Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08USOSCE268
2008-11-06 14:07:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Mission USOSCE
Cable title:  

HELSINKI MINISTERIAL THE FOCUS OF EUR PDAS RIES,

Tags:  OSCE PGOV PREL 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO4712
PP RUEHFL RUEHLA RUEHMRE RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHVEN #0268/01 3111407
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 061407Z NOV 08
FM USMISSION USOSCE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6021
INFO RUCNOSC/ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY IN EUROPE COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 USOSCE 000268 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/05/2018
TAGS: OSCE PGOV PREL
SUBJECT: HELSINKI MINISTERIAL THE FOCUS OF EUR PDAS RIES,
VISIT TO THE OSCE

Classified By: Ambassador J. Finley for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

Summary
-------

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 USOSCE 000268

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/05/2018
TAGS: OSCE PGOV PREL
SUBJECT: HELSINKI MINISTERIAL THE FOCUS OF EUR PDAS RIES,
VISIT TO THE OSCE

Classified By: Ambassador J. Finley for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

Summary
--------------


1. (C) The OSCE Secretary General, the Chairman-in-Office,
and several PermReps told visiting EUR PDAS Marcie Ries
November 3-4 that the OSCE faced new challenges, and
expressed frustration at the organization's inability to take
action on key issues, including additional military
monitoring officers for Georgia and extra-budgetary projects
in Afghanistan. With the Helsinki Ministerial approaching,
current prospects for success were considered low,
underscoring the importance of American leadership, including
the participation of Secretary Rice. Interlocutors also
expressed concern about Russia's obstructionist role, noting
Russia seemed intent on undermining fundamental OSCE
commitments; their concerns appeared well founded, as Russian
PermRep Azimov expressed Russia's interest in "refreshing"
previously agreed documents and underscored Russia's desire
to discuss the future of European security. PDAS Ries
acknowledged the OSCE faced challenges, but argued the
organization provided a valuable forum for dialogue; its
membership made it the only European security organization at
which Russia and others had seats at the table as equals. In
an era when Russia likely would continue to assert its weight
in a negative way, she stressed the importance of patient
contacts and close coordination among the Quad, the EU, and
NATO. End Summary.

OSCE Secretary General
--------------


2. (C) OSCE Secretary General Marc Perrin de Brichambaut and
PDAS Ries discussed Russian attitudes toward the OSCE and
reviewed likely obstacles ahead of the December 4-5 Helsinki
Ministerial, including how to handle Georgia. The SG
provided a brief read-out of his recent visit to Moscow,
where he insisted Russia would be unable to avoid some
Ministerial focus on Georgia. The SG underlined the apparent
Russian interest in revisiting certain principles of European
security, while also noting French President Sarkozy's belief
that any summit outcome should be anchored in existing OSCE
structures and commitments. He called Russian FM Lavrov "the
great inventor of chaos" and said he felt Russia was prepared

to question the basis of all OSCE institutions. On the two
U.S.-backed OSCE border assistance projects for Afghanistan
effectively scuttled this year by the Russians, the SG
suggested some Russian willingness to revisit them next year.

CPC Director
--------------


3. (SBU) Ambassador Herbert Salber, Director of the OSCE's
Conflict Prevention Centre (CPC),outlined prospects for
progress on several regional conflicts, noting prospects for
genuine progress in Nagorno-Karabakh (to counterbalance a
likely stalemate on OSCE activities in Georgia) appeared more
likely than in Transnistria. He also detailed the major work
and accomplishments of a number of OSCE field missions,
remarking that the Croatia Mission might be ready to close by
the end of next year, and noting that police reform had
stalled in Bosnia, while emphasizing that election monitoring
capabilities remained crucial for Albania. The key added
value of the CPC, Salber said, was to provide OSCE
participating States with impartial information about certain
regions to enable a thorough and comprehensive debate and to
support the work of the field missions.

Broad Discussions on OSCE Advantages
--------------


4. (SBU) In a meeting with the NATO Caucus, several EU
PermReps commented that the OSCE still had a vital role to
play on human rights, early warning, conflict prevention, and
crisis management. The quick response to the conflict in
Georgia, in the middle of a European summer break, was
evidence of this, they said. UK PermRep Cliff said Georgia
had given the OSCE a slightly higher profile, and added he
thought participating States undervalued the work of the High
Commissioner on National Minorities. Several PermReps also
asked how the OSCE should work with a resurgent Russia,
adding that the OSCE's answer to that question would have a
significant impact on its future success.


