OPEN SKIES 27 OCTOBER: U.S. GETS 15TH MISSION

UNCLAS USOSCE 000259 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR VCI/CCA, EUR/PRA JCS FOR COL NORWOOD OSD FOR ISA PERENYI NSC FOR HAYES E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OSCE PARM PREL SUBJECT: OPEN SKIES 27 OCTOBER: U.S. GETS 15TH MISSION ¶1. (SBU) Summary: At the 27 October Plenary, the Open Skies Consultative Commission (OSCC) adopted a decision to increase the U.S. number of active missions over Russia from 14 to a record number of 15 for 2008. The OSCC also adopted the Decision on the Distribution of Active Quotas for Observation Flights in 2009. The Informal Working Group on Sensors (IWGS) will meet from 8-12 December. The IWGS will focus on three decisions that are necessary for the certification and operation of modern digital aerial cameras. The Chairman of the Informal Working Group on Rules and Procedures (IWGRP) reported that there was progress on the alternate airfields draft decision being led by Slovakia and that discussion had started on a revision of Decision Number One. Romania and Italy summarized the recent successful certification events involving the Romania AN-30B aircraft and a sensor of the "POD" group. ¶2. (SBU) At the IWGRP, which met following the Plenary, there was broad support for Slovakia's draft decision on alternate airfields. However, Canada questioned the utility of the decision and voiced concern that it would infringe on the aircraft commander's ability to decide where best to land in an emergency. End Summary. Active Quotas...Russia-4...USA-15...USA: 9 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶3. (SBU) Belarus (Pavlov) chaired the 47th Session of the OSCC. In quick succession, the OSCC adopted the decision on "Revision Five to Decision No. 7/07 on the Distribution of Active Quotas for Observation Flights in the Year 2008" (OSCC.DEC/7/08) and Decision No. 8/08, "the Distribution of Active Quotas for Observation Flights in the Year 2009" (OSCC.DEC/8/08). Decision 7/08 was sponsored by the U.S. and Romania. The decision facilitates the sharing of an observation flight between Romania and the United States. Additionally, this decision raised the number of U.S. active missions over Russia from 14 to 15, a record. Decision 8/08 was a formal distribution of active quotas to all States Parties for 2009. This was the result of the active quota distribution meeting held on 9-10 October. Sensors...Redistribution of Work - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶4. (SBU) On behalf of the IWGS Chairman Scott Simmons, the U.S. (Neighbour) delivered the IWGS status report to the Plenary. Neighbour announced that the next Informal Working Group on Sensors will meet from 8-12 December. The focus of the December meeting will be on "Revision One to Decision 14," "the new Digital Image Processing Decision," and "Revision Two to Decision 17." Neighbour reported that the three decisions are necessary to create a complete program for the certification and operation of modern digital aerial cameras for the Treaty on Open Skies. Neighbour told the Plenary that Scott Simmons was optimistic for a successful week in December. (OSCC47.JOUR/147, Annex 1) Rules and Procedures...Chairman Over-confident? - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶5. (SBU) Alexander Kozlov, Chairman of the Informal Working Group on Rules and Procedures, reported that the working group is preparing a draft decision on alternate airfields as well as a draft revision of Decision No. One. Kozlov said that there was progress on the latest draft decision from Slovakia on alternate airfields (OSCC.RP/13/08/Rev.3). He felt the latest version was acceptable and could be adopted at the next Plenary. The Chairman informed the OSCC that the draft decision "Revision Five of Decision Number One" (OSCC.RP/17/08) should not be difficult to approve because it is an update of "Revision Four of Decision Number One" with the 150 Euros per diem rate that was approved last year as well as incorporating the current draft decision on alternate airfield. Kozlov was also confident that "Revision Five of Decision Number One" would be ready for adoption at the 24 November Plenary. Certification Event...Open Skies is "Alive and Well" - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶6. (SBU) Under the agenda item "Information on certification events," Romania (Matei) informed the Plenary of the recent successful Romanian certification events held from September 15-21. Matei said 22 Treaty States Parties and Serbia participated in the certification. Experts conducted ground and aerial examination of the AN-30B aircraft as well as Romania's Open Skies photographic laboratory. She revealed that due to bad weather, flight testing had to be conducted in Greece on September 18. Matei thanked Greece for its cooperation and assistance in allowing the certification flights to take place. Matei stated that Romania now looks forward to fully exercising its rights under the Treaty on Open Skies. ¶7. (SBU) Italian senior military advisor (Landi),speaking on behalf of the POD group, thanked all States Parties, and in particular Romania and Greece, for their participation in the