bilateral Cooperation Section of Rosatom's International Department, reviewed with us February 5 the state of play in [...] |
2008-02-15 04:07:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | KNNP ENRG PARM PREL RS |
| 08MOSCOW409 |
AUSTRIAN EMBASSY SASY OMV COMMITTED TO NABUCCO, [...] (C) Austrian Embassy Political-Economic Counselor Reimund Magis told us February 11th that Austria is committed to the Nabucco project and to diversification of Europe's gas sources. That said, Austria viewed Russia as a "strategic partner" on energy issues and planned to continue to carefull [...] |
2008-02-15 05:15:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG ECON PREL RS |
| 08MOSCOW410 |
POLISH PM TUSK'S VISIT TO MOSCOW REF: A. MOSCOW 267 B. MOSCOW 5585 Classified By: Political M/C Alice G. Wells for reasons 1.4 (b/d). [...] (C) Summary: Polish PM Tusk's trip to Moscow served as a symbol of the thawing of bilateral relations and a willingness on both sides to engage, if not agree. Missile defense discussions produced no new proposals, and Polish diplomats characterized Putin's position as "tough," including pushing for [...] |
2008-02-15 05:16:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PARM MARR ENRG PL RS |
| 08MOSCOW411 |
SMOLENSK: SLOWLY BREAKING AWAY FROM THE RED BELT [...] No summary [...] |
2008-02-15 07:30:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM SOCI RS |
| 08MOSCOW421 |
MFA ON MULTILATERALIZING INF, NON-MILITARIZATION [...] (C) Summary. Vladimir Yermakov, MFA Director of Strategic Capabilities Policy, told us February 13 that FM Lavrov's proposal at the Conference on Disarmament (CD) on February 12 to "multilateralize" the Treaty on the Elimination of Medium-Range and Shorter-Range Missiles (INF) was necessary t [...] |
2008-02-15 10:55:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR NATO RS |
| 08MOSCOW431 |
Medvedev's Four "I"s: - The Keys to His Economic Program [...] (U) Summary. In a speech at an economic forum in Krasnoyarsk, Siberia February 15, Deputy Prime Minister and presidential hopeful Dmitry Medvedev identified four economic priorities for Russia: infrastructure, innovation, investment, institutions. He called for a smaller state role in the eco [...] |
2008-02-15 14:27:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EINV ETRD RS |
| 08MOSCOW433 |
EXTRANCHECK: POST-SHIPMENT VERIFICATION: [...] Unauthorized disclosure of the information provided below is prohibited by Section 12C of the Export Administration Act. 2. Reftel requested a Post-shipment verification to determine the legitimacy and reliability of the end- user, Seversk Business Development Agency, Seversk, Russia. The [...] |
2008-02-15 14:37:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED | BEXP ETRD ETTC RS |
| 08MOSCOW434 |
DFM LOSYUKOV ON IRAN, PAKISTAN, AFGHANISTAN, [...] (C) Summary. In a February 14 meeting with Ambassador, DFM Losyukov expressed frustration with the Iranian regime's arrogance and inflexibility. Considering Iranian domestic politics, the GOR foresees no serious political discussion occurring prior to its March 14 parliamentary elections. Lo [...] |
2008-02-15 14:41:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PARM MNUC KNNP PINR AF IN JP IR RS |
| 08MOSCOW435 |
DFM TITOV: RUSSIA WILL BE RESPONSIBLE ON KOSOVO, [...] (C) Summary: In a February 14 meeting with the Ambassador, DFM Titov reiterated warnings over the destabilizing consequences of Kosovo's impending UDI, but said Russia would respond "responsibly," including by convoking a UN Security Council special session, and issuing sharp statements of c [...] |
2008-02-15 14:43:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV ECON RS |
| 08MOSCOW436 |
RUSSIA - BELARUS RELATIONS: VIEWS FROM SMOLENSK [...] (C) Summary. For Smolensk residents, Belarus spells shared history, friendly ties, the only path to Europe, and affordable goods. In their eyes, union with Belarus would be a plus. For the diehard communists, Belarus is what Russia could still be, while for others it is a backward, anti-de [...] |
2008-02-15 14:47:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV ECON BO RS |
| 08MOSCOW442 |
RUSSIAN CONCERNS ON ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON EXPORT [...] (SBU) On February 15, we delivered reftel points regarding U.S. support for the IAEA request to the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) Governments for additional information regarding export denials to Iran or nuclear related items already delivered to Iran. 2. (SBU) Alexandr Bolichiov of the MF [...] |
