CFE/JCG SEPTEMBER 16: RUSSIAN INSPECTION REFUSALS

UNCLAS USOSCE 000217 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR VCI/CCA, EUR/RPM, NSC FOR DOWLEY, JCS FOR J5/NORWOOD/CAMPBELL, OSD FOR ISA/PERENYI E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KCFE OSCE PARM PREL RS SUBJECT: CFE/JCG SEPTEMBER 16: RUSSIAN INSPECTION REFUSALS DEPLORED ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Turkey and the U.S. at the September 16 Joint Consultative Group (JCG) announced that Russia had refused their requests for CFE inspections. Germany, Greece, France, Romania, Italy, the UK, and the Netherlands regretted the Russian refusals, including an earlier refusal of Romania, and called on Russia to comply fully with its CFE obligations. Germany announced its next "Berlin Seminar on Conventional Arms Control" will be held September 30 - October 1 and recommended canceling the September 30 JCG to accommodate delegates attending the seminar. The U.S., Luxembourg, and the UK supported the German proposal. The chair will return to the matter at the next meeting. The JCG declined a request from the OSCE Communications Group to change the treaty-specified December 15 date for the Annual Exchange of Military Information. End summary. Russian Refusals Reproached -------------- ¶2. (SBU) At the September 16 JCG, Turkey (Gungen) announced it had notified Russia of its intent to conduct an inspection September 8-13 but Russia refused, citing its July 14, 2007 memo on suspension of CFE implementation. Turkey said its view of Russian suspension as described in its Note Verbale to the treaty registrar was still valid. ¶3. (SBU) The U.S. (Neighbour) expressed full support for Turkey and Romania, who had been refused by Russia a week earlier, in their demands that Russia comply with its CFE obligations. Neighbour announced Russia had also refused the U.S. September 11 inspection request. A positive response from Russia, he added, would have been an important signal of Russia's willingness to abide by its treaty obligations. ¶4. (SBU) Germany (Richter) gave full support to its Allies. Richter noted, with regret, that, even after the crisis in Georgia, Russia was still not complying with CFE. Continued compliance with the treaty, he said, was a cornerstone of European security. Germany insists on full compliance from Russia because of the danger that other States might fail to comply fully; this would unavoidably lead to further erosion of the treaty. Richter referred to the March 28 NAC statement as an "offer" to overcome the CFE crisis. ¶5. (SBU) Greece (Sourani),referring to the Turkish and U.S. statements, fully supported the German position and noted with regret that nine months after Russia suspended its implementation there was still no resolution, which jeopardized the long-term viability of the treaty. ¶6. (SBU) France, Romania, Italy, the UK, and the Netherlands also deplored the inspection refusals and called for Russia to return to full compliance. No Russian Response -------------- ¶7. (SBU) Russia (Mazur) did not respond. AEMI Date Change Rejected -------------- ¶8. (SBU) The chair, Poland, announced the new chair of the OSCE Communication Group (Sibbett) had requested concurrence of the JCG in scheduling the Annual Exchange of Military Information on December 12, instead of the treaty-specified date of December 15, to allow experts from capitals to avoid a weekend stay in Vienna after formatting their submissions during the automated data workshop scheduled for December 10-12. ¶9. (SBU) The U.S. (Neighbour) objected, explaining there was no compelling reason the workshop could not be held on December 15 and that it was for the Communications Group to coordinate its schedule based on the treaty-mandated date of December 15 for the actual exchange. No delegation supported the December 12 date, although Germany said it could be "flexible" if there was a JCG decision to do so. (Note: The Communications Group, which met later on September 16, announced that the AEMI will be held on December 15, with the automated data workshop to be held December 11-15. End note.) Germany Wants to Cancel September 30 JCG -------------- ¶10. (SBU) Germany (Richter) announced the next "Berlin Seminar on Conventional Arms Control" on CFE and Southeastern Europe to be held September 29 - October 1. Richter proposed canceling the September 30 JCG meeting to accommodate delegates participating in the seminar. The U.S., the UK, and Luxembourg supported the proposal, Neighbour noting that the JCG schedule for the autumn session (JCG.INF/23/08) was only indicative and the only firm dates on it were those for the opening and closing meetings of the session. The chair agreed to return to the proposal at the next JCG meeting. Canada Plans Inspection in Georgia -------------- ¶11. (SBU) Separately, Canada informed the U.S. delegation that it plans to request an inspection of Georgia. Canada did not say when and which part of Georgia it has in mind. Next Meeting -------------- ¶12. (U) The next meeting of the JCG will be on September 23, to be chaired by the Netherlands. FINLEY