US embassy cable - 05MANAMA1673

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 001673 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/13/2015 
TAGS: PREL, KDEM, KMPI, BA, RU 
SUBJECT: EUR A/S FRIED,S MEETING WITH RUSSIAN DEPUTY 
FOREIGN MINISTER SALTANOV, NOVEMBER 11, 2005, MANAMA, 
BAHRAIN 
 
Classified By: DCM Susan L. Ziadeh for reasons 1.4 b, d. 
 
1.  (SBU) Meeting Held on November 11, 2005, 18:30, at the 
Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Manama, Bahrain 
 
2.  (SBU) Participants: 
 
U.S. 
A/S Dan Fried 
Leslie Tsou (TDY Notetaker) 
 
Russia 
Deputy FM Saltanov 
Andrei Kondakov, Economic Cooperation Director 
Oleg Ozerov, Middle East and North Africa Deputy Director 
 
3.  (C) Summary.  Meeting on the margins of the November 11 
Forum for the Future Senior Officials Meeting in Bahrain, 
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Saltanov asked for 
clarification of the G8 Presidency,s role towards the Forum, 
since Russia takes over the G8 Presidency in 2006.  A/S Fried 
said the Forum has expanded beyond the G8.  Russia will wait 
to decide the extent of its commitment until it gauges the 
Middle East reaction to the Forum, Saltanov said.  A/S Fried 
urged Russia to support the Forum as strongly as possible, 
noting it is an important front in the global war on terror. 
In any event, Saltanov said Russia would not do anything to 
"cause trouble" at the November 12 Ministerial.  End summary. 
 
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Forum for the Future and the G8 
------------------------------- 
 
4.  (C) Saltanov complained that Russia did not have enough 
background on the Forum for the Future.  Russia will assume 
the G8 Presidency in 2006, he said, and would like to know 
how it will be expected to support the Forum.  A/S Fried 
explained the structure of Forum, pointing out that it has 
expanded beyond the G8.  Outside the G8, countries such as 
Denmark, Greece, Spain, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Turkey, 
and Hungary have all made financial contributions, as have 
Yemen, Morocco, Lebanon, Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan, and Qatar. 
Even the European Union has contributed.  The Forum can stand 
on its own without particular G8 support. 
 
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Russia,s Support for the Foundation for the Future 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
 
5.  (C) Saltanov said Russia would study the Foundation 
carefully, but wants to see how the region reacts before 
committing itself, especially financially.  A/S Fried urged 
Russia to support the Foundation as much as possible, noting 
that support for democracy and liberal thought in the Broader 
Middle East opens an essential front in the global war on 
terror (GWOT).  Saltanov agreed that the GWOT should be 
fought on many levels.  Nonetheless, Russia wants to proceed 
carefully, since Middle Eastern societies are very 
traditional and suspicious of outsiders, intentions. 
Reaction in the region is becoming more positive.  In any 
case, Saltanov assured A/S Fried that Russia would not be a 
&subversive element8 at the Ministerial meeting November 12. 
 
6.  (U) This message has been cleared by A/S Fried. 
 
 
 
MONROE