2008-02-15 15:17:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | KNNP MNUC AORC PARM IAEA IR RS |
| 08MOSCOW444 |
MOSCOW RESPONSE TO STATE 10743 FOR REQUIRED REPORTS TO [...] In response to action request in reftel, Embassy Moscow provides the following answers: A. Energy issues in Russia are handled by various sections in Embassy Moscow and the constituent posts. In the Embassy, from the State Department, the Economic Section, the Environment, Science, and T [...] |
2008-02-15 15:25:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED | ENRG ECON AFIN ABUD RS |
| 08MOSCOW445 |
KOSOVO: RUSSIA REACTS PREDICTABLY, STOPS SHORT OF [...] (C) Summary: Russia responded quickly and negatively to Kosovo's declaration of independence, with the Kremlin and MFA labeling it illegal, illegitimate, and destabilizing. While the joint Duma/Federation Council statement is not expected until later today, both chairs of the international [...] |
2008-02-18 14:20:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV RS KV |
| 08MOSCOW459 |
RUSSIAN CIVIL SOCIETY SAVORS SMALL VICTORY IN [...] (C) Summary: Members of Russia's beleaguered civil society feel that they have achieved a small, but noteworthy victory in the recent court decision to transfer former Yukos Oil vice president Vasiliy Aleksanyan to a medical facility where he can be treated for life-threatening illnesses. Al [...] |
2008-02-19 16:20:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV PINR SOCI RS |
| 08MOSCOW46 |
EXTRANCHECK: POST-SHIPMENT VERIFICATION: UFA [...] Unauthorized disclosure of the information provided below is prohibited by Section 12C of the Export Administration Act. 2. Reftel 1 requested a Post-shipment verification to determine the legitimacy and reliability of the end- user, Ufa Engine-Building Production Association (UMPO), Ufa, [...] |
2008-01-10 11:51:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED | BEXP ETRD ETTC RS |
| 08MOSCOW460 |
AMBASSADOR'S FEBRUARY 19 MEETING WITH DFM KISLYAK [...] (C) Summary: In a February 19 meeting with the Ambassador, DFM Kislyak stressed the importance of setting a date for the next 2 2 meeting. The Ambassador conveyed a copy of the President's letter to Putin (ref a), which he had earlier delivered to Kremlin Foreign Policy Adviser Prikhodko ( [...] |
2008-02-19 16:28:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PHUM TSPL PARM KNNP CVIS RS |
| 08MOSCOW461 |
DEMARCHE ON RUSSIAN INCARCERATION POLICIES [...] (C) In addition to previous discussions with MFA North America Director Igor Neverov and to the concerns raised by the Ambassador with Human Rights Ombudsman Vladimir Lukin and Presidential Human Rights Advisor Ella Pamfilova, on February 19 we passed reftel points on USG concern over harsh i [...] |
2008-02-19 16:35:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PREL PINR KJUS RS |
| 08MOSCOW462 |
RUSSIA'S EXPECTED NEGATIVE REACTION TO KOSOVO [...] (C) Summary. Two days after the announcement of Kosovo's independence, the reaction in Russia has been predictably negative. Russian officials have continued their heated rhetoric, repeating the usual arguments. Public reaction has been limited so far to two tiny peaceful protests at U.S. d [...] |
2008-02-19 16:43:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KV RS |
| 08MOSCOW467 |
IVANOVO: UNITED RUSSIA FRACTURE LEADS TO EARLY [...] (SBU) A simmering dispute in Ivanovo between a Kremlin-appointed Governor and a State Duma Deputy, over control of the local United Russia party and the economic benefits that go with it, reached a boiling point in December 2007 when more than half of the members of the regional Duma resigned [...] |
2008-02-20 13:39:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV KDEM ECON RS |
| 08MOSCOW47 |
EXTRANCHECK: POST-SHIPMENT VERIFICATION: [...] Unauthorized disclosure of the information provided below is prohibited by Section 12C of the Export Administration Act. 2. Reftel 1 requested a Post-shipment verification to determine the legitimacy and reliability of the end- user, West-Ural Company of Construction-Engineering Prospectin [...] |
2008-01-10 11:52:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED | BEXP ETRD ETTC RS |
