FSC MAY 14: RUSSIA TABLES ANOTHER REVISED VD99

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 USOSCE 000130 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR VCI/CCA, VCI/NRRC, EUR/RPM, EUR/PRA, SCA/CEN, SCA/RA, PM/WRA JCS FOR J5 OSD FOR ISA (PERENYI) NSC FOR DOWLEY USUN FOR LEGAL, POL CENTCOM FOR CCJ5-C, POLAD UNVIE FOR AC GENEVA FOR CD E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PARM PREL OSCE KCFE XG SUBJECT: FSC MAY 14: RUSSIA TABLES ANOTHER REVISED VD99 PROPOSAL REF: 2007 STATE 150672 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: During the May 14 Forum for Security Cooperation, Russia announced a revision of its 2007 draft decision to define the "specified area" of Vienna Document inspections, now limiting the area to 25,000 square kilometers. Russia also revised its proposal for a chair's statement on Vienna Document inspection requests, adopting U.S.-proposed language but still penalizing early or late requests. Belarus joined consensus on the MANPADS decision, which now moves to the Plenary. Germany has held bilateral meetings with some delegations on its draft decision to update the conventional arms transfer reporting categories. There is resistance to the provisions on voluntary reporting to the UN. Russia lacks instructions on Germany's draft decision to publish the Best Practice Guides on conventional ammunition. Armenia and Azerbaijan traded criticism over Armenia's failure to report the presence of its forces in Nagorno-Karabakh in the annual Code of Conduct Questionnaire submission. Washington, see para 2. End summary. Russia Returns with "Specified Area" Proposal -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Russia announced it has revised its earlier proposal for defining the "specified area" for Vienna Document inspections (para 80),now limiting it to 25,000 square kilometers, up from 18,000 square kilometers in the earlier version. (FSC.DEL/493/07/Rev.2) Mission assumes reftel guidance still applies. FSC Suggestions for ASRC -------------- ¶3. (SBU) The chair's letter of transmission and a list of topics for the 2008 Annual Security Review Conference (July 1-2) submitted by FSC delegations was endorsed without comment in the Plenary and will be submitted to the chair of the Permanent Council (FSC.DEL/81/08/Rev.1). Vienna Document Inspection Requests -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Russia (Ulyanov) announced a revision (FSC.DEL/75/08/Rev.2) to its proposal for a chair's statement on Vienna Document inspection request timelines that incorporates U.S.-suggested language (FSC.DEL/93/08/Rev.1) but also adds a tie-breaking provision that if multiple requests for an inspection during the same time are received, only the requests made "within the established timeframe will be taken as valid." There was no comment in the working group. MANPADS Decision -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Belarus announced that it still lacked instructions from capital, but it was able to join consensus in the working group on the MANPADS decision (FSC.DD/5/08/Rev.1). The draft decision will move to the Plenary for the May 21 meeting. CAT Update -------------- USOSCE 00000130 002 OF 002 ¶6. (SBU) Germany said it was expecting comments from several delegations based on bilateral discussions of its draft decision on updating the conventional arms transfer reporting categories (FSC.DEL/69/08). End-User Certificates -------------- ¶7. (SBU) Ukraine reported it was waiting for instructions on the Belarusian Food-for-Thought paper on an information exchange on end-user certificates (FSC.DEL/82/08). SALW Brokering -------------- ¶8. (SBU) The chair asked if there was support for Finland's proposal to make the revised CPC survey of responses to the one-off information exchange on SALW brokering an "open" document for use outside the OSCE including the UN Biennial Meeting of States. Turkey replied that it was awaiting instructions. Publication of BPG -------------- ¶9. (SBU) The draft decision on publication of the Best Practice Guides on stockpiles of conventional weapons is now a chair's document. Russia informed it needed instructions (FSC.DD/6/08). Germany, in response to a Russian suggestion to replace the word "endorse" in operative paragraph 1 with "as well as," explained that the Forum had to "endorse" the publication of the guides in order to commit the OSCE funds budgeted. Russia then agreed, but still needs instructions. Conventional Ammunition Projects -------------- ¶10. (SBU) Greece announced it was donating 30,000 euros for disposal of "warheads" and ammunition in Georgia. Denmark, as the FSC coordinator for SCA, noted Greece's ledge was the first for the Georgia project; about 60,000 euros are still needed. Repartee: Azerbaijan and Armenia -------------- ¶11. (SBU) Azerbaijan criticized Armenia for its response to the Code of Conduct Questionnaire concerning military forces deployed outside national territory "in accordance with international law." Azerbaijan challenged Armenia's negative answer in its submission, asserting that Armenian forces continued to occupy Azerbaijani territory in Nagorno-Karabakh against the will of the occupants and in violation of international law. Armenia replied that there were other places where the subject was appropriately discussed, including the OSCE-sponsored Minsk Group. Next Meeting -------------- ¶12. (U) The FSC will next meet on May 21. FINLEY