VZCZCXYZ0001
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHUP #0910 1561028
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 051028Z JUN 07
FM AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 1371

C O N F I D E N T I A L BUDAPEST 000910 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
EUR/NCE MICHELLE LABONTE 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/05/2022 
TAGS: KCFE NATO PARM PREL HU
SUBJECT: HUNGARY RESPONDS TO DEVELOPING A UNIFIED ALLIANCE 
RESPONSE TO RUSSIA'S CFE CONCERNS 
 
REF: SECSTATE 75293 
 
Classified By: POL/ECON-C Eric V. Gaudiosi.  Reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
¶1.  (C) Poloff delivered reftel demarche points to MFA 
Security and Non-proliferation Department head Gyorgy Molnar, 
department deputy Vilmos Hamikus and department NATO expert 
Gabor Marosfi on June 4.  According to Molnar, Hungary agrees 
with our positions noting that Russia withdrawing from the 
CFE Treaty would be "bad for Europe; bad for NATO; and 
ultimately bad for Russia."  Hungary sees the main players on 
this issue as the U.S., Germany, France and Russia, who "are 
the only ones that can influence the final outcome."  Molnar 
emphasized the need to preserve the treaty by "settling this 
issue before the June 12 meeting."  Failing to reach a 
settlement, according to Molnar, will likely cause "a rift in 
NATO on this issue that will require a compromise on a new 
agreement."  Should that happen, "Hungary will assess its 
options at that time."  Hungary will not engage directly or 
publicly on this issue. 
 
¶2.  (C)  Mr. Molnar confirmed that the MFA has been closely 
monitoring this issue since the Oslo meeting in April.  He 
said that at the Oslo meeting, German FM Steinmeir called for 
a compromise with Russia regarding their CFE claims.  Hungary 
did not (and does not) agree with the German position, but 
believes that Germany, together with France, will push for 
accepting Russia's stance as laid out in the Russia's reftel 
note verbale.  Mr. Hamikus acknowledged that Hungary is "well 
aware of Russia's history regarding threats to withdraw from 
the CFE" and sees their latest actions as likely a posturing 
tactic.  He said that even though they are named directly in 
the note verbale "Hungary is not a primary player on this 
issue and will remain below the radar." 
 
--------------------------- 
COMMENTS: WITH US IN SPIRIT 
--------------------------- 
 
¶3.  (C) Though the GoH is in complete agreement with our 
positions regarding the CFE Treaty, currently they have no 
desire to oppose Russia publicly.  Mr. Molnar was clear that 
the GoH will support the U.S. position as "the main players 
seek a quiet resolution."  If however Russia withdraws from 
the Treaty, necessitating a new agreement, the GoH will 
review its position at that time. 
FOLEY