| 08MOSCOW470 |
CHEVRON READY TO GIVE UP ON CPC EXPANSION, SAYS [...] (C) Chevron Europe, Eurasia, and Middle East president Guy Hollingsworth told the Ambassador on February 11th that the company has largely "written off" CPC expansion. Chevron will pursue a trans-Caspian oil shipping route instead. He said the company is generally satisfied with its joint ve [...] |
2008-02-21 03:29:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG ECON PREL PINR RS |
| 08MOSCOW475 |
RUSSIA'S MILITARY MUSCLE-FLEXING [...] (C) Summary. Russia's recent steps to flex its military muscles are designed both to impress the Russian public in an election year that Putin has reestablished Russia as a major player on the world stage, and to underscore that Russia will no longer engage NATO and the West from a position of [...] |
2008-02-21 09:47:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR NATO PARM RS |
| 08MOSCOW479 |
UNITED RUSSIA PULLS OUT ALL STOPS IN YAROSLAVL [...] (SBU) United Russia finds itself under a microscope in Yaroslavl where its poor showing in the December 2 Duma elections means the national party is closely watching its preparations for the March 2 presidential elections and hoping for better results. During a February 13-14 visit by Emboff, [...] |
2008-02-21 16:20:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM SOCI PINR RS |
| 08MOSCOW48 |
GREEN STRUGGLES AGAINST BLACK GOLD IN RUSSIA [...] (SBU) With its focus on oil, gas, and nuclear power, Russia has largely ignored the renewable energy sector. The GOR has not yet established a comprehensive renewable energy strategy. Instead, the GOR is targetting ways to reduce wasteful energy consumption. Experts believe renewable sourc [...] |
2008-01-10 13:21:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ENRG SENV ETRD ECON TRGY RS |
| 08MOSCOW481 |
SUBJECT: MEDVEDEV, COMING OUT OF THE SHADOWS? [...] (SBU) Summary: Dmitriy Medvedev, heir apparent to the Russian Presidency, continued his whistle-stop tour of the country, touting his vision in Krasnoyarsk and Izhevsk of an economically vibrant country, with a strong market system, and without the corruption that permeates society today. His [...] |
2008-02-22 06:40:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR KDEM ECON SOCI RS |
| 08MOSCOW482 |
RUSSIA NOTIFIED OF U.S SATELLITE ENGAGEMENT [...] (SBU) DCM delivered notification of U.S. satellite engagement to MFA North America Department Director Igor Neverov. He was appreciative of the information in advance of DoD's planned press conference. BURNS [...] |
2008-02-22 08:04:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PARM PNAT KTIA PINS TSPA TPHY ESA CDG POUS |
| 08MOSCOW483 |
KEMEROVO OBLAST: KREMLIN LOYALTY IN SIBERIA [...] (C) In the ten years he has been governor in Kemerovo, Aman-Geldy Tuleyev has garnered vast popular support and been among the most successful of provincial leaders in tacking with the prevailing political winds, delivering a near-Caucasus turnout to the ruling party. During meetings in th [...] |
2008-02-22 10:26:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM SOCI RS |
| 08MOSCOW484 |
SHUFFLE AT MEDT DEPUTIES' LEVEL [...] (SBU) Summary. MEDT's long expected personnel re-organization is underway. Embassy contact Andrey Klepach was promoted from within MEDT to a Deputy Minister position and another contact, Stanislav Voskrensensky, was transferred from the Presidential Administration and also appointed as a Depu [...] |
2008-02-22 11:28:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON PGOV RS |
| 08MOSCOW486 |
AMBASSADOR'S MEETING WITH HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH [...] (C) Summary: In a February 21 meeting with Human Rights Watch Moscow Director Allison Gill, the Ambassador confirmed that the Embassy would continue to press the GOR on the denial of a visa to HRW Director Kenneth Roth. Gill noted that the denial had increased publicity for the rollout of HRW [...] |
2008-02-22 12:05:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV PREL ELAB RS |
| 08MOSCOW490 |
JEWISH LIFE IN IVANOVO [...] (SBU) Summary: The Jewish community in Ivanovo is close-knit, active and shrinking, as increasing numbers of its young residents emigrate to Israel. While the Jewish community is generally accepted among the wider oblast community and relations with authorities are good, two Ivanovo residents [...] |
