Cable Viewer

Currently released so far... 19683 / 251,287

### Articles

Brazil Sri Lanka United Kingdom Sweden 00. Editorial United States Latin America Egypt Jordan Yemen Thailand

### Browse latest releases

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

### Browse by creation date

66 72 73 75 79 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 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 1985/05 1985/06
1986/05 1986/08 1986/12
1987/06
1988/01 1988/03 1988/04 1988/07 1988/08 1988/12
1989/12
1990/01 1990/07 1990/08 1990/10
1991/05 1991/07 1991/11
1992/01 1992/03 1992/06 1992/09 1992/12
1993/01 1993/02 1993/10
1994/11 1994/12
1995/01 1995/04 1995/06 1995/11
1996/07 1996/09 1996/11
1997/02 1997/03 1997/05 1997/06 1997/08 1997/10 1997/12
1998/05 1998/12
1999/01 1999/09
2000/05 2000/06 2000/09 2000/11
2001/02 2001/03 2001/04 2001/05 2001/06 2001/07 2001/09 2001/10 2001/11 2001/12
2002/01 2002/02 2002/03 2002/04 2002/06 2002/07 2002/08 2002/09 2002/11 2002/12
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 Belfast Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen Embassy Conakry Embassy Colombo Embassy Chisinau Embassy Caracas Embassy Canberra Embassy Cairo Consulate Curacao Consulate Ciudad Juarez Consulate Chiang Mai 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 Consulate Dhahran
Embassy Freetown Consulate Fukuoka
Embassy Guatemala Embassy Gaborone Consulate Guayaquil Consulate Guangzhou Consulate Guadalajara
Embassy Helsinki Embassy Harare Embassy Hanoi Consulate Hong Kong 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 Consulate Karachi
Embassy Luxembourg Embassy Luanda Embassy London Embassy Ljubljana Embassy Lisbon Embassy Lima Embassy Lilongwe Embassy Libreville Embassy La Paz Consulate Lahore Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE Mission USNATO Mission UNESCO Mission Geneva Embassy Muscat Embassy Moscow Embassy Montevideo Embassy Monrovia Embassy Minsk Embassy Mexico Embassy Mbabane Embassy Maseru Embassy Maputo Embassy Manila Embassy Manama Embassy Managua Embassy Malabo Embassy Madrid Consulate Munich Consulate Mumbai Consulate Montreal Consulate Monterrey Consulate Milan Consulate Melbourne Consulate Matamoros
Embassy Nicosia Embassy Niamey Embassy New Delhi Embassy Ndjamena Embassy Nassau Embassy Nairobi Consulate Nuevo Laredo Consulate Naples Consulate Naha Consulate Nagoya
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 Consulate Thessaloniki
USUN New York USEU Brussels US Office Almaty US Mission Geneva US Interests Section Havana US Delegation, Secretary UNVIE UN Rome Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius Embassy Vientiane 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 AEMR AMGT AR APECO AU AORC AJ AF AFIN AS AM ABLD AFFAIRS AMB APER AA AE ATRN ADM ACOA AID AG AY ALOW AND ABUD AMED ASPA AL APEC ADPM ADANA AFSI ARABL ADCO ANARCHISTS AZ ANET AMEDCASCKFLO AADP AO AGRICULTURE ASEAN ARF APRC AFSN AFSA AORG ACABQ AINF AINR AODE APCS AROC AGAO ARCH ADB AX AMEX ASUP ARM AQ ATFN AMBASSADOR ARAS ACBAQ AC AOPR AREP ASIG ASEX AER AVERY ASCH AFU AMG ATPDEA ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG AORL AN AIT AGMT ACS AGR AMCHAMS AECL AUC AFGHANISTAN ACAO
BR BB BG BEXP BY BA BRUSSELS BU BD BK BL BE BO BTIO BM BH BAIO BRPA BUSH BILAT BF BX BOL BMGT BP BC BIDEN BBG BBSR BT BWC BEXPC BN BTIU
CPAS CA CASC CS CBW CIDA CO CODEL CI CROS CU CH CWC CMGT CVIS CDG CG CF CHIEF CJAN CBSA CE CY CW CM CB CDC CONS CD CT CHR CAMBODIA CN CR COUNTRY CONDOLEEZZA CZ CARICOM COM CICTE CYPRUS CBE CACS COE CIVS CTR CFED CARSON CAPC COUNTER COPUOS CV CITES CKGR CVR CLINTON COUNTERTERRORISM CITEL CLEARANCE CSW CIC CITT CARIB CAFTA CACM CDB CJUS CTM CAN CAJC CONSULAR CLMT CBC CIA CNARC CIS CEUDA CHINA CAC CL
DR DJ DB DHS DAO DCM DO DEFENSE DA DE DK DOMESTIC DISENGAGEMENT DOD DOT DPRK DEPT DEA DOE DTRA DS DEAX
ECON ETTC EFIS ETRD EC EMIN EAGR EAID EU EFIN EUN ECIN EG EWWT EINV ENRG ELAB EPET EN EAIR EUMEM ECPS ELTN EIND EZ EI ER ET EINT ECONOMIC ENIV EFTA ES ECONOMY ENV EAG EET ELECTIONS ESTH ETRO ECIP EXIM EPEC ENERG EREL EK EDEV ENGY EPA ERNG ETRAD ELTNSNAR ENGR ETRC ELAP EUREM EEB EETC ECOSOC ENVI EXTERNAL ELN ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EAIDS EDU EPREL ECA EINVEFIN EFINECONCS EIDN EINVKSCA ETC ENVR EAP EINN EXBS ECONOMICS EIAR EINDETRD ECONEFIN EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EFIM EINVETC ECONCS EDRC ENRD EBRD ETRA ESA EAIG EUR EUC ERD ETRN EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ESENV ENNP ECINECONCS ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN
FI FR FOREIGN FAO FREEDOM FARC FAS FINANCE FBI FTAA FCS FAA FJ FTA FK FT FAC FDA FINR FM FOR FOI FO FMLN FISO
GM GERARD GT GA GG GR GTIP GE GH GY GB GLOBAL GEORGE GCC GV GC GAZA GL GOV GOI GF GTMO GANGS GAERC GZ GUILLERMO GASPAR
HR HA HYMPSK HO HK HUMAN HN HUD HU HURI HILLARY HI HUM HSTC HEBRON HUMOR
IZ IN IAEA IS IMO ILO IR IC IT ITU IV IMF IBRD IWC IPR IRAQI IDB ISRAELI ITALY ITPGOV ITALIAN IADB ID ICAO ICRC INR IO IFAD ICJ IRAQ INL INMARSAT INRA INTERNAL INTELSAT ILC INDO IRS IIP ITRA ICTY ISCON IEFIN IQ IAHRC IA INTERPOL IEA INRB ISRAEL IZPREL IRAJ IF ITPHUM IL IACI IDA ISLAMISTS IGAD ITF INRO IBET IDP ICTR IRC
JA JO JM JP JOHN JUS JAMES JOHNNIE JOSEPH JML JIMENEZ
KNNP KFLO KDEM KOMC KSUM KIPR KFLU KPAO KE KCRM KJUS KAWC KZ KSCA KDRG KCOR KGHG KPAL KTIP KMCA KCRS KPKO KOLY KRVC KVPR KG KWBG KMDR KTER KSPR KV KTFN KWMN KFRD KSTH KS KN KISL KGIC KSEP KFIN KTEX KTIA KUNR KCMR KMOC KCIP KTDB KBIO KIRF KSAF KU KHIV KHLS KSTC KNUP KIRC KIDE KTDD KMPI KSEO KSCS KICC KCFE KNUC KGLB KNNNP KIVP KPWR KR KCOM KESS KWN KCSY KREL KRFD KBCT KREC KICCPUR KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KOCI KGIT KMCC KPRP KPRV KAUST KPAOPREL KIRP KLAB KHSA KCRIM KPAONZ KCRCM KHDP KNAR KINR KICA KGHA KPAOY KTRD KTAO KWAC KJUST KSCI KNPP KMRS KHUM KTBT KNNPMNUC KBTS KACT KERG KPIR KTLA KAWK KO KAID KNDP KFSC KVIR KVRP KMFO KX KPOA KENV KRCM KCFC KNEI KCHG KPLS KFTFN KTFM KLIG KDEMAF KRAD KBTR KGCC KSEC KPIN KDEV KWWMN KOM KWNM KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KRGY KIFR KSAC KWMNCS KPAK KOMS KFPC KRIM KDDG KCGC KPAI KID KMIG KNSD KWMM
LY LE LABOR LH LAB LI LTTE LO LU LA LVPR LT LG LOG
MARR MX MASS MOPS MNUC MCAP MTCRE MRCRE MTRE MASC MY MK MCC MO MCA MAS MZ MIL MU ML MTCR MEPP MG MI MINUSTAH MP MA MD MAPP MAR MR MOPPS MTS MLS MILI MEPN MEPI MEETINGS MERCOSUR MW MT MIK MN MAPS MV MILITARY MARAD MDC MACEDONIA MASSMNUC MUCN MEDIA MQADHAFI MPOS MPS MC
NZ NI NATO NO NU NG NL NPT NS NSF NA NP NATIONAL NASA NDP NC NIH NIPP NSSP NEGROPONTE NK NGO NE NAS NATOIRAQ NR NAR NZUS NARC NH NSG NAFTA NEW NRR NT NOVO NATOPREL NEA NSC NV NPA NSFO NW NORAD NPG NOAA
OTRA OECD OVIP OREP OPRC ODC OIIP OPDC OAS OSCE OPIC OMS OIE OEXC OPCW OSCI OPAD ODIP OM OFFICIALS OEXP OPEC OFDP OHUM ODPC OVIPPRELUNGANU OSHA OSIC OTR OMIG OSAC OBSP OFDA OVP ON OCII OES OCS OIC
PGOV PREL PARM PINR PHUM PM PREF PTER PK PINS PBIO PHSA PE PBTS PL POL PAK POV POLITICS POLICY PA PNAT PALESTINIAN PCI PAS PO PROV PH PROP PERM PETR PRELBR POLITICAL PJUS PREZ PAO PRELPK PAIGH PROG PMAR PU PG PTE PDOV PGOVSOCI PY PGOR PMIL PBTSRU PRAM PGOF PTERE PARMS PINO PERL PREO PPA PSI PRGOV PORG PP PS PKFK PSOE PEPR PDEM PINT PRELP PREFA PNG PTBS PFOR PUNE PGOVLO PHUMBA POLINT PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PLN PHUH PEDRO PF PHUS PETER PARTIES PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PHUMPREL POGOV PEL PINL PBT PINF PRL PSEPC POSTS PAHO PHUMPGOV PGOC PNR
QA
RS RP RU RW RFE RCMP RIGHTSPOLMIL RO ROBERT RM RICE REGION ROOD RELAM RSP RF RELATIONS RIGHTS RUPREL REMON RPEL REACTION REPORT RSO
SZ SENV SOCI SNAR SY SO SP SU SI SMIG SYR SA SCUL SW SR SYRIA SNARM SPECIALIST SG SENS SF SEN SENVEAGREAIDTBIOECONSOCIXR SN SC SNA SK SL SANC SMIL SCRM SENVSXE SAARC STEINBERG SARS SWE SCRS SNARIZ SENVQGR SAN ST SIPDIS SSA SPCVIS SOFA SENVKGHG SHI SEVN SHUM SH SNARCS SPCE SNARN SIPRS
TRGY TBIO TSPA TU TPHY TI TX TH TIP TSPL TNGD TS TW TRSY TZ TN TINT TC TR TIO TF TK TRAD TT TWI TD TL TV TERRORISM TP TO TURKEY TSPAM TREL TRT TFIN TAGS THPY TBID
UNSC UK UNGA UN US UZ USEU UG UP UNAUS UNMIK USTR UY UNRCR UNESCO UNSCR UNICEF USPS UNHCR UNHRC UNFICYP UNCSD UNEP USAID UV UNDP UNTAC USUN USDA UNMIC UNCHR UNCTAD UR USGS USNC UA USOAS UE UNVIE UAE UNO UNODC UNCHS UNDESCO UNC UNPUOS UNDC UNCHC UNFCYP UNIDROIT UNCND
VE VM VT VZ VEPREL VN VTEG VTIZ VTPREL VISIT VENZ VAT VC VI
WHTI WIPO WTRO WHO WTO WFP WS WA WZ WI WMD WBG WWARD WHA WITH WTRQ WEU WMO WB
XA XW XX XK XL XM XS XF XY XR XG XT XC XH XD XE XV XB XU XZ XQ XI XTAG
YI YM YE YL YMCS
ZU ZI ZOELLICK ZP ZR ZO ZK ZF ZL ZB ZN ZH ZT ZJ ZEALAND ZA ZANU

### 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 05HELSINKI1116, FINNISH PRESIDENT HALONEN'S TRAVELS TO RUSSIA,

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. #05HELSINKI1116.

Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
05HELSINKI1116 | 2005-10-19 06:24 | 2011-04-24 00:00 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Helsinki

`

    This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

` `

    C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HELSINKI 001116

    SIPDIS

    E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/06/2015
    TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM KDEM SENV FI AJ EU RS LG UK EN AM
    SUBJECT: FINNISH PRESIDENT HALONEN'S TRAVELS TO RUSSIA,
    GEORGIA, ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN

    REF: A. MOSCOW 12264

         ¶B. HELSINKI 873

    Classified By: PolChief Gregory Thome, Reasons 1.5 (b) and (d).

    ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: In late Sept. and early Oct., President
    Halonen has made official visits to Russia and to Georgia,
    Armenia and Azerbaijan.  In Russia, the GOF sees bilateral
    progress on environmental issues and border security, in part
    thanks to the good relations between the two presidents.
    However, Putin complained rather bitterly to Halonen that
    while he wants to focus on his domestic economic agenda, he's
    constantly distracted by "neighborhood" problems like unrest
    in the Caucusus and boundary disputes with the Baltics.  In
    the GOF's view, those issues remain problematic because the
    GOR has not initiated longterm policies aimed at resolving
    them.  In the Caucusus, Halonen's agenda included discussions
    of Armenia's relationship with Turkey and with the EU;
    Georgia's improving relationship with Ukraine and its
    tensions with Russia; and free and fair elections in
    Azerbaijan.  End Summary.

    ¶2. (SBU) On Oct. 5, Presidential Chief of Staff Jarmo
    Viinanen and Special Advisor Paivi Kairamo-Hella briefed DCM
    and PolChief on Finnish President Tarja Halonen's official
    visits to St. Petersburg on September 22 and to Georgia,
    Armenia, and Azerbaijan Sept. 27-29.

    Finland/Russia: Increasing Environment and Border Cooperation
    --------------------------------------------- ----------------
    ¶3. (C) In Russia, Halonen's meetings with President Vladimir
    Putin represented another in a series of what Viinanen
    characterized as productive and increasingly cordial meetings
    aimed at furthering cooperative initiatives, rather than at
    addressing areas of controversy.  The two presidents
    inaugurated a wastewater treatment facility as part of a
    joint Swedish-Finnish-Russian effort to improve water quality
    in the Baltic Sea.  The plant -- plans for which date back to
    Soviet times -- will treat the wastewater of 750,000 St.
    Petersburg residents that previously flowed into the Baltic
    untreated.  Finland has made substantial progress in focusing
    GOR attention on environmental issues and, in Viinanen's
    view, "once Putin became seized with the issue, things
    started to happen."  The health of the Baltic Sea remains a
    crucial regional issue, although one that has become less
    contentious over time as a bilateral irritant between Finland
    and Russia.  For example, Viinanen noted, Putin no longer
    accuses the Finns of seeking to "hamper Russia's economic
    development" when they raise environmental concerns.
    However, he added, the GOF remains very concerned about
    potential oil spills, particularly since Russia has made
    clear that its use of the Baltic as a major export route for
    crude will remain non-negotiable.

    ¶4. (C) On border security, the GOF also continues to make
    progress in theory -- if not in practice.  According to
    Viinanen, Putin told Halonen that Russia remains committed to
    full cooperation and wants to see all border-crossing
    stations fully functional.  Unfortunately, the opening of the
    newest, best-equipped facility remains thwarted because
    Russia has failed to improve the road to it.  Viinanen said
    he expects Russia to find the funds, not only because of
    Putin's intense interest in improving both security and
    commerce, but also because high oil prices contribute to the
    GOR's ability to find the necessary funding.

    Russia and Its Neighbors: Putin Complains
    -----------------------------------------
    ¶5. (C) Turning from bilateral issues to Russia's neighbors,
    Viinanen lamented that Putin appears unable or unwilling to
    develop strategies to resolve disputes with the Baltics and
    elsewhere.  Putin expressed to Halonen bitter frustration
    over his perception that he is continually being distracted
    from his efforts to expand the domestic economy and improve
    Russians' standard of living by boundary disputes and unrest
    on Russia's borders, Viinanen said.  A border treaty with
    Estonia remains unsigned and, as he has in the past (Ref B),
    Putin put all the blame for this on the Estonian legislature.
     Likewise, Viinanen said Putin does not view the roles Russia
    has played in the disputed areas of Georgia as destabilizing
    or counterproductive, and seemed unwilling to abandon
    practices such as issuing passports to people in those areas.
     (Comment: We recognize here that Viinanen's views do not
    track exactly with information reported in Reftel A.  End
    Comment.)

    ¶6. (C) Viinanen's general assessment was that Russia is in
    large part responsible for many of its "neighborhood
    problems," mainly because it has not developed a coherent
    strategy for resolving them.  Each issue, regardless of the
    region, requires a long term political process that must be
    driven by Putin in order to be resolved, Viinanen opined;
    unless Putin is willing to put such processes in place, he
    will continue to find himself distracted from his domestic
    agenda.  If there was a bright spot, Viinanen did report that
    Putin remains extremely encouraged about his rapidly
    improving relationship with Latvia's President
    Vike-Frieburga.  In response to our question, Viinanen also
    said that Putin did not raise with Halonen the issue of
    Russian minorities in the Baltics.

    Finland and Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan
    -------------------------------------------
    ¶7. (SBU) On the heels of her St. Petersburg trip, Halonen
    made her first official visit to the Caucusus.  This trip
    comes as the EU looks to establish a policy of engagement
    with the "new neighborhood," and as the GOF begins to explore
    its own options within that wider framework.  Finland took a
    particularly active role in working with the Baltic countries
    prior to their EU accession, although Viinanen cautioned that
    now is far too early to envision such robust Nordic
    cooperation in the Caucuses.  Georgia, Armenia and Azerbiajan
    are "too far away" and far too different from one another for
    the GOF to say what its or the EU's specific role in those
    countries will be at this point.

    ¶8. (C) While in Armenia, Halonen suggested the country's
    leadership look forward, rather than backward, regarding its
    relationship with Turkey.  Continued hostility toward Turkey
    will ultimately prove counterproductive to Armenia's
    interests, especially as concerns its relationship with the
    EU.  According to Viinanen, President Kocharian acknowledged
    this, but noted that a radicalized Armenian diaspora
    continues to pressure the GOA regarding Turkey.  In
    Azerbaijan, Finnish press reports reported that Halonen
    openly called on the government to ensure free and fair
    elections.  To us, Viinanen suggested that both the
    government and the opposition have "taken a lesson from
    Ukraine" which may not necessarily be positive:  the GOAJ
    recognizes that widespread allegations of fraud could prompt
    an uprising such as occurred in Ukraine, he said;
    unfortunately, the opposition also recognizes this, and
    President Aliyev expressed concerns to Halonen that it might
    seek to make false claims of fraud in order to prompt a
    popular movement.

    ¶9. (C) On Georgia, Viinanen lauded the GOG's ties with
    Ukraine and expressed the hope that reform efforts in both
    countries would prove mutually reinforcing.  President
    Saakasvili complained angrily to Halonen about Russian
    meddling in Abkhazia and South Ossetia, alleging that Moscow
    is intent on annexing the territories.  However, Viinanen
    noted that Saakasvili expressed willingness to entertain
    ideas of limited autonomy or other flexible measures to
    resolve the problems.

    Comment
    -------
    ¶10. (C) While Halonen's (and Viinanen's) impressions of
    Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia are those of relative
    newcomers to the region, we are encouraged by the GOF's
    efforts to establish dialogue.  As Viinanen noted, it is far
    to early to expect a Baltic-like Finnish engagement in the
    region, but as the EU develops its policy toward the
    neighborhood, any leadership role the Finns might wish to
    play would be welcome.  As for Russia, we note that the
    themes addressed differ little from those Putin and Halonen
    discussed during his late July visit here (Ref B).
    Nevertheless, while some have criticized Halonen for
    eschewing controversial bilateral issues, her efforts to move
    forward in mutually beneficial areas have built confidence on
    a bilateral and personal level.  End Comment.
    MACK

`