Cable Viewer

Currently released so far... 12476 / 251,287

### Browse latest releases

2010/11 2010/12 2011/01 2011/02 2011/03 2011/04 2011/05
2010/11/28 2010/11/29 2010/11/30
2010/12/01 2010/12/02 2010/12/03 2010/12/04 2010/12/05 2010/12/06 2010/12/07 2010/12/08 2010/12/09 2010/12/10 2010/12/11 2010/12/12 2010/12/13 2010/12/14 2010/12/15 2010/12/16 2010/12/17 2010/12/18 2010/12/19 2010/12/20 2010/12/21 2010/12/22 2010/12/23 2010/12/24 2010/12/25 2010/12/26 2010/12/27 2010/12/28 2010/12/29 2010/12/30
2011/01/01 2011/01/02 2011/01/04 2011/01/05 2011/01/07 2011/01/09 2011/01/10 2011/01/11 2011/01/12 2011/01/13 2011/01/14 2011/01/15 2011/01/16 2011/01/17 2011/01/18 2011/01/19 2011/01/20 2011/01/21 2011/01/22 2011/01/23 2011/01/24 2011/01/25 2011/01/26 2011/01/27 2011/01/28 2011/01/29 2011/01/30 2011/01/31
2011/02/01 2011/02/02 2011/02/03 2011/02/04 2011/02/05 2011/02/06 2011/02/07 2011/02/08 2011/02/09 2011/02/10 2011/02/11 2011/02/12 2011/02/13 2011/02/14 2011/02/15 2011/02/16 2011/02/17 2011/02/18 2011/02/19 2011/02/20 2011/02/21 2011/02/22 2011/02/23 2011/02/24 2011/02/25 2011/02/26 2011/02/27 2011/02/28
2011/03/01 2011/03/02 2011/03/03 2011/03/04 2011/03/05 2011/03/06 2011/03/07 2011/03/08 2011/03/09 2011/03/10 2011/03/11 2011/03/13 2011/03/14 2011/03/15 2011/03/16 2011/03/17 2011/03/18 2011/03/19 2011/03/20 2011/03/21 2011/03/22 2011/03/23 2011/03/24 2011/03/25 2011/03/26 2011/03/27 2011/03/28 2011/03/29 2011/03/30 2011/03/31
2011/04/01 2011/04/02 2011/04/03 2011/04/04 2011/04/05 2011/04/06 2011/04/07 2011/04/08 2011/04/09 2011/04/10 2011/04/11 2011/04/12 2011/04/13 2011/04/14 2011/04/15 2011/04/16 2011/04/17 2011/04/18 2011/04/19 2011/04/20 2011/04/21 2011/04/22 2011/04/23 2011/04/24 2011/04/25 2011/04/26 2011/04/27 2011/04/28 2011/04/29 2011/04/30
2011/05/01 2011/05/02 2011/05/03 2011/05/04 2011/05/05 2011/05/06 2011/05/07

### Browse by creation date

66 72 73 75 79 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 96 97 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10
1966/12
1972/02 1972/08
1973/04
1975/03
1979/08
1985/03 1985/06
1986/05
1987/06
1988/01
1989/12
1990/01 1990/07 1990/08 1990/10
1991/05
1992/01 1992/06 1992/12
1993/10
1996/11
1997/12
2000/05 2000/06 2000/09 2000/11
2001/02 2001/03 2001/06 2001/07 2001/09 2001/10 2001/11
2002/01 2002/02 2002/03 2002/04 2002/07 2002/08 2002/09 2002/11
2003/01 2003/02 2003/03 2003/04 2003/05 2003/06 2003/07 2003/08 2003/09 2003/10 2003/11 2003/12
2004/01 2004/02 2004/03 2004/04 2004/05 2004/06 2004/07 2004/08 2004/09 2004/10 2004/11 2004/12
2005/01 2005/02 2005/03 2005/04 2005/05 2005/06 2005/07 2005/08 2005/09 2005/10 2005/11 2005/12
2006/01 2006/02 2006/03 2006/04 2006/05 2006/06 2006/07 2006/08 2006/09 2006/10 2006/11 2006/12
2007/01 2007/02 2007/03 2007/04 2007/05 2007/06 2007/07 2007/08 2007/09 2007/10 2007/11 2007/12
2008/01 2008/02 2008/03 2008/04 2008/05 2008/06 2008/07 2008/08 2008/09 2008/10 2008/11 2008/12
2009/01 2009/02 2009/03 2009/04 2009/05 2009/06 2009/07 2009/08 2009/09 2009/10 2009/11 2009/12
2010/01 2010/02

### Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z
Embassy Athens Embassy Asuncion Embassy Astana Embassy Asmara Embassy Ashgabat Embassy Apia Embassy Ankara Embassy Amman Embassy Algiers Embassy Addis Ababa Embassy Accra Embassy Abuja Embassy Abu Dhabi Embassy Abidjan Consulate Auckland Consulate Amsterdam Consulate Adana American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura Embassy Buenos Aires Embassy Budapest Embassy Bucharest Embassy Brussels Embassy Bridgetown Embassy Bratislava Embassy Brasilia Embassy Bogota Embassy Bishkek Embassy Bern Embassy Berlin Embassy Belmopan Embassy Belgrade Embassy Beirut Embassy Beijing Embassy Banjul Embassy Bangkok Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan Embassy Bamako Embassy Baku Embassy Baghdad Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen Embassy Conakry Embassy Colombo Embassy Chisinau Embassy Caracas Embassy Canberra Embassy Cairo Consulate Curacao Consulate Ciudad Juarez Consulate Chennai Consulate Casablanca Consulate Cape Town Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe Embassy Dublin Embassy Doha Embassy Djibouti Embassy Dili Embassy Dhaka Embassy Dar Es Salaam Embassy Damascus Embassy Dakar Consulate Dubai
Embassy Freetown Consulate Fukuoka
Embassy Guatemala Embassy Gaborone Consulate Guayaquil Consulate Guadalajara
Embassy Helsinki Embassy Harare Embassy Hanoi Consulate Ho Chi Minh City Consulate Hermosillo Consulate Hamilton Consulate Hamburg Consulate Halifax
Iran RPO Dubai Embassy Islamabad Consulate Istanbul
Embassy Jakarta Consulate Jerusalem Consulate Jeddah
Embassy Kyiv Embassy Kuwait Embassy Kuala Lumpur Embassy Kinshasa Embassy Kingston Embassy Kigali Embassy Khartoum Embassy Kathmandu Embassy Kampala Embassy Kabul Consulate Kolkata
Embassy Luxembourg Embassy Luanda Embassy London Embassy Ljubljana Embassy Lisbon Embassy Lima Embassy Lilongwe Embassy La Paz Consulate Lahore Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE Mission USNATO Mission UNESCO Embassy Muscat Embassy Moscow Embassy Montevideo Embassy Monrovia Embassy Minsk Embassy Mexico Embassy Mbabane Embassy Maputo Embassy Manila Embassy Manama Embassy Managua Embassy Malabo Embassy Madrid Consulate Munich Consulate Mumbai Consulate Montreal Consulate Monterrey Consulate Milan Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia Embassy Niamey Embassy New Delhi Embassy Ndjamena Embassy Nassau Embassy Nairobi Consulate Naples Consulate Naha
Embassy Ouagadougou Embassy Ottawa Embassy Oslo
Embassy Pristina Embassy Pretoria Embassy Prague Embassy Port Of Spain Embassy Port Louis Embassy Port Au Prince Embassy Phnom Penh Embassy Paris Embassy Paramaribo Embassy Panama Consulate Peshawar
Embassy Quito Consulate Quebec
REO Basrah Embassy Rome Embassy Riyadh Embassy Riga Embassy Reykjavik Embassy Rangoon Embassy Rabat Consulate Rio De Janeiro Consulate Recife
Secretary of State Embassy Suva Embassy Stockholm Embassy Sofia Embassy Skopje Embassy Singapore Embassy Seoul Embassy Sarajevo Embassy Santo Domingo Embassy Santiago Embassy Sanaa Embassy San Salvador Embassy San Jose Consulate Strasbourg Consulate St Petersburg Consulate Shenyang Consulate Shanghai Consulate Sapporo Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis Embassy Tripoli Embassy Tokyo Embassy The Hague Embassy Tel Aviv Embassy Tehran Embassy Tegucigalpa Embassy Tbilisi Embassy Tashkent Embassy Tallinn Consulate Toronto Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York USEU Brussels US Office Almaty US Mission Geneva US Interests Section Havana US Delegation, Secretary UNVIE Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius Embassy Vienna Embassy Vatican Embassy Valletta Consulate Vladivostok Consulate Vancouver
Embassy Windhoek Embassy Wellington Embassy Warsaw
Embassy Yerevan Embassy Yaounde
Embassy Zagreb

### Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ASEC AF AFIN AM AJ AG AS AEMR AMGT AORC APER AU ACBAQ AFGHANISTAN AR AE ADANA ADPM APECO AMED AX AL ADCO AA AECL AADP AMEX ACAO ANET AODE ASCH AY APEC AID AORG ASEAN ABUD AGAO AFSI AFSN AINF AGR AROC AO AFFAIRS ASIG ABLD ASUP AND ARM AQ ATFN AC ATRN ACOA AMBASSADOR AUC ASEX ARF APCS AER AVERY AGRICULTURE AMG AORL AGMT ALOW AFU ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG AZ AN AMCHAMS AIT ADM ACABQ ACS
BR BK BA BRUSSELS BEXP BM BD BL BO BU BILAT BN BT BX BTIO BIDEN BG BE BP BY BBSR BC BTIU BWC BB BF BH BMGT
CO CASC CS CA CONDOLEEZZA CE CVIS CU CPAS CMGT COUNTER CH COUNTRY CJAN CG CIDA CJUS CI CY CD CDG CBSA CEUDA CR CM CLMT CAC CBW CODEL COPUOS CIC CW CBE CHR CFED CT CONS CWC CIA CTM CDC CVR CF CLINTON COUNTERTERRORISM CITEL CLEARANCE COE CN CACS CAN CB CSW CITT CARSON CACM CDB COM CROS CV CAPC CKGR CBC CTR CNARC CARICOM CL CICTE CIS
DR DHS DA DJ DEA DPRK DEPT DOMESTIC DOE DS DE DEFENSE DO DAO DCM DEAX DK DTRA DISENGAGEMENT DOD
EINV ETRD ECON EPET ENRG EAGR EC EFIN EAID ELTN EIND ELAB EAIR ECIN EUN EG EU ETTC ET EI EWWT EFIS EMIN ER EPA ENVI ENGR ETRC EXTERNAL ECPS EN ELN EINT ETRDEINVTINTCS ES EZ ETRO ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EDU ETRN EFTA EAIG EK EUREM ECONCS ECONOMICS ENVR ELECTIONS EAP ENIV ECONOMY ESA EINN ECONOMIC EIAR EXBS ECA ECUN EINDETRD EUR EREL EUC ESENV ECONEFIN ECIP ENERG EFIM EAIDS ETRDECONWTOCS EUNCH EINVETC EURN EINVEFIN ETC ENGY EINVECONSENVCSJA EUMEM ETRA ERD ENNP ECINECONCS EFINECONCS EEPET EXIM ERNG
FR FREEDOM FTA FJ FARC FI FTAA FAC FBI FOREIGN FOI FM FAO FAS FINR FDA FOR FINANCE FMLN FO FISO
GTMO GG GM GV GOV GOI GL GAERC GH GA GY GT GR GF GCC GE GZ GTIP GERARD GLOBAL GANGS GAZA
HO HA HR HUMAN HK HU HILLARY HI HSTC HURI HYMPSK HUMOR HEBRON
IR IAEA IS IZ IN IT IO IAHRC ID IC IRAQI IWC ISLAMISTS IV ICAO INDO ITPHUM ITPGOV ITALIAN IPR ICRC INTERPOL IQ IBET IMO INR INTERNAL ICJ ICTY IRS ILO INRA INRO ISRAELI IEA INRB ITALY IL ITU ITRA IBRD IIP ILC IZPREL IMF IRAJ IA IDP ITF IF INMARSAT INTELSAT IGAD ISRAEL ICTR IEFIN IRC IACI IDA
JA JO JUS JP JOSEPH JM JAMES JOHNNIE JOHN
