Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08USOSCE66
2008-03-11 12:47:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Mission USOSCE
Cable title:  

MARCH 10 OPEN SKIES TREATY PLENARY: AGREEMENT ON

Tags:  PARM PREL OSCE 
pdf how-to read a cable
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DE RUEHVEN #0066 0711247
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 111247Z MAR 08
FM USMISSION USOSCE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5599
INFO RUEKJCS/DIA WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RHMFIUU/HQ USAFE RAMSTEIN AB GE//POLAD/XPXC//
RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE//ECJ5-T/ECCS/ECPLAD//
RUEAHQA/HQ USAF WASHINGTON DC//XONP//
RUEASWA/DTRA ALEX WASHINGTON DC//OSAO
RUESDT/DTRA-OSES DARMSTADT GE
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J5-DDPMA-E/DDPMA-IN/CAC//
UNCLAS USOSCE 000066 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR VCI/CCA, EUR/PRA, EUR/RPM, SCA/CEN
JCS FOR NORWOOD
OSD FOR ISA (PERENYI)
NSC FOR DOWLEY

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PARM PREL OSCE
SUBJECT: MARCH 10 OPEN SKIES TREATY PLENARY: AGREEMENT ON
PRINCIPLES FOR SENSORS, WORK ON TEXT STARTED


UNCLAS USOSCE 000066

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR VCI/CCA, EUR/PRA, EUR/RPM, SCA/CEN
JCS FOR NORWOOD
OSD FOR ISA (PERENYI)
NSC FOR DOWLEY

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PARM PREL OSCE
SUBJECT: MARCH 10 OPEN SKIES TREATY PLENARY: AGREEMENT ON
PRINCIPLES FOR SENSORS, WORK ON TEXT STARTED



1. (SBU) SUMMARY: The Open Skies Consultative Commission
(OSCC) Plenary met on March 10 in its last formal session
before the Spring OSCE break. It heard the Chairman's
report of the Informal Working Group on Sensors to the
Plenary and for the German Chairman to pass the leadership
over to the United States, which assumes leadership for the
next part of the session (April - July). Russia informed the
forum of its Open Skies activities in February and March.
END SUMMARY.


2. (SBU) During the March 10 OSCC Plenary, Chairman Simmons
(U.S.) of the Informal Working Group on Sensors reported on
the past two weeks of the Group meetings. The first week was
devoted to commercial aerial camera manufacturers and
technical discussions which allowed the members to gain new
insights and understandings through dialogue and interface
with industry experts. Representative from seven companies
provided a good understanding of the various commercial
digital camera systems commonly used on aircraft today, as
well as the digital processing being used by these
manufacturers to produce imagery.


3. (SBU) The second week was devoted to completing Revision
One to Decision 14, which is almost completed, and building
the basis for the Digital Image Processing Decision. The
Working Group achieved an agreement on the basis of
principles and have begun work on actual text. When
completed, these two decisions will define the specifications
and protocols for certifying digital aerial cameras for use
in the Open Skies Treaty and provide a foundation for Open
Skies sensors well into the next decade.


4. (SBU) Russia reported that it had conducted four
observation flights; Lithuania 18-22 February, Estonia 25-29
February, and Croatia 3-7 March. Russia also conducted a
joint mission with Sweden over the U.S. 2-10 March. There
were also three observation flights flown over Russia;
Canada 4-8 February, joint Germany and France 18-22 February,
and Norway 3-7 March which was not completed due to weather.


5. (SBU) Concerning the 500th Open Skies Mission flight,
Russia confirmed that according to its calculations, this
flight would occur during the second part of the session
between April and July. Germany, as Chairman, agreed and
supported some type of ceremony marking the date.


6. (SBU) As at the end of each session comes change of
personnel, The forum bid farewell to Jean-Micheal Vidal of
France. Additionally, the Chairman (Germany, Ratzlaff)
quietly spoke of the Decision on the future work of the
sensor Informal Working Group and noted that it was normal
for intensity to increase as the session continued into the
Spring and Summer. Ratzlaff highlighted the decision that
needed to be agreed upon return would be the deadline on the
scales of distribution for provisional application through
2007, which needed updated for 2008.


7. The next formal Open Skies Plenary will take place on
April 7, 2008 under the Chairmanship of the United States.
SCOTT