5. (SBU) At a gathering of key PermReps, including the
Chairmen-in-Office for 2008-2010, interlocutors emphasized
that the OSCE provides a useful forum for dialogue, despite
recent difficulties with Russia. While the consensus-based
decision-making mechanism at times limits action, Finnish
PermRep Turunen remarked, the organization remains flexible,
as demonstrated by its quick deployment of military

USOSCE 00000268 002 OF 003

SUBJECT: HELSINKI MINISTERIAL THE FOCUS OF EUR PDAS RIES,
VISIT TO TH%u$Q:1HG=KQound, and declared they would counter
any attempt by Russia to undermine basic commitments. UK
Deputy PermRep Cole questioned Russia's evident desire to
weaken the organization, noting Russia should have some
incentive to work within the body, as it saved Russia from
political isolation and was the sole organization in which
Russia had an equal voice in the business of the security of
Europe. He and others agreed they were unsure what Russia
hoped to gain from President Medvedev's proposed new security
architecture, and said they were unconvinced Russia had a
clear goal in mind. Still, the Swedish, Kazakh, Greek, and
Dutch PermReps were eager for a debate on European security
at Helsinki and warm to the proposal of a future summit.
Turkey cautioned that summit preparations are complicated and
all-consuming, and suggested all delegations needed to think
through what they hoped to achieve with greater clarity
before cavalierly setting up a summit. All agreed the OSCE
faces new challenges, and would have to respond with renewed
energy.

Chairman-in-Office Meeting
--------------


6. (SBU) In a November 4 meeting with the
Chairman-in-Office, Finnish PermRep Turunen highlighted a
draft Ministerial decision honoring the 60th anniversary of
the Declaration of Human Rights, but admitted much about the
Ministerial remained uncertain, as the Chairman-in-Office had
yet to finalize its approach to a possible political
declaration and expected Ministerial discussions on Georgia
and broader European security issues. Turunen mentioned "the
future of security structures in Europe" had emerged as a
possible theme for the Ministerial's December 4 working
lunch; PDAS Ries objected to any implication the USG was open
to re-thinking existing structures, and suggested avoiding
any suggestion we were willing to rethink architecture.
Turunen said he would consider it, noting security questions
and Georgia (including the renewal of the mandate of the OSCE
Mission to Georgia) likely would be key topics of discussion.
Turunen urged Secretary Rice to join the 24 other Foreign
Ministers who had already confirmed their participation in
the Helsinki Ministerial; many, he said, would stay for
dinner December 4, although it would not be a working event.
PDAS Ries promised to convey the Finns' desire for the
Secretary's participation and encouraged the
Chairman-in-Office to work closely with the United States,
the EU, and others to prepare for the Ministerial.

Russian PermRep
--------------


7. (SBU) In a subsequent meeting, Russian PermRep Azimov
told PDAS Ries a political declaration remained Russia's
"main priority" for the Ministerial ) and could perhaps
clear the way for discussions on "modernizing" existing
European security structures ) but said any reference to
regional conflicts would make consensus difficult. Azimov
said he believed the Chairman-in-Office had prepared a draft
declaration and expected Finnish Foreign Minister Stubb to
discuss it during an upcoming trip to Moscow. He added
Russia remained optimistic about the chances of reaching
consensus on regional statements on Moldova and
Nagorno-Karabakh if new developments made them worthwhile,
and said Russia remained committed to finding peaceful
resolutions to the conflicts. According to Azimov, Russia had
repeatedly told Moldovan and Transnistrian officials that
Georgia and Kosovo were not precedents; Russia would not
support secessionist movements and would seek a solution
respecting Moldova's territorial integrity.


8. (SBU) Turning to Georgia, Azimov claimed South Ossetian
authorities were willing to discuss their relationship with
the OSCE and had expressed interest in an OSCE office in
Tskhinvali; he added authorities were also willing to discuss
access to South Ossetia for the eight original OSCE monitors.
Azimov acknowledged discussions on the mandate of the OSCE
Mission to Georgia would be difficult, and withheld
speculation on possible solutions. On security issues,
Azimov said Russia had an interest in "refreshing" previously
agreed documents, including the Helsinki Final Act.
According to Azimov, existing commitments had failed in
Kosovo, South Ossetia, and Abhkazia, where territorial
integrity had given way to self-determination. PDAS Ries
responded by expressing strong support for the OSCE and its
founding principles, noting the need for states to meet
existing obligations, and arguing existing institutions
remained sound; she suggested it was certain States' failure
to work within existing organizations that created problems.
She told Azimov she hoped Russia would exhibit flexibility in
discussions on the political declaration and other issues,

USOSCE 00000268 003 OF 003


including the Afghanistan package and the mandate of the OSCE
Mission to Georgia, and encouraged Russia to adopt a
constructive approach to negotiations.


9. (U) PDAS Ries has cleared this cable.
SCOTT