US embassy cable - 05MOSCOW11807

S E C R E T MOSCOW 011807 
 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/14/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, PTER, PREL, MASS, VE, RS 
SUBJECT: MORE RUSSIAN RESISTANCE TO DEMARCHE ON MILITARY 
SALES TO VENEZUELA 
 
REF: (A) STATE 165022 (B) MOSCOW 11500 
 
Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Kirk Augustine, 
Reasons 1.4  (b) and (d). 
 
1.  (S) Following up our earlier demarche (refs), Political 
Minister Counselor reiterated U.S. concerns regarding arms 
sales to Venezuela in a September 13 meeting with Anatoliy 
Antonov, MFA Director for Disarmament and Security Affairs. 
Focusing on MANPADS, Antonov replied that the Venezuelan 
government had not to date requested them.  Antonov said that 
he and his Department's experts had carefully considered the 
points we had presented and had shared them with Russian 
services.  Antonov noted the MFA would take the U.S. points 
into account, along with the evaluations of Russian services, 
when a determination on MANPADS sales to Venezuela was 
needed. 
 
2.  (S) Nonetheless, Antonov stressed that there was no 
international restriction on selling arms, including MANPADS, 
to Venezuela.  Russia also recognized the U.S. as a 
competitor in the international arms trade, with the 
motivation of restricting Russia's market access.   Russia 
respected the U.S. right to determine U.S. policy on arms 
sales to Venezuela, but "that is your decision, not ours; we 
have our own policy."  Antonov said that if U/S Joseph raises 
this issue with Deputy FM Kislyak, Kislyak "will say the 
same."  PolMinCouns noted that the issue of military sales to 
Venezuela remained of great concern to the U.S., and this 
would be a continuing subject of bilateral discussion. 
 
3.  (S) Regarding sales of AK-103 rifles, Antonov confirmed 
that the sale was indeed moving forward.   He maintained that 
Venezuela was a legitimate market for Russian arms, and that 
Russia intends to remain active in this market.   He also 
commented that the tone in parts of ref A points was 
demeaning to Russia.  The U.S. should not "speak to us like 
we are Gabon or Mali," he remarked.  Antonov said that Russia 
does not and will not give out specific information, such as 
serial numbers of AK-103 rifles, to others. 
 
4.  (S) Comment: There was an explicit rejection of the U.S. 
position with regard to the AK-103 rifles, but a less 
categorical response on the possibility of a MANPADS sale. 
While Antonov's general response on arms sales gave little 
grounds for optimism in the event that Venezuela does request 
to purchase Russian MANPADS, there may have been enough of a 
difference in the tone of his remarks on MANPADS to 
constitute a possible opening that can be further explored. 
 
 
RUSSELL