2008-02-22 13:43:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV KIRF SOCI RS |
| 08MOSCOW496 |
RUSSIA'S RESERVES: A $500 BILLION QUESTION [...] (C) Russian government policy has been to use its windfall from oil and gas revenues to build large reserves, rather than to address the country's many domestic needs. The bulk of Russia's reserves, which are approaching $500 billion, are held in low-yield government bonds in foreign currencie [...] |
2008-02-22 15:37:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON ENIV ENRG PREL RS ETRD |
| 08MOSCOW497 |
VOLGOGRAD: BUSINESS GROUPS CONTEST CITY DUMA [...] (C) Summary: Conversations with politicians and interested observers during a February 19 - 20 visit to Volgograd suggested little interest in the March 2 presidential elections, except among those charged with ensuring a high turnout. According to the Chairman of the Regional Election Commi [...] |
2008-02-22 15:44:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR KDEM SOCI RS |
| 08MOSCOW499 |
NEW DRAFT OF STRATEGIC SECTORS LAW WOULD TIGHTEN RESTRICTIONS ON FOREIGN INVESTORS [...] No summary [...] |
2008-02-22 15:54:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG ECON PREL RS |
| 08MOSCOW501 |
RUSSIA REMAINS UNCOMPROMISING ON KOSOVO ILLEGALITY [...] (C) Summary: Russia continued to send an uncompromising message on the illegality of Kosovo's independence and the irresponsibility of international recognition outside a framework of a negotiated solution, with the MFA reacting furiously to former Ambassador Holbrooke's alleged assertion of [...] |
2008-02-22 16:03:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KV RS |
| 08MOSCOW502 |
CI/KR RESPONSE FOR S/CT [...] (SBU) Embassy Moscow has proposed the following information on critical infrastructure and key resources (CI/KR) in Russia which, "if destroyed, disrupted, or exploited, might have an immediate and deleterious effect on the United States" (ref A). As requested, this message also provides in [...] |
2008-02-22 16:32:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL ASEC ECON PTER PGOV ETTC EAID EFIN RS |
| 08MOSCOW503 |
BLUE LANTERN LEVEL 3: COMPLETED PRE-LICENSE END-USE CHECK [...] (U) Summary: Ref A requested a pre-license end-use check to confirm the bona fides of Barnaul Cartridge Plant, the foreign end-user on application 05-050077022. The commodities in question are 10.103000 components for ammunition (.224-.355 caliber) valued at USD 909,270.00. A Barnaul Cartri [...] |
2008-02-26 03:31:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED | ETTC RS KOMC |
| 08MOSCOW509 |
COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED FOR STAFFDEL HAN [...] Embassy welcomes and grants country clearance to Ms. Shelly Han, Senior Advisor, and Mr. Kyle Parker, Staff Advisor, Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, from March 1-7. 2. Control Officer is Karen Kirchgasser, tel. 7-495-728-5171; 7-495-234-2449 (hm); 7-495-970-4996 (cell); E [...] |
2008-02-26 09:40:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED | OREP AMGT ASEC AFIN GM RS |
| 08MOSCOW517 |
MFA ON RUSSIAN-JORDANIAN TIES AND CHECHNYA [...] (C) MFA Jordan Desk Officer Andrey Vavilov explained that Jordan's position as a moderate Arab state, and the growing ties between Jordanians of Chechen descent and Chechnya contributed to Russian-Jordanian relations. Speaking to us following King Abdullah's February 11 Moscow visit, Vavilov [...] |
2008-02-26 13:39:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL JO RS |
| 08MOSCOW52 |
DEMARCHE ON RUSSIAN UPGRADES TO IRANIAN KVADRAT [...] No summary [...] |
2008-01-10 14:35:00 | Embassy Moscow | SECRET | PREL ETTC PARM IR RS |
| 08MOSCOW520 |
ENCOURAGING RUSSIAN ASSISTANCE TO AFGHANISTAN [...] (C) Summary: Russia is ready to do more to assist in stabilizing and rebuilding Afghanistan - a key area of overlapping Russian, U.S. and NATO interests. Absent concerted U.S. effort, however, Russian attempts to constructively engage with the Karzai government likely will continue to founde [...] |
2008-02-26 15:17:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | MARR MCAP PGOV PINS PREL MASS RU AF |
| 08MOSCOW530 |
