S E C R E T GENEVA 001014


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E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/17/2018
TAGS: KACT PARM START JCIC INF US RS UP BO KZ

SUBJECT: JCIC-XXXIII: (U) BELARUSIAN CLOSING STATEMENT,
NOVEMBER 21, 2008

Classified By: Jerry A. Taylor, United States Representative
to the Joint Compliance and Inspection Commission.
Reasons: 1.5(b) and (d).


1. (U) This is JCIC-XXXIII-026.


2. (U) At Paragraph 3 below is the official translation of
the Belarusian Statement that was deliverd at the Closing
Plenary Meeting of the Thirty-third Session of the START
Treaty's Joint Compliance and Inspection Commission (JCIC),
held at the U.S. Mission on November 21, 2008.


3. (S) Begin text:

Official Translation

Statement
by the Delegation of the Republic of Belarus
at the Closing Plenary Meeting of the 33rd Session
of the Joint Compliance and Inspection Commission

Geneva November 21, 2008

Esteemed Mr. Chairman,

Esteemed Representatives and members of the delegations
of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Russian Federation, the
United States of America, and Ukraine.

Today we are concluding JCIC-XXXIII and would like to
note in this regard the productive work and active
participation of all the Parties during this session, which
promoted progress in a number of areas.

In particular, we can note certain progress toward
removing concern over the Minuteman III reentry vehicle. The
legal framework of an agreement was outlined, which, in the
event the Treaty expires, would provide a procedure for
terminating continuous monitoring at Votkinsk, as well as a
procedure for removing the relevant U.S. property. This
issue affects Belarusian interests due to the planned transit
of this property across Belarusian territory. Overall, we
are satisfied with the work done at the expert level and are
prepared to continue developing a legal basis during the
intersessional period. During this session information was
presented by the Ukrainian side and preliminarily discussed
regarding its intention to move types of ICBMs that have been
completely eliminated to date into the category of former
types of ICBMs. During the intersessional period the
Belarusian side will determine its position on this issue.

We express the hope that in the intersessional period a
substantive dialogue will continue, with the aim of removing
the remaining concerns related to implementing Treaty
provisions.

Mr. Chairman,

During this session we also considered one other
important question--the future of the START Treaty. Not only
did the Parties fulfill the requirement of paragraph 2 of
Article XVII of the Treaty, but they also voiced their
concerns on this issue. We are convinced that it is
important not to allow a legal vacuum to be created in
strategic offensive arms control after December 2009. Our
view is that in the coming year we must decide what path we
will take: either we decide to extend the Treaty or we work
out a new accord on strategic offensive arms.


We think that in considering the question of working
out a new Treaty it is important to take into account the
main elements on which the START Treaty is based: reduction
of strategic offensive arms; a system of control and
verification; and security guarantees to non-nuclear states
that acceded to the START Treaty through the Lisbon Protocol.

Esteemed Mr. Chairman,

In conclusion, I would like to express my appreciation
to all the Delegations for their cooperation and to thank
individually the interpreters and translators for their
contribution to the work of the Commission.

We wish all a safe return home and productive work in
the intersessional period.

End text.


4. (U) Taylor sends.
TICHENOR


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