FSC: APRIL 9 - RUSSIA JUMPS QUEUE TO BLAST ANY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 USOSCE 000091

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR VCI/CCA, VCI/NRRC, EUR/RPM, EUR/PRA, SCA/CEN,
SCA/RA, PM/WRA
JCS FOR J5
OSD FOR ISA (PERENYI)
NSC FOR DOWLEY
USUN FOR LEGAL, POL
CENTCOM FOR CCJ5-C, POLAD
UNVIE FOR AC
GENEVA FOR CD

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PARM PREL OSCE KCFE KV RS XG
SUBJECT: FSC: APRIL 9 - RUSSIA JUMPS QUEUE TO BLAST ANY
U.S. SECURITY AID TO KOSOVO



1. (SBU) Summary: Russia opened the Forum for Security
Cooperation spring-summer session even before the new chair
had a chance to speak by attacking the U.S. for its
announcement that Kosovo, as an independent country, was now
eligible for defense assistance. Russia described this as an
illegal and provocative act, meant to aid the "forces of
repression" in Kosovo.


2. (SBU) Estonia began its chairmanship with opening remarks
calling for Russia to return to implementation of CFE,
continued emphasis on core programs of the OSCE including the
Vienna Document 1999, the Code of Conduct, and the OSCE
Documents on Small Arms and Light Weapons and Stockpiles of
Conventional Weapons. Estonia also plans to make cyber
security a focus of its chairmanship, and has proposed a
special working group meeting and a related agenda for the
Annual Security Review Conference. Estonia hopes the U.S.
provide a Security Dialogue speaker on the subject. End
summary.

Russia Condemns U.S. Defense Cooperation with Kosovo
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3. (SBU) Russia (Ulyanov) declared it had serious concerns
over possible U.S. supply to the Kosovo defense sector
(FSC.DEL/63/08, FSC.JOUR/547/08 Annex 1). Citing UN Security
Council Resolutions 1242 (paragraphs 9b and 15) and 1367,
Ulyanov said U.S. security assistance would undermine the
effectiveness of UN and KFOR efforts to demilitarize Kosovo
and contribute to further tensions in the region. U.S.
security assistance would also violate the spirit of the OSCE
Document on Small Arms and Light Weapons and the OSCE
principles on arms transfers, which require, he said,
participating States to refrain from transfers that could
suppress human rights and fundamental freedoms. Ulyanov
predicted that any U.S. military assistance to Kosovo would
have an adverse impact on the OSCE and the Dayton Article IV
agreement. Russia, he concluded, must assume "these military
supplies" are intended for domestic repressive ends."
Comment: Raising a substantive issue in this manner at the
opening of the session was considered poor form by many, if
not most, of the delegates. End comment.


4. (SBU) In a brief reply, the U.S. (Neighbour) noted that
Russia's comments were unexpected in the opening moments of
the new session but had in any case been addressed by the
U.S. in the Permanent Council on April 3, and referred
delegations to document PC.DEL/245/08. Neighbour said any
security assistance would be in line with the Ahtisaari plan,
which calls for a ministry of defense and a small,
lightly-armed force under strict civilian control that is
able to participate in civil-military activities including
humanitarian relief. He said he would defer any detailed
reply until the next FSC meeting on April 16.


5. (SBU) The UK (Gare) expressed sympathy for the U.S.
position, and endorsed the Ahtisaari plan and its provisions
for a well-disciplined security force as essential to the
future of Kosovo and the larger region (FSC.JOUR/547/08 Annex
2). Ulyanov countered with bitter criticism of the Ahtisaari
plan, claiming it had no legal status.


Opening Statement: But First, a Few Words about CFE
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6. (SBU) Estonia assumed the chairmanship of the FSC for the
spring-summer session that runs until the end of July. Mr.
Lauri Almann, the thirty-something permanent under-secretary
of the Estonian defense ministry (FSC.DEL/61/08/Add.1),in
the opening statement (FSC.DEL/61/08) began with concern over
Russian suspension of implementation of the CFE Treaty,
described as the cornerstone of European security. Almann
repeated the Estonian undertaking to accede to the adapted
CFE Treaty after it enters into force and accession of new
members becomes legally possible.

UNSCR 1540 on the Work Plan
--------------


7. (SBU) Almann said Estonia would continue with the work
program begun under the Spanish chairmanship in January.
This would include strengthening the Security Dialogue to
include discussion of the "most urgent security matters."
Estonia will continue efforts to improve implementation--and
facilitate discussion of possible new initiatives--of core
OSCE documents, including the Code of Conduct, the Vienna
Document 1999, and the OSCE Documents on Small Arms and Light
Weapons (SALW) and Stockpiles of Conventional Ammunition
(SCA). Almann also pledged support to "relevant global
processes" including UN Security Council Resolution 1540 on
preventing proliferation of WMD to non-state actors.

