Cablegate: Nopec Demarche Delivered to Mfa

VZCZCXRO8300
PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDE RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW
RUEHLA RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHMO #3160 1791245
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 281245Z JUN 07
FM AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1690
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHXD/MOSCOW POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHHH/OPEC COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHDC PRIORITY
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC PRIORITY

UNCLAS MOSCOW 003160

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

DEPT FOR EUR/RUS
DEPT FOR EB/ESC/IEC GALLOGLY AND GARVERICK
DOE FOR HARBERT AND EKIMOFF
DOC FOR 4231/IEP/EUR/JBROUGHER
NSC FOR MCKIBBEN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EPET ENRG ECON PREL RS
SUBJECT: NOPEC DEMARCHE DELIVERED TO MFA

REF: SECSTATE 88197

1. (U) SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED. NOT FOR INTERNET
DISTRIBUTION.

2. (U) We delivered reftel talking points to MFA Russia-US
Bilateral Relations Head Alexander Zakharov on June 27.

3. (SBU) Zakharov expressed his understanding that taxes make
up the largest part of gasoline prices (a point we refuted),
and suggested that consumers should perhaps be more angry at
their own governments than at OPEC or producers. However, he
appreciated the importance of the actions and words of
producers in contributing to political backlash in consumer
countries. He said the MFA would "write up a report" and
pass the message on to relevant colleagues.

4. (U) We plan to deliver the demarche to the Ministry of
Industry as well, and will report any additional comments
septel.
BURNS

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