NATO/VCC: MARCH 8 VCC EXPERTS MEETING

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 USNATO 000177 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/12/2017 TAGS: PREL PARM NATO KCFE OSCE SUBJECT: NATO/VCC: MARCH 8 VCC EXPERTS MEETING REF: A) STATE 29006 B) AC/319-WP(2006)0015-REV1(CFE) Classified By: Political Advisor Stu Seldowitz for reasons 1.4 (b/d). ¶1. (C) Summary: After the U.S. representative executed guidance, the experts agreed (ad ref for Germany, whose representative agreed but stated that he had to go back to Berlin for full approval) that revision 2 of reference B would focus in Annex 1 of table B as directly answering the tasking, but that there would be an Annex 2 containing the pertinent information from the other tables in REV 1 of reference B. A line-by-line review of each vehicle entry in REV1 of Reference B identified numerous small changes to be made. The staff will issue a revised POET paper (REV 2) in the near future, and if there are not major problems identified by states, REV 2 will go under silence for the next VCC. The staff had planned on discussing digital cameras, GPS, and "Reporting BRM-Ks," but too many states, including the U.S. had not known this and the discussion was deferred until the experts meeting on the morning of the 29 March VCC. End Summary. ¶2. (C) Tables: In all Tables, the column currently entitled "Allies Submitting Change/Comment" will be deleted; ¶A. Table A will now appear in Annex 2 as useful information for Vienna, but not the direct response to their specific tasking; and -- The BRM-1S will be deleted since it is declared by Russia as an AIFV look-a-like ¶B. Table B will be in Annex 1 of REV 2 and is the basic answer to the tasking; -- TLE in Table B that are variants of TLE already listed in the POET will be deleted; -- Nations were requested to provide locations where vehicles in Table B were observed by inspectors (DTRA representative at the meeting has already done this); -- A vehicle observed by Germany at an inspection in Roshchinskiy in Russia (briefed at the beginning of the meeting),the BTR-60 R-145BM (a BTR 60 APC changed in appearance to incorporate a BTR-80 engine),will be added to Table B. -- BTR-D G will be deleted from Table B as the BTR-D (including all models) is already in the POET; and -- MT-LB 9P149 and MT-LB SA-13 (Strela 10) will be deleted from Table B because they were in existence when the Treaty was signed and were not included after extensive discussions. ¶C. Table C will be in Annex 2 as useful information for Vienna, but not the direct response to their specific tasking; and --MT-LB (MT-LBu) ARK will be moved from Table C to Table B; -- BMP-1 IPR will be moved to Table B as an AIFV look-alike; and -- BMD-1 P, BMP-1 K, BMP-1 P, BMP-1 PK and BMP-2 K will be deleted from Table C because they are variants of TLE already listed in the POET. ¶D. Table D will be in Annex 2 as useful information for Vienna, but not the direct response to their specific tasking; and -- Where missing in REV 1, the comments will now show from were information came (e.g., "open sources/Internet"); -- References in comments to "Russian exchange of photographs from 1990" will be changed to read "Soviet exchange . . " and -- BMP-2 BMO-1 and MT-LB (MT-LBu) TMPK will be moved to Table B since they have been observed by inspectors. ¶E. Table E will be in Annex 2 as useful information for Vienna, but not the direct response to their specific tasking; USNATO 00000177 002 OF 002 -- The title of Table E will now refer to equipment in the developmental stage, as these items could be under R&D or manufacturer's T&E; -- A vehicle observed by Germany at an inspection in Roshchinskiy in Russia (briefed at the beginning of the meeting),the BTR-80 R-439BK1 SATCOM, will be added to Table E; and -- BTR-80 COBRA-K will be changed to BTR-70 COBRA-K. ¶F. Table F will be deleted completely. ¶3. (SBU) Later, after the meeting, in response to inquiries from Mr. In Den Bosch (the meeting chair),the U.S. representative suggested that the staff circulate REV 2 as soon as possible and determine quickly whether states had major problems with the changes (and in particular whether Germany could accept the new two-annex format). Then, if there were major problems, the experts could meet again on 29 March, but if there were not, a clean version could be put on silence for 29 March at the VCC. The impression received was that this suggestion would be followed, but that is not fully certain. NULAND