[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

This email and any accompanying documents are intended exclusively for the designated recipient(s) and may contain information that is confidential, proprietary, or legally privileged. If you are not the intended recipient, please inform the sender immediately and permanently delete this message from your system. Any unauthorized access, reproduction, distribution, or use of this communication is strictly prohibited.

Please be advised that all correspondence originating from the Russian Federation is transmitted using state-sanctioned encryption protocols. While every effort has been made to ensure this message and its attachments are free from harmful content, the sender cannot accept liability for any potential damage or data loss resulting from their use.

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

 

[Zak]

RUSSIAN FEDERATION​

Dear Ambassador Margaret Twomey,

The Russian Federation appreciates Australia’s recognition of our country’s geographic and strategic presence in the Asia-Pacific region. As you rightly note, Russia’s eastern territories and our Pacific coastline, including the important port of Vladivostok, position us as an integral participant in regional affairs. Historical perspectives such as those you referenced serve as a reminder of how strategic perceptions evolve over time, and how former concerns can give way to opportunities for cooperation.

In this regard, we agree that there is considerable untapped potential in the scientific, technological, and industrial spheres. Cooperation in space exploration is indeed an area of mutual interest. While Russia has historically relied on facilities such as the Baikonur Cosmodrome, developments following the dissolution of the Soviet Union and subsequent changes in governance in Kazakhstan have, at times, affected long-term certainty surrounding access and operations. These circumstances underscore the importance of diversifying launch capabilities and exploring new partnerships. In this context, we recognise the strategic advantages that Australia’s geography may offer for certain types of launches and related infrastructure, and we would welcome further dialogue between our respective agencies and technical experts to explore practical avenues for collaboration, ensuring that any such initiatives are mutually beneficial, economically viable, and aligned with international obligations.

Turning to the matter of the Russian diplomatic mission in Canberra, we acknowledge the concerns you have raised regarding compliance with the National Capital Plan and the operational considerations of security services. We appreciate the allocation of land in Yarralumla for a prospective new embassy site, and we understand the rationale behind consolidating diplomatic missions within this designated precinct.

At the same time, as you have noted, the establishment of a new embassy complex involves careful planning, design, and the allocation of significant financial resources. These decisions must be undertaken in accordance with Russia’s internal procedures and long-term diplomatic infrastructure planning. We remain open to continued engagement with the relevant Australian authorities, including the National Capital Authority, to examine the requirements and expectations associated with the proposed relocation.

We value the assurances regarding security cooperation, including the role of the Australian Federal Police in protecting diplomatic premises. The safety and security of our diplomatic staff and facilities remain a priority, and we welcome continued coordination on these matters.

In closing, I would like to reiterate that Russia views its relationship with Australia as one with potential for pragmatic cooperation, even where our perspectives may differ on certain international issues. Constructive dialogue such as this is an important foundation for advancing mutual understanding and identifying areas of shared interest.

Kind Regards,
Sergey Lavrov
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Russian Federation

This email and any accompanying documents are intended exclusively for the designated recipient(s) and may contain information that is confidential, proprietary, or legally privileged. If you are not the intended recipient, please inform the sender immediately and permanently delete this message from your system. Any unauthorized access, reproduction, distribution, or use of this communication is strictly prohibited.

Please be advised that all correspondence originating from the Russian Federation is transmitted using state-sanctioned encryption protocols. While every effort has been made to ensure this message and its attachments are free from harmful content, the sender cannot accept liability for any potential damage or data loss resulting from their use.

Owen