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 -------------- -------------- ¶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 -------------- -------------- USOSCE 00000091 002 OF 004 ¶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. USOSCE 00000091 004 OF 004 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