RUSSIANS SOFTENING TONE ON CFE AT THE NRC?

C O N F I D E N T I A L USNATO 000532 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/27/2017 TAGS: PREL PARM KCFE NATO RS OSCE SUBJECT: RUSSIANS SOFTENING TONE ON CFE AT THE NRC? REF: USNATO 00525 Classified By: USNATO Deputy Chief of Mission Richard Olson for reasons 1.4 (b and d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: A Senior Russian military official briefing at the September 26 NATO-Russia Council (NRC) meeting signaled possible Russian softening on its CFE line. NATO International staff reports that Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov also made some constructive comments in a recent discussion with Secretary General de Hoop Scheffer on the margins of the UNGA. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) The senior Russian military representative to NATO, Vice-Admiral Valentin Kuznetsov, provided a somewhat positive outlook for the CFE Treaty during an exchange with Allies following his briefing on Russia,s military reform efforts at the September 26 meeting of the NRC. In response to a question posed by the Spanish PermRep on efforts to preserve the CFE regime and his thoughts on the U.S. proposed parallel action plan, Admiral Kuznetsov said that Russia,s official stance would be known by the end of October. However, in mentioning the parallel action plan, he said, that the proposals "offer a roadmap" for discussion at the Berlin informal meeting and that "all problems could be resolved since there is now a declared political will on both sides." He continued to say that ratification of the Adapted Treaty and Russia,s fulfillment of the Istanbul Commitments, are not linked, saying they were two different, "but parallel, processes." Finally, he noted that he could not foresee a Europe without a conventional arms control regime that includes confidence security building measures, limits on heavy equipment including in the flank areas, and an inspection regime (mentioning that this is a sentiment shared by Moscow's senior leadership). Allies generally appeared to welcome the comments as a positive development heading into next week's informal conference on CFE in Berlin. ¶3. (C) Under any other business, the German PermRep noted the important role that the NRC plays on maintaining an open dialogue. He further said that entry into force of the Adapted CFE Treaty was a key part of the disarmament architecture and that all efforts should be made to preserve the CFE regime (echoing text from the non-paper on disarmament recently circulated at NATO). He called on Allies to provide an open and forward looking discussion at the Berlin conference, maintain flexibility, and to explore all possible avenues. Charge noted that the U.S. is looking forward to the upcoming Berlin conference which should provide an important opportunity to remind ourselves of the benefits of the CFE Treaty and our security cooperation more broadly. ¶4. (C) In a related development, the NATO International Staff at the September 28th meeting of the High-Level Task Force Deputies provided a readout of Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov's meeting with NATO Secretary General de Hoop Scheffer in New York this week. FM Lavrov told the SYG that Russia wanted ratification of the Adapted CFE Treaty, they did not want the CFE Treaty regime to disappear, and that they are willing to work with the Alliance toward that goal. NULAND