JCIC-XXXII: HEADS OF DELEGATION MEETING ON

S E C R E T GENEVA 000565 DEPT FOR T, VCI AND EUR/PRA DOE FOR NNSA/NA-24 CIA FOR WINPAC JCS FOR J5/DDGSA SECDEF FOR OSD(P)/STRATCAP NAVY FOR CNO-N5JA AND DIRSSP AIRFORCE FOR HQ USAF/ASX AND ASXP DTRA FOR OP-OSA AND DIRECTOR NSC FOR LUTI DIA FOR LEA E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/22/2018 TAGS: KACT PARM START JCIC US RS UP BO KZ SUBJECT: JCIC-XXXII: HEADS OF DELEGATION MEETING ON UNILATERAL RUSSIAN BOUNDARY REDUCTION OF THE DROVYANAYA SITE DIAGRAM AND MINUTEMAN III RVOSI, JULY 17, 2008 REF: A. GENEVA 0564 (JCIC-XXXII-007) ¶B. RUSSIAN-PROPOSED JCIC JOINT S-SERIES STATEMENT ON CHANGES TO THE BOUNDARY OF DROVYANAYA ICBM BASE FOR SILO LAUNCHERS OF ICBMS - APRIL 6 2008 (E-MAILED FROM U.S. EMBASSY-MOSCOW TO WASHINGTON D.C. - NO REPORTING CABLE) ¶C. RUSSIAN NON-PAPER ON THE ONE-TIME DEMOSTRATION OF THE MINUTEMAN III FRONT SECTION - MARCH 4 2008 (E-MAILED FROM THE U.S. EMBASSY-MOSCOW TO WASHINGTON D.C. - NO REPORTING CABLE) Classified By: Jerry A. Taylor, United States Representative to the Joint Compliance and Inspection Commission. Reasons: 1.4(b) and (d). ¶1. (U) This is JCIC-XXXII-005. ¶2. (U) Meeting Date: July 17, 2008 Time: 10:30 A.M. - 12:30 P.M. Place: Russian Mission, Geneva -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶3. (S) A Heads of Delegation (HOD) Meeting was held at the Russian Mission on July 17, 2008. All Parties except the Kazakhstani Delegation were represented. The Russian Delegation indicated it would make contact with the Kazakhstani Mission to ensure that it was aware of the JCIC. The Belarusian and Ukrainian Delegations made opening plenary statements (Ref A). In lieu of opening plenary statements, the U.S. and Russian Delegations made short opening comments and said they wished to proceed to the substantive work of the session. ¶4. (S) The Russian Delegation introduced the first issue, regarding its request to obtain U.S. approval of the Russian-proposed changes to the Drovyanaya former ICBM Base for Silo Launchers of ICBMs site diagram. The U.S. Delegation indicated a willingness to send the S-Series Joint Statement to the Conforming Group pending clarification about a reduction of site boundaries beyond which were discussed during JCIC-XXXI and the inclusion of a previously eliminated silo training launcher on the revised site diagram. All Delegations agreed to set up a working group to address the clarification requests. ¶5. (S) The Russian Delegation subsequently introduced the second issue, regarding the possibility of the United States conducting a Minuteman III (MM III) one-time front section demonstration which would allow Russian observers to view the inside of the lower one-third of the MM III front section. In response, the U.S. Delegation reiterated that MM III Reentry Vehicle On-Site Inspection (RVOSI) procedures were treaty-compliant and the United States had made efforts to assuage the Russian Federation's concerns with the procedures. The U.S. Delegation pointed out that the United States did not plan to change its MM III RVOSI procedures and, if the United States performed a one-time demonstration, it would not result in changes to the procedures used to conduct subsequent MM III RVOSI inspections. The U.S. Delegation asked the Russian Delegation to answer a question originally posed during JCIC-XXXI regarding concerns about the volume under the front section of the MM III. Both Delegations agreed to set up a working group to further discuss the issue. -------------- BELARUSIAN OPENING PLENARY STATEMENT -------------- ¶6. (S) After being welcomed to the Russian Mission by Koshelev, Panomarev commented on his Party's hopes that dialogue would resolve Treaty-related issues. He delivered an opening statement (Ref A) and said that, although the START Treaty was coming to an end, the START Treaty was the most important treaty because it generated stability and security. As such, Belarus was interested in maintaining the START Treaty and was open to further discussion. -------------- UKRAINIAN OPENING PLENARY STATEMENT -------------- ¶7. (S) Shevtsov also delivered a prepared statement (Ref A). He stressed the economic importance to Ukraine of the extraction of solid fuel from their SS-24 ICBM rocket motors and indicated his government hoped the issue of SS-24 elimination procedures would be resolved during JCIC-XXXII and the appropriate documents completed. -------------- NO U.S. STATEMENT -------------- ¶8. (S) Taylor noted the United States' concern about the absence of the Kazakhstani Delegation, but indicated his willingness to proceed with discussions and complete appropriate documents despite their absence. He indicated that the U.S. Delegation would forgo a formal opening plenary statement in the interest of getting right to work given the ambitious JCIC agenda. -------------- RUSSIAN OPENING STATEMENT -------------- ¶9. (S) Koshelev indicated that attempts had been made to contact the Kazakhstani Representative but he could not explain the lack of communications between their capitals. He added that the Russian Delegation would also forgo a formal opening plenary statement in the interest of getting to work. He commented that this was the first JCIC session where