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
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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
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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?
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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"
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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
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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?
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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
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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
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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
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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