NORTH CAUCASUS SECURITY: CHECHNYA BETTER, OTHERS [...] (C) Summary: While the security environment in Chechnya has stabilized sufficiently to allow the Danish Refugee Council to base its operations in Grozny, Ingushetiya and Dagestan are experiencing increased violence due to separatist and extremist activities, high unemployment rates, easy avai [...] |
2008-02-27 12:43:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PREF EAID PGOV ASEC RS |
| 08MOSCOW531 |
RUSSIAN PRISONS [...] (C) Summary: The Russian prison system combines the country's emblematic features - vast distances, harsh climate, and an uncaring bureaucracy - and fuses them into a massive instrument of punishment. Russia imprisons a greater portion of its population than almost any other country in the world (s [...] |
2008-02-27 13:25:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV TBIO RS |
| 08MOSCOW535 |
CASE CONTINUES AGAINST HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST [...] (C) Summary: The slander case against "For Human Rights" Chairman Lev Ponomarev that was opened on February 22 continued to move forward the week of February 25 with Ponomarev called in for questioning on February 26 and case materials provided to Ponomarev's lawyer the same day. In conversa [...] |
2008-02-27 14:47:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | KDEM PHUM PGOV PINR RS |
| 08MOSCOW536 |
RUSSIA'S HIV/AIDS EPIDEMIC GROWS STEADILY [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Russia's HIV/AIDS epidemic continues to grow, though not at the same fast pace that occurred in 2000-2002. Infections continue to be concentrated among injecting drug users, but the epidemic is also spreading through heterosexual sex, primarily among the partners of high risk gr [...] |
2008-02-27 14:54:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | KHIV TBIO SOCI SCUL RS |
| 08MOSCOW538 |
KOZAK ON ECONOMIC DECENTRALIZATION, REGIONAL [...] (C) In a February 27 meeting, Minister of Regional Development Dmitry Kozak told the Ambassador that the GOR was committed to a policy of economic decentralization but that the pace would vary from region to region depending on local factors, above all local leadership. Kozak said different r [...] |
2008-02-27 15:22:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EINV ETRD PREL PGOV RS |
| 08MOSCOW539 |
MEDVEDEV MENDS BELGRADE FENCES, AFFIRMS CONTINUITY [...] (C) Summary: In the wake of scandalous comments by a Russian TV commentator calling the assassination of former Serbian PM Djindjic "well-deserved," First Deputy PM Dmitriy Medvedev and FM Lavrov traveled to Belgrade on February 25 to mend fences, reiterate Russia's support for Serbian terri [...] |
2008-02-27 15:44:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL SR KV RS |
| 08MOSCOW54 |
DEMARCHE ON TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR UN SENIOR [...] No summary [...] |
2008-01-10 14:38:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED | NATO PREL AF IO |
| 08MOSCOW547 |
RUSSIA AND TURKEY ENERGY COOPERATION: "NOTHING [...] (C) The Turkish Embassy told us February 22nd that while Russia is interested in expanding gas supplies to and through Turkey, as well as participating more broadly in Turkey's energy sector, there were no breakthroughs on energy cooperation as a result of Turkish Foreign Minister Babacan's Fe [...] |
2008-02-28 12:14:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG ECON PREL RS |
| 08MOSCOW553 |
TRANSPARENCY INTERNATIONAL ON MEDVEDEV'S LEGITIMACY [...] (SBU) Summary: Dismissing the March 2 presidential elections as preordained, Transparency International Director Yelena Panfilova nonetheless argued that the process accurately reflected Russia's political maturity and conferred the necessary legitimacy on First Deputy Prime Minister Medvedev. [...] |
2008-02-28 14:58:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM KDEM PGOV RS |
| 08MOSCOW558 |
MEDVEDEV AND RUSSIA'S NATIONAL PRIORITY PROJECTS [...] (C) President Putin's choice of Dmitry Medvedev as his successor has been cause for optimism among much of Russia's business elite, who point to Medvedev's calls for more economic freedom. However, Medvedev's public record provides little substance to support this rhetoric. In addition to hi [...] |
2008-02-28 15:53:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | ECON PGOV RS SOCI |
| 08MOSCOW559 |