certification event (Note: the POD group also certified one of their sensor configurations at the Romania certification event. End note). Landi commented that the certification event displays the Treaty's spirit of cooperation by all States Parties. He opined that the Treaty is "alive and well." Treaty Implementation...The Way It Is Supposed to Be - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶8. (SBU) Turkey and Russia reported the various active and passive observation flights they have participated in since the last Plenary. Both delegations reported that flights were conducted in accordance with the provisions of the Treaty and in the spirit of mutual understanding and cooperation. Russia (Kozlov) put special emphasis on the recent US/IT observation flight (6-10 October) that flew "across" Russian territory. Kozlov told the Plenary that the logistical issues of landing and/or refueling at Khabarovsk, Ulan Ude, Novosibirsk, and Kubinka were conducted very smoothly. JCG in Vienna or OS in Berlin? - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶9. (SBU) Germany (Ratzlaff) informed the Plenary of the upcoming Berlin Seminars on Conventional Arms Control, Seminar on Aspects of Open Skies Platforms (OSS.INF/23/08). Ratzlaff invited all to attend the November 13-14 meeting and reiterated that the focus of the discussion will be future Open Skies aircraft. Any Other Business - - - - - - - - - - ¶10. (SBU) Belarus (Pavlov),in its capacity as OSCC Chairman, informed delegations that it will conduct an informal plenary meeting on November 10 to discuss the OSCC Chairman's letter to the Ministerial Council. Although consensus on the letter is not a requirement, Pavlov hoped to discuss the content of the letter and get it ready for adoption at the November 24 Plenary. Decisions...Not Ready For Primetime - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶11. (SBU) The Informal Working Group on Rules and Procedures, under Russian Chairmanship, met immediately following the Plenary. The focus of the discussion was on Slovakia's latest draft decision on alternate airfields (OSCC.RP/13/08/Rev.3) and the new draft decision "Revision Five of Decision Number One" (OSCC.RP/17/08). Canada (Linteau) initiated the discussion on alternate airfields by voicing its objection to the draft decision. Linteau said Canadian experts thought the decision/procedure was cumbersome and complicated. He said Canada's position was due to its belief that the aircraft captain had the ultimate authority to designate an alternate airfield, that flight safety was paramount, and that States Parties should provide all available data on suitable alternate airfield to facilitate a safe observation flight. Canada feared that this decision could limit the options currently available to an aircraft captain during an emergency. Citing recent Canadian flexibility to allow a Russian Open Skies aircraft to land at a non-designated alternate airfield in Gander, Newfoundland, Linteau asked the working group to reconsider the idea of a decision to designate alternate airfields (OSCC.RP/19/08). ¶12. (SBU) France, Russia, and the U.S. indicated they had additional changes to submit for consideration by Slovakia. Romania and Belarus were awaiting instructions from their capitals on the current draft. Germany agreed with the current version, but would need time to reconsider its support with any changes from other delegations. The working group chair asked all delegations to send additional comments to Slovakia for discussion at the next meeting. ¶13. (SBU) The IWGRP Chairman (Kozlov) opened the discussion on "Revision Five of Decision Number One" decision with a proposed change to the last paragraph of Section V.2. Kozlov said that several delegations had informed him that the text was confusing. As a result he proposed deleting the last sentence in the paragraph and replacing it with "In the event of a deviation from the flight plan for reasons within the control of the observing Party, these additional costs shall be paid by the observing Party." USDEL (Duong),per guidance email from VCI/CCA/Marvin on 24 October, offered another version to the working group. Duong suggested that the last sentence of the paragraph be deleted and replaced with "any additional costs of accommodation and meals resulting from deviations from the flight plan of the observation flight for reasons other than those in accordance with Article VIII, Section II, paragraphs 5(a),5(b) or 5(c) shall be paid by the observing Party." Kozlov promised to incorporate the U.S. suggestion in the next draft. On the margin, Canada and the U.K. commented that the U.S. version was much more agreeable. ¶14. (SBU) The IWGRP Chairman urged all delegations to get their inputs on the two decisions to Slovakia and the Russian Federation as soon as possible. Kozlov hoped to finalize the draft decisions at the next working group meeting in order for the decisions to be adopted at the November 24 Plenary. Next Meeting - - - - - - - ¶15. (U) The next OSCC Plenary will be on November 24. There will be an informal OSCC Plenary meeting on November ¶10. The next Informal Working Group on Rules and Procedures will be on November 10. FINLEY