the Parties would address the Article XVII requirement to discuss whether the START Treaty would be extended. He indicated his Party's interest in solving important issues, such as the completion of continuous monitoring activities at the Votkinsk Production Facility in Russia. Nevertheless, he indicated that the Russian Federation believed it was important to continue discussing technical issues of the START Treaty throughout the Treaty's life. -------------- DROVYANAYA SITE DIAGRAM -------------- ¶10. (S) Koshelev introduced the first issue, regarding Russia's request to obtain UnitedStates approval of the proposed changes to the Dovyanaya site diagram which would reducethe site boundaries for the former Drovyanaya ICBM Base for Silo Launchers of ICBMs. He said that, following the JCIC-XXXI discussions, the Russian Federation had submitted an updated site diagram dated April 6, 2008 and an accompanying S-series Joint Statement (Ref B) to the other Parties. The Russian Federation's intent was to facilitate use of the former ICBM related site by other Russian military units. Koshelev suggested a Conforming Group to review the Russian-proposed JCIC S-Series Joint Statement. ¶11. (S) Taylor said the United States had two clarifying questions which, when satisfactorily answered, would allow the U.S. Delegation to move forward with completion of a JCIC S-Series Joint Statement on changes to the boundary of Drovyanaya. Taylor stated the United States sought to better understand why the proposed boundary changes, which were not discussed during the previous JCIC session, were necessary for this formerly-declared facility. His second question sought clarification of why an eliminated silo training launcher, which had been eliminated through explosive means, was still depicted on the revised site diagram. ¶12. (S) In response, Koshelev requested written copies of the two clarifying questions and indicated that his experts would review the U.S. Delegation's concerns. Ryzhkov said the preliminary view was that the depiction of the training silo on the diagram was probably a technical error but he would like to examine the issue. He indicated that the reduction in the area of the site diagram was being made in support of a local military unit that planned to use the area for activities not related to the Treaty. He also indicated that U.S. Inspectors had confirmed there were no items of inspection in the specified area. The Parties agreed to send the issue to a working group for further discussion. -------------- MM III ONE-TIME FRONT SECTION DEMONSTRATION -------------- ¶13. (S) Koshelev introduced the second issue, regarding the possibility of the United States conducting a MM III one-time front section demonstration which would allow Russian observers an opportunity to look at the inside of the lower one-third of the MM III front section. Koshelev stated that Russia had responded to questions posed by the U.S. Delegation during JCIC-XXXI, in a non-paper dated March 4, 2008 (Ref C). He indicated Russia had welcomed the United States' intention to find a solution to its concerns. He was pleased to note that almost all of the United States' questions had been answered in a positive manner and Russia had added proposals which it felt would make the demonstration successful. He requested further clarification on the intentions of the United States and the acceptability of the Russian proposals. He also suggested a working group be established to discuss a technical plan for the demonstration. Shevtsov indicated Ukraine's support of the Russian proposal. ¶14. (S) In response, Taylor reiterated that MM III RVOSI procedures were treaty-compliant and provided the inspecting party more than sufficient information upon which to confirm that MM III ICBMs contain no more RVs than the number of warheads attributed to them. He stated that the United States had previously provided detailed information on its MM III RVOSI procedures and had implemented additional measures in response to Russian Inspectors' stated concerns. He also noted that the Russian Federation, in its non-paper, anticipated the procedures used during an MM III front section demonstration would be implemented for all future MM III RVOSIs and then stated that the United States was not considering a change to its MM III RVOSI procedures and was instead only considering a MM III one-time front section demonstration. ¶15. (S) Taylor stated that the United States welcomed additional details from the Russian Federation to further clarify its concerns and its objective for a one-time demonstration. The Parties agreed to send the issue to a working group for further discussion. ¶16. (U) Documents exchanged. None. ¶17. (U) Participants: U.S. Mr. Taylor Ms. Bosco Mr. Brown Lt Col Comeau Mr. Couch Mr. DeNinno Mr. Dunn Mr. Fortier Maj Gondol Mr. Hanchett Mr. Johnston LTC Oppenheim Mr. Smith Mr. Tessier Mr. Vogel Mr. Yaguchi Mr. French (Int) BELARUS Mr. Panomarev RUSSIA Mr. Koshelev Mr. Kashirin CAPT (1st Rank) Kuz'min Mr. Lapshin Col Novikov Col Ryzhkov Mr. Serov Mr. Shevchenkov Mr. Smirnov Ms. Sorokina Col Zaytsev Ms. Yevarovskaya (Int) UKRAINE Dr. Shevtsov Mr. Bondarenko Mr. Chernyavskiy ¶18. (U) Taylor sends. TICHENOR NNNN End Cable Text