RUSSIAN OFFICIALS REPORT BETTER TREATMENT FOR [...] (SBU) Summary: GOR officials, including Human Rights Ombudsman Lukin and three members of the Public Chamber visited former YUKOS Vice President Vasiliy Aleksanyan on February 21 in his room in a specialized Moscow hospital. They confirmed that Aleksanyan had initially been chained to his ho [...] |
2008-02-29 05:14:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV PINR KJUS RS |
| 08MOSCOW56 |
SCENESETTER FOR SENATOR HAGEL'S VISIT TO MOSCOW [...] (SBU) Summary: Russia's season for political surprises has ended. The country now looks set to continue Putin's domestic and foreign policies with the expected shift to Medvedev as President and Putin as Prime Minister this spring. The expected Putin-Medvedev team appears set to ensure conti [...] |
2008-01-10 17:38:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL ECON OVIP PGOV RS |
| 08MOSCOW560 |
RUSSIA DOES NOT EXPECT SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN [...] (C) In a February 28 meeting, MFA Counselor for Cuba and the Caribbean Victor Koronelli told us that Russia does not expect a significant change in bilateral relations with Cuba after the change in government. Koronelli said that the media had "overplayed the impact" of Casto's retirement an [...] |
2008-02-29 05:55:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL CU RS |
| 08MOSCOW561 |
CIS INFORMAL SUMMIT: MEDVEDEV AND KOSOVO [...] (C) Summary. The uncertainty of Kosovo and the lure of meeting heir apparent Dmitriy Medvedev brought all 12 CIS leaders to Moscow for the February 21-22 CIS Informal Summit. While the MFA pitched a new seriousness in its approach to the CIS, Putin used the summit to introduce Medvedev and [...] |
2008-02-29 07:37:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PINR RS |
| 08MOSCOW564 |
MEDVEDEV - AND PUTIN - DOMINATE MEDIA LEADING TO [...] No summary [...] |
2008-02-29 10:36:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV KDEM PHUM KPAO RS |
| 08MOSCOW567 |
RUSSIA'S SAMARA OBLAST - WHAT ELECTION? [...] (SBU) Summary: For most in Samara oblast, the coming Presidential election is a "non-event," with nearly all interlocutors seeing the campaign as already decided. Excepting the ubiquitous posters and banners calling for people to head to the polls this Saturday, there was little evidence in th [...] |
2008-02-29 12:04:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PINR RS SOCI |
| 08MOSCOW570 |
RUSSIA UNSURE IF RESOLUTION ON DRC IS PROPER [...] (SBU) We delivered reftel demarche to MFA International Organizations Senior Counselor Valentin Berezovskiy on February 29, who said that he would report the information and notify the Russian UN Mission about the decision. Berezovskiy told us that Russia maintained its long-standing positio [...] |
2008-02-29 12:22:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | CG PREL RW UNSC ASEC ETTC RS |
| 08MOSCOW575 |
RUSSIA MAKING PROGRESS ON BERLIN TB DECLARATION [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Russia has made effective progress in implementing the Berlin Declaration on Tuberculosis (TB). The Russian Government's adoption of the Berlin Declaration confirmed Russia's political commitment to TB control. The GOR continues to focus its attention on TB control and treatme [...] |
2008-02-29 14:17:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | TBIO SCUL SOCI WHO RS |
| 08MOSCOW585 |
REGIONAL ELECTIONS OFFER FEWER CHOICES [...] (SBU) Voters in 11 Russian regions will find fewer options on the ballot for their regional parliaments when they go to the polls March 2 in elections to be held concurrently with the selection of a new president. Following a trend that began with changes to the electoral legislation that requ [...] |
2008-02-29 15:48:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PHUM SOCI PINR RS |
| 08MOSCOW586 |
DEMARCHE ON IRANIAN KVADRAT UPGRADES DELIVERED [...] No summary [...] |
2008-03-01 06:40:00 | Embassy Moscow | SECRET | EETC IR PARM PREL PTER RS |
| 08MOSCOW587 |
RUSSIA-UKRAINE RELATIONS: YUSHCHENKO AND [...] (C) Summary. After many last-minute changes and rescheduling involving Tymoshenko's visit, the February 12-13 Putin-Yushchenko Intergovernmental Commission (IGC) convened without Tymoshenko's participation. GOR officials expressed dismay at the complicated dynamics between Yushchenko and Tymoshenko [...] |
2008-03-01 13:32:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV ECON UP RS |
| 08MOSCOW589 |