Issue de Session: Cyber Security
--------------


8. (SBU) Almann described cyber security as a new challenge
the OSCE must address. Citing the international cooperation
Estonian received in the wake of the cyber attack on it over
a year ago, Almann invited participating States to contribute
to responses to the cyber threat. Estonia has already
circulated a Food-for-Thought paper (FSC.DEL/60/08) that it
plans to discuss in Working Group B. It will also include
cyber security on the agendas of the joint Permanent
Council-FSC meeting (June 4) and the second
political-military session of the Annual Security Review
Conference (July 1-2).

Security Dialogue Schedule
--------------


9. (SBU) Separately, Estonia has distributed a schedule for
15 FSC meetings, including Security Dialogue presentations on
the Baltic naval Mine Countermeasures Squadron (April 16),
currently commanded by an Estonian, UNIDIR on the ATT process
(May 7),the Baltic Defense College (May 21),the MONDEM
program in Montenegro (May 28),and landmines (July 9)
(FSC.INF/4/08). The Estonian delegation also warned USDel
that Azerbaijan may have "something to say" at the April 16
Security Dialogue. Estonia is very anxious to hear if the
U.S. plans to make presentations at the Security Dialogue,
particularly on cyber security.

Russian Complaints
--------------


10. (SBU) Ulyanov, apparently tone deaf, said he disliked
starting with polemics but had to respond to Estonian
comments on CFE. Russia, he said, only suspended because of
the NATO politically motivated moratorium on ratification of

USOSCE 00000091 003 OF 004


the adapted CFE Treaty. There was nothing, he added, to
prevent Estonia from voluntarily implementing the present
treaty while it waited for entry into force of the adapted
version. When Estonia begins consultations with present CFE
States Parties, it will find Russia a serious and
professional interlocutor.


11. (SBU) Turning to the rest of the Estonian opening
statement, Ulyanov called for a full exchange of views among
participating States on current security issues in the
Security Dialogue, not just reliance on invited guest
speakers. He supported full implementation of OSCE
documents, and in this regard said Russia would renew its
proposal for naval confidence- and security building
mechanisms.


12. (SBU) Ulyanov doubted that the FSC was the correct forum
for cyber security discussion, although he acknowledged it
was a legitimate concern. As the subject dealt mostly with
non-military aspects of security, Ulyanov suggested the
Permanent Council's Security Committee would be a better
forum. Several delegations after the meeting told U.S. rep
(Hnatczuk) that they agreed with Ulyanov on this point.


13. (SBU) Slovenia on behalf of the EU, as well as Spain,
Finland, and the U.S. welcomed Estonia to the chair and
expressed support for its work program.

Mine Action Day
--------------


14. (SBU) Slovenia on behalf of the EU noted the observation
of "Mine Action Day" on April 4 and called on participating
States to accede to the Ottawa Convention.

Ukraine Melange MOU Signed
--------------


15. (SBU) Ukraine announced that the long-awaited MOU between
it and the OSCE for melange disposition had been signed.
Contract tenders were expected soon.

ASEAN-OSCE Cooperation
--------------


16. (SBU) Germany reported a workshop on confidence-building
measures and preventive diplomacy with the ASEAN Regional
Forum sponsored by the EU and Indonesia. The event, held in
Berlin March 12-14, included OSCE representatives, who
reported much interest from ASEAN delegations in OSCE
information exchanges and the use of questionnaires. An
informal working group will be formed to further information
exchange between the OSCE and ASEAN.

Melange Project in Albania
--------------


17. (SBU) Lieutenant Colonel Niels Peterson (Denmark),as FSC
coordinator for SCA, reported the findings of an OSCE visit
to Albania in response to its request for assistance in the
elimination of over 30 thousand liters of melange. Peterson
reported that, because the melange was stored in "precarious"
conditions at three facilities near Tirana, the OSCE planed
to award a sole source contract to the Swedish firm Sarcap.
The melange will be transported to Sweden for elimination.

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The cost of the project is estimated at 60 thousand euros.
Two pS have made preliminary offers to defray the costs.
Albania (Galanxhi) expressed its appreciation.

Next Meeting
--------------


18. (SBU) The chair announced FSC recommendations for the
agenda and modalities of the 2008 Annual Security Review
Conference (July 1-2) will be discussed in Working Group B at
the next FSC meeting on April 16.
FINLEY