START FOLLOW-ON NEGOTIATIONS, GENEVA

S E C R E T GENEVA 001183 SIPDIS DEPT FOR T, VCI AND EUR/PRA DOE FOR NNSA/NA-24 CIA FOR WINPAC JCS FOR J5/DDGSA SECDEF FOR OSD(P)/STRATCAP NAVY FOR CNO-N5JA AND DIRSSP AIRFORCE FOR HQ USAF/ASX AND ASXP DTRA FOR OP-OS OP-OSA AND DIRECTOR NSC FOR LOOK DIA FOR LEA E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/17/2019 TAGS: KACT MARR PARM PREL RS US START SUBJECT: START FOLLOW-ON NEGOTIATIONS, GENEVA (SFO-GVA-VII): (U) ICELAND OFFERS TO HOST START FOLLOW-ON SIGNING CEREMONY Classified By: A/S Rose E. Gottemoeller, United States START Negotiator. Reasons: 1.4(b) and (d). ¶1. (U) This is SFO-GVA-VII-112. ¶2. (S) Deputy Head of Delegation Ambassador Marcie Ries met with Ambassador Kristinn Arnason, Iceland's Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva at 1:30 p.m., December 8, 2009, at the U.S. Mission. Arnason requested the meeting to ensure the United States was aware that Iceland was ready to host a START Follow-on (SFO) treaty signing ceremony. ¶3. (S) Arnason delivered a non-paper as follows: Begin text: An article in the New York Times on 2 December stated that officials in Geneva were talking about holding a signing ceremony of the new arms treaty between Russia and the United States in Reykjavik, the scene of the 1986 Summit between President Gorbachev and President Reagan. The Icelandic government is ready to offer Iceland as the venue for the signing ceremony. In light of the Summit in 1986, Iceland is historically equally important to both Russia and the U.S. A signing ceremony in Iceland would be very symbolic and have an added attraction to the media. We can prepare such a signing ceremony with short notice. The signing ceremony could take place at Hofdi House or elsewhere in Iceland. End text. ¶4. (S) Ries responded that we did not yet know when the new treaty would be ready to be signed but bore in mind the President's comment that the treaty should be ready for signature by thQend of the year. Ries said she appreciated Iceland's gracious offer and their willingness to organize an event even on short notice. She said she would convey the offer to Washington. ¶5. (S) Arnason said he delivered the same points to Russian Head of Delegation, Ambassador Antonov, and that Iceland's Ambassador in Washington hoped to soon convey the points to the Department. ¶6. (U) Gottemoeller sends. GRIFFITHS