KS KN KTFN KTDB KTIP KIRF KPAO KDEM KCOR KE KMPI KSCA KZ KG KNUP KNNP KPAL KCRM KIPR KPKO KFLO KSEP KOMC KISL KNNPMNUC KWBG KFRD KUNR KWMN KSTC KFLU KOLY KMDR KJUS KSTH KAWC KU KWAC KNPP KERG KSEO KACT KHLS KGHG KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KCRCM KDRG KTIA KVPR KV KIDE KICC KPRP KBIO KSUM KGIT KCFE KBTS KCIP KGIC KPAI KTLA KTEX KFSC KPLS KHIV KCSY KSAC KTRD KID KMRS KOM KSAF KRVC KR KMOC KNAR KHDP KSPR KFIN KBTR KOCI KJUST KNEI KAWK KGCC KMCA KBCT KREL KMFO KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KFTFN KVRP KIRC KCOM KO KLIG KAID KNSD KHUM KSEC KRAD KCMR KPWR KCHG KICA KPIN KESS KDEV KCGC KWWMN KPRV KPAK KWNM KWMNCS KRFD KVIR KSCI KPOA KDDG KWMM KCFC KTER KREC KIFR KCRS KHSA KRGY KMIG KTBT KOMS KX KRCM KRIM KPAONZ KNUC KDEMAF
LE LY LG LH LI LTTE LAB LOG LA LT LO LU LABOR
MP MY MOPS MCAP MARR MNUC MUCN MTCRE MASS MAPP MIL MX MEDIA MO MPOS MU ML MA MERCOSUR MG MD MW MK MAS MT MI MOPPS MASC MR MTS MLS MILI MAR MTRE MEPN MTCR MEPI MQADHAFI MAPS MARAD MEETINGS MEPP MZ MILITARY MDC MC MV MCC MRCRE MASSMNUC MIK
NU NZ NATO NPT NL NI NAFTA NDP NIPP NP NPA NG NRR NO NEW NE NH NR NA NS NSF NZUS NATIONAL NSG NC NT NAR NK NV NORAD NASA NSSP NW NATOPREL NPG NGO NSC NSFO
OVIP OPIC OEXC OTRA OPDC OREP OAS OPRC OIIP OSCE OFFICIALS OMIG ODIP OFDP OECD OBSP OPCW OTR OSAC OSCI ON OCII OES OVP OPAD OFDA OIE OIC OHUM OCS
PGOV PINR PREL PHSA PTER PE PREF PHUM PK PARM PINS PM PL PO PA PBTS PBIO POL PARMS PROG PAK POLITICS PORG PTBS PNAT PUNE POLICY PDOV PCI PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PBT PP PS PG PY PTERE PGOF PALESTINIAN PKFK PSOE PEPR PPA PINT PMAR PRELP PSEPC PREFA PGOVE PINF PNG PMIL PGOC PFOR PCUL PLN PROP PAO POLINT PGGV PHALANAGE PARTY PGOVLO PHUS PDEM PECON PROV PAS PHUMPREL PGIV PRAM PF PRL PHUH PHUMBA POV PSA PHUMPGOV POGOV PEL PNR PREO PAHO PSI PINL PU PRGOV PAIGH POLITICAL PARTIES POSTS
QA
RS RCMP RICE RU REACTION REPORT REGION RIGHTS RO RW RF RM RFE RSP RP RIGHTSPOLMIL ROBERT ROOD RELATIONS RUPREL RSO
SOCI SN SY SNAR SENV SP SZ SCUL SA SO SW SMIG SU SENVKGHG SR SYRIA SF SI SC SWE SARS STEINBERG SG SIPRS ST SL SPCE SNARIZ SSA SK SPCVIS SOFA SEVN SIPDIS SAN SYR SHUM SANC SNARCS SAARC SNARN SHI SH SEN SCRS
TU TPHY TI TX TSPL TRGY TBIO TF TERRORISM TH TIP TC TO TSPA TW TZ TNGD TT TL TV TS TRSY TINT TN TURKEY TBID TD TP TAGS TFIN TK TR THPY
UK UNSC USTR UG UNGA UZ USEU US UN UNC USUN UP UY UNESCO USPS UNHRC UNO UNHCR UNCHR USAID UNVIE UAE UNMIK USOAS UNFICYP UV UNEP UNODC UNCHS UNIDROIT UNDESCO UNCHC UNDP UNAUS USNC UNCSD UNCND UNICEF UNDC UNPUOS UE
VT VZ VE VTEG VTPREL VM VI VTIZ VAT VN VC
WS WTO WTRO WTRQ WI WZ WHO WFP WWARD WHA WB WBG WIPO WITH WMO WEU WHTI WMD WA
XA XF XM XL XW XV XR XB XU XY XH XG XE XK XX XD XI XT XS XC XZ XTAG XQ
YE YM YI YMCS
ZI ZO ZU ZEALAND ZK ZR ZF ZP ZN ZA ZB ZOELLICK ZL ZANU ZJ

### Browse by classification

CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN SECRET SECRET//NOFORN UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

### Community resources

Follow us on Twitter Check our Reddit Twitter this Digg this page Contact us on IRC

courage is contagious

### Viewing cable 06THEHAGUE2654, ILSA: DUTCH, SHELL ON YADAVARAN, IRAN, SAKHALIN II

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:

- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.

To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #06THEHAGUE2654.

Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
06THEHAGUE2654 | 2006-12-21 16:21 | 2011-01-20 07:00 | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | Embassy The Hague

`

    VZCZCXRO1545
    PP RUEHAG RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLZ RUEHROV
    DE RUEHTC #2654/01 3551621
    ZNR UUUUU ZZH
    P 211621Z DEC 06
    FM AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE
    TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7753
    INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
    RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 1966
    RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 0955
    RUEHKL/AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR 0143
    RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 1698
    RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 0558
    RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO 4955
    RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA 5104
    RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA 0114

` `

    UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 THE HAGUE 002654

    SIPDIS

    SENSITIVE
    SIPDIS

    STATE FOR EUR/UBI (RREITER)

    E.O. 12958: N/A
    TAGS: ETTC EPET ENRG PREL NL CH IR
    SUBJECT: ILSA: DUTCH, SHELL ON YADAVARAN, IRAN, SAKHALIN II

    REF: A. STATE 194960 ...
    90574

    2006-12-21

    06THEHAGUE2654

    Embassy The Hague

    UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

    06STATE194960

    UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 THE HAGUE 002654

    SIPDIS

    SENSITIVE
    SIPDIS

    STATE FOR EUR/UBI (RREITER)

    E.O. 12958: N/A
    TAGS: ETTC EPET ENRG PREL NL CH IR
    SUBJECT: ILSA: DUTCH, SHELL ON YADAVARAN, IRAN, SAKHALIN II

    REF: A. STATE 194960

    ¶B. THE HAGUE 02316

    ¶1. (SBU) Summary. The Dutch government supports targeted
    sanctions against Iran but not actions that limit Shell's
    activities there. Shell does not plan a final Yadavaran
    investment decision until 2008 and will keep State abreast.
    The government continues to follow negotiations between
    Gazprom and Shell over Sakhalin II, Shell's big natural gas
    project. End Summary.

    ¶2. (U) Econoff raised U.S. concerns about the Iran's
    Yadavaran oilfield project with Ministry of Foreign Affairs
    (MFA) officials John Roosegaarde Bisschop, Gulf States
    division head, and senior policy officer Loek ten Hagen on
    December 15. On December 18, Econoff discussed Yadavaran and
    developments at Sakhalin II with John Crocker, Shell's head
    of international government relations.

    ---------------------------------------
    Iran Policy and Relationship with Shell
    ---------------------------------------

    ¶3. (SBU) MFA's Roosegaarde Bisschop responded with three main
    points on Iran. First, he said MFA supports a UNSC resolution
    with teeth, meaning reversible sanctions targeted against
    the assets and travel of individuals associated with Iran's
    nuclear program. Iran had crossed the line. The Dutch, he
    said, fully support the P5 discussions, as part of a dialog
    aimed at a diplomatic solution. Harsher measures -- such as
    omnibus sanctions or those complicating Shell operations --
    are not on the table and would be very difficult to get
    through the UN, he said.

    ¶4. (SBU) Second, regarding Shell, Roosegaarde Bisschop noted
    that Shell briefs MFA on a regular basis about the Pars gas
    field development, but not Yadavaran. While MFA shares advice
    to ensure that Shell's activities fall on the safe side
    politically, the ministry refrains from voicing approval or
    disapproval over Shell projects, he said. MFA has become more
    involved with Shell, he said, because the energy security
    situation has forced shell to look at markets where the
    political environment is hazardous.

    ¶5. (U) Third, Roosegaarde Bisschop noted that French and
    Italian oil companies were much more advanced in their
    efforts in the Iranian energy sector. He asked whether we had
    reached out to these countries with the same message.

    -----------------------------------------
    No Final Decision on Yadavaran Until 2008
    -----------------------------------------

    ¶6. (SBU) In response to reftel A points, Shell's Crocker said
    that a deal on Yadavaran had been imminent for months. He
    added that Shell had recently seen a sense of urgency on the
    Iranian side and some signs that the Chinese were ready, but
    the two had yet to come to agreement. If they do agree,
    Crocker continued, Shell would examine it and decide whether
    to issue a statement of interest. After that it would take
    Shell 12-18 months of analysis to decide whether to invest.
    Such a decision would be taken in 2008 at the earliest, he
    said, adding that Shell would notify State -- which he visits
    on a regular basis -- before any decision is made.

    ¶7. (SBU) Crocker expressed concern about USG efforts to
    discourage investment in Iran's energy sector. In the short
    run, he said, the volume of oil produced in Iran will remain
    unchanged, whether or not Shell participates in Iran oil
    projects. This is because phase I oil extraction -- a period
    that normally lasts 10 years -- is not tricky, and the
    Iranians and Chinese have the requisite technology to proceed
    on their own. It is from the second phase onward, Crocker
    added, where the exclusion of foreign oil companies will have
    an impact. Since this is beyond 2020, it might make life
    difficult for ordinary Iranians at a time when the political
    environment hopefully may be more friendly toward the west,
    Crocker said. That said, he added that Shell views its
    relationship with the USG as important and that the company
    is very conscious of how its actions are perceived.

    THE HAGUE 00002654 002 OF 002

    --------------------------------------------- -------
    Sakhalin II: Shell on Possible Gazprom Participation
    --------------------------------------------- -------

    ¶8. (SBU) On Sakhalin II, Crocker offered thoughts on
    Gazprom's potential involvement and helpful USG actions.
    First, Crocker said Shell had always thought having a Russian
    partner was a good idea, and had offered, in exchange for
    other assets, a 25% stake to Gazprom before discussions were
    disrupted by the potential revocation of Shell's Sakhalin II
    environmental permit (reftel B). The Russians, however, had
    offered less than 30% of what Shell considered fair. Talks
    have made some progress in the last week. Gazprom's
    participation could now go either way, Crocker said, adding
    that Shell is open to a Gazprom stake at a different level as
    long as it was a commercially viable and defensible to
    shareholders. Failing this -- and if the Russian government
    continued to use all means to apply pressure -- Shell would
    be prepared to go to international arbitration.

    ¶9. (SBU) Second, Crocker said G8 countries should emphasize
    to Russia that its treatment of Shell does not fit within
    internationally accepted norms. Crocker hoped that the G8
    message would include a discussion of the potential delays to
    Japanese, Korean, and U.S. consumers. A failure to deliver
    would hurt these countries as consumers and Russia as a
    supplier. In one to two weeks, these countries may need to
    issue strong public statements to Russia -- but for now the
    messages should be delivered privately, Crocker said.
    BLAKEMAN

`