MEDVEDEV: WHAT HE SAYS, WHAT HE DOES [...] (C) Summary: During the two months that separate Dmitriy Medvedev's election March 2 from his inauguration, much will become clear about his power-sharing arrangement with outgoing President and incoming Prime Minister Putin. Following keynote speeches by Medvedev before fellow lawyers, civil [...] |
2008-03-01 13:36:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KDEM PINR RS |
| 08MOSCOW591 |
RUSSIAN COMMENTS ON USG VIEWS ON IAEA REPORT AND [...] (S) On February 27 we delivered reftel non-paper (Ref B) regarding U.S. views of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) assessments of Iran's activities to Alexander Trifimov of the MFA Department of Security and Disarmament Affairs. 2. (S) Trifimov contended that Iran had been relati [...] |
2008-03-03 07:57:00 | Embassy Moscow | SECRET | KNNP MNUC PARM IAEA UNGA PREL IR RS |
| 08MOSCOW60 |
RUSSIA STILL UNDECIDED ON HELICOPTERS FOR UNAMID [...] No summary [...] |
2008-01-11 13:38:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL MOPS PGOV UNSC SU RS |
| 08MOSCOW602 |
MEDVEDEV WINS BIG; COMMUNISTS DO BETTER THAN [...] (C) Summary: With almost 99.5 percent of votes counted, Dmitriy Medvedev, Putin's choice as Russia's next president, has received a landslide 70.23 percent of the vote. His closest competitor was the Communists' Gennadiy Zyuganov with 17.76 percent. Late evening March 2, Medvedev appeared w [...] |
2008-03-03 15:00:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM PINR PREL RS |
| 08MOSCOW603 |
MOSCOW'S REACTION TO POLITICAL UNREST IN ARMENIA [...] (C) Summary. The MFA issued a statement on March 3, expressing regret for the unrest in Armenia and support for Kocharian's efforts to reach a peaceful settlement. MFA officials characterized the February 19 presidential elections as free and fair, and told us that although Russia would con [...] |
2008-03-03 15:58:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV AM RS |
| 08MOSCOW604 |
GOR ON GEORGIAN JOURNALISTS DETAINED IN ABKHAZIA [...] (C) In a March 3 conversation, GOR Special Envoy to the Abkhazia conflict Vladislav Chernov took on board our request that Russia communicate to the Abkhaz leadership the need for restraint and speedy release of the Georgian journalists detained in Abkhazia, and welcomed U.S. efforts to lower [...] |
2008-03-03 16:03:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV GG RS |
| 08MOSCOW605 |
GAZPROM REDUCES GAS SUPPLIES TO UKRAINE BY 25% [...] (C) Gazprom announced on March 3rd that it had reduced gas supplies to Ukraine by 25% because of non-payment of debts. Gazprom contacts told us March 3rd that the decision was purely commercial and would not hamstring Ukraine economically but would send a "strong signal" that Ukraine must pay [...] |
2008-03-04 04:23:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG ECON PREL RS |
| 08MOSCOW61 |
GOR ON GEORGIAN ELECTIONS AND BILATERAL TIES [...] (C) Summary. The GOR is watching closely the events in Georgia, and has been critical of the "hasty" stamp of approval given to the January 5 election by international organizations. It will continue to demand clarification of alleged election irregularities. Russian MFA officials stressed [...] |
2008-01-11 13:52:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV GG RS |
| 08MOSCOW614 |
INGUSHETIYA'S OPPOSITION: YEVLOYEV REMAINS IN [...] (C) Summary: Opposition to Ingushetiya President Murat Zyazikov is becoming bolder. Magomed Yevloyev, owner of the banned opposition "Ingushetiya.ru" internet site and the force behind the "I Did Not Vote" campaign after the December 2007 Duma elections, came out of hiding long enough to cha [...] |
2008-03-04 16:09:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR PREL KDEM RS |
| 08MOSCOW617 |
UNMEE DEMARCHE DELIVERED [...] No summary [...] |
2008-03-05 04:41:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UNSC KPKO |
| 08MOSCOW619 |
AMBASSADOR'S MEETING WITH PATRIARCH ALEKSEY II [...] (C) Summary: On March 4, the Ambassador met with the Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church, Aleksey II. The Patriarch discussed the relations between the Orthodox Church and the government, and its growing social role. The Patriarch spoke of cooperative relations among the four "tradition [...] |
2008-03-05 09:02:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KIRF PINR KHIV RS |
| 08MOSCOW623 |
GAZPROM CUTS GAS TO UKRAINE BY ANOTHER 25%; [...] (SBU) Gazprom has announced that as of 8:00 pm Moscow time on March 4th it had cut gas supplies to (not through) Ukraine by another 25%, bringing the total reduction of gas to Ukraine in the latest episode of its ongoing dispute (reftels) to 50%. Gazprom demands payment of some $600 million i [...] |
2008-03-05 13:46:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG ECON PREL RS |
| 08MOSCOW624 |
MFA REASSERTS SUPPORT FOR NATO MISSION IN [...] (C) In a March 5 conversation, Deputy Director of the MFA Second Asia Department Ali Mustafabeily dismissed as "ludicrous" possible statements made by Russian Ambassador to Afghanistan Kabulov, who reportedly told the press he suspected that U.S. military aircraft were used to ship narcotics o [...] |
2008-03-05 15:36:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL AF RS |
| 08MOSCOW626 |
RUSSIA ATTEMPTS TO FRAME KOSOVO DISCUSSION AS A [...] (C) Summary. Russian officials continued to press the "illegality" of Kosovo's independence, EULEX, and the new International Steering Group for Kosovo, even as it observed that a "de facto" partition of Northern Kosovo was occurring as Russia had predicted. The Russian Duma will hold hearing [...] |
2008-03-05 15:47:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KV SR RS |
| 08MOSCOW629 |
THE END OF OLIGARCH POLITICS IN SAMARA [...] (SBU) As many expected, the appointment of Vladimir Artyakov as Governor of Samara region has ushered in a new era in regional politics in which previously influential oligarchic groups that had made substantial gains over the past few years are quickly being marginalized. The moves to manage [...] |
2008-03-06 11:02:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM SOCI RS |
| 08MOSCOW630 |
THE ISLAMIC FACTOR IN RUSSIAN FOREIGN POLICY [...] (C) Summary: Expanding Russia's ties with the Islamic world has been a priority for Putin and an important factor in his efforts to revitalize Russian foreign policy. The GOR has increased bilateral diplomacy with Muslim states, ratcheted up involvement in the Middle East peace process (MEPP [...] |
2008-03-06 11:24:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL ECON KISL PINR SOCI RS |
| 08MOSCOW635 |
KASHIN PROTESTS, BUT NOT TO EMBASSY OR MFA [...] (SBU) Aleksandr Kashin, who was paralyzed from the chest down as a result of a 1998 traffic accident involving then Consul General in Vladivostok Douglas Kent, traveled to Moscow on March 3 where he reportedly continues a hunger strike, apparently initiated to draw attention to his plight and [...] |
2008-03-06 13:30:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PHUM SOCI RS KJUS |
| 08MOSCOW637 |
GAS DISPUTE WITH UKRAINE RESOLVED, FOR NOW [...] (C) Gazprom restored full gas shipments to Ukraine March 6 in the wake of an agreement brokered by Presidents Putin and Yushchenko. However, all sides to the dispute as well as industry watchers believe that a long-term solution will prove elusive and more disputes may follow. ------------- [...] |
2008-03-06 13:55:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG ECON PREL RS |
| 08MOSCOW638 |
RUSSIA'S GLONASS: LOST IN SPACE [...] (SBU) In late 2007, First Deputy Prime Minister Ivanov trumpeted the launch of three new satellites that were to complete the GLONASS system's coverage of Russia and challenge GPS in the commercial navigation market. Soon after, however, news reports revealed that the system had serious flaws, [...] |
2008-03-06 14:55:00 | Embassy Moscow | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | KSCA PREL PARM TSPA RS |
| 08MOSCOW639 |
SIDELINED DEMOCRATS SPECULATE ABOUT MEDVEDEV, [...] (C) Summary: In recent meetings with Ambassador, three opposition politicians described some of their current difficulties, the prospects for cooperation among western-looking democratic forces, and the future under President Medvedev. The three --ex-PM Kasyanov, ex-Duma Deputy Ryzhkov, and [...] |
2008-03-06 15:13:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM PHUM SOCI PINR RS |
| 08MOSCOW64 |
RUSSIA: WIREC INVITATION DELIVERED TO MINISTRY OF FOREIGN [...] On January 9, 2008 post delivered reftel invitation from Secretary Rice for a Russian delegation to attend WIREC 2008 to the SIPDIS Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sergey Lavrov. Invitation was sent through Mr. Igor | ||||