VZCZCXRO2326
OO RUEHLN RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHMO #1608 1691524
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 181524Z JUN 09
FM AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3875
INFO RUEHVK/AMCONSUL VLADIVOSTOK 3280
RUEHYG/AMCONSUL YEKATERINBURG 3634
RUEHLN/AMCONSUL ST PETERSBURG 5398
RHMFIUU/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS MOSCOW 001608 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
EEB/ESC FOR MONOSSON 
OES/EGC FOR GRIFF THOMPSON 
IO/EDA FOR WEBBER 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ENRG KGHG SENV RS
SUBJECT: RUSSIA UNDECIDED ON INTERNATIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY AGENCY 
 
REF: A. STATE 61286 
     ¶B. STATE 59969 
 
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED -- PLEASE HANDLE ACCORDINGLY 
 
(SBU) On May 17, Post's Environment Specialist discussed reftel 
talking points with Maria Korznikova, Chief of the Renewable Energy 
Section at the Russian Ministry of Energy.  Korznikova said that the 
Ministry has not arrived at a position on joining IRENA or on the 
choice of the agency's headquarters or Director General.  The 
Ministry is aware of the June 28-30 International Renewable Energy 
Agency (IRENA) preparatory meeting in Egypt but has not received an 
invitation and, given the late date, is unlikely to attend.  Russian 
representatives also did not take part in the founding meeting in 
January because they received the invitation too late.  Korznikova 
said that Deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin, who oversees the energy 
sector, is aware of the preparations and asked the Energy Ministry 
for further information on it in December.  However, Ministry 
officials would prefer to make decisions on Russian participation in 
IRENA only after discussion with other potential members. 
 
BEYRLE