JCIC-XXXIV: (U) BELARUSIAN OPENING PLENARY

S E C R E T GENEVA 000439 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: 06/09/2019 TAGS: KACT PARM START JCIC INF US RS UP BO KZ SUBJECT: JCIC-XXXIV: (U) BELARUSIAN OPENING PLENARY STATEMENT, JUNE 8, 2009 Classified By: Jerry A. Taylor, United States Representative to the Joint Compliance and Inspection Commission. Reasons: 1.4(b) and (d). ¶1. (U) This is JCIC-XXXIV-005. ¶2. (U) At paragraph 3 below is the official translation of the text of the Belarusian Statement that was delivered at the Opening Plenary Meeting of the Thirty-fourth Session of the START Treaty's Joint Compliance and Inspection Commission (JCIC),held at the Russian Mission on June 8, 2009. ¶3. (S) Begin text: Official Translation Statement by the Delegation of the Republic of Belarus at the Plenary Meeting of the Thirty-fourth Session of the Joint Compliance and Inspection Commission Geneva June 8, 2009 Esteemed Mr. Chairman, Esteemed Representatives, Heads, and Members of the Delegations of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Russian Federation, the United States of America, and Ukraine, The Delegation of the Republic of Belarus greets its START Treaty partners as we begin the work of this latest session of the Joint Compliance and Inspection Commission, JCIC-XXXIