[Russia]: Message for Australia

[Zak]

RUSSIAN FEDERATION​

Dear Ambassador Margaret Twomey,

I have the honor of addressing you to extend a personal invitation to a meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation. I would be pleased to meet with you at a mutually convenient time to discuss opportunities for advancing and further strengthening the relations between the Russian Federation and Australia.

I am confident that our discussions will provide an opportunity to exchange views on political, economic, cultural, and humanitarian cooperation, and to explore concrete initiatives that serve the mutual interests of our two nations.

Kindly let my office know your availability so that arrangements may be made accordingly. I look forward to welcoming you and engaging in a constructive and fruitful dialogue.

Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Kind Regards,
Sergey Lavrov
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Russian Federation

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Owen

 

[Owen]

​

AMBASSADOR TO THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION​

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION: SECRET​

26 June 2008

Dear Minister Lavrov, The Government of Australia certainly recognises the important role that Russia plays within the Asia-Pacific region. Whilst sometimes regarded as a "European" nation, many forget that Russia stretches well into the North Pacific Ocean and Asia and has the ability to project power in this region through its Pacific Fleet at Vladivostok. Indeed, Russia was regarded as the first possible threat to face the Australian mainland in the 1850s when Australia was part of the British Empire and we had the outbreak of the Crimean War. Indeed, many coastal forts in Australia can trace their lineage back to that time to "counter the threat posed by Russia". There are many areas of opportunity between Australia and Russia, none less than the scientific and industrial sectors, possibly expanding into space exploration. Australia recognises that Russia lacks current spaceport facilities since the fall of the Soviet Union, due to their location in Kazakhstan. Australia has vast amounts of land and the ability to launch spacecraft into orbit. We definitely see potential in this area. Our government reached out to previous administration in regards to the relocation of the Russian Embassy in Canberra. Currently the Russian Embassy is within the suburb of Griffith, which is not consistent with the National Capital Plan. Due to Canberra's nature of being the capital and a planned city, planning is heavily controlled by the National Capital Authority and they have allocated land in the suburb of Yarralumla for a new Russian Embassy, on the corner of Forster Crescent and Flynn Drive. This is consistent with the National Capital Plan and the location of other embassies, of which a majority are in Yarralumla. This also helps to improve security. Currently the Australian Federal Police's Diplomatic Protection Branch can operate in a confined area of Yarralumla and pool resources over a small geographic area. Whereas for the Russian Embassy they do need to conduct patrols out to Griffith on a semi-regular basis, which means there are periods of time when the Russian Embassy is without local protection on its exterior perimeter. Even though the land has been allocated for the new Embassy, the design plans and funds do need to come from the Russian Government as it is ultimately your sovereign territory. I'm hopeful we can finalise these plans and make the National Capital Authority happy. Yours sincerely, Margaret Twomey.

Embassy of Australia, 10 A/2 Podkolokol'nyy Pereulok, Moscow, RUSSIA, 109028 Telephone: +7 495 956-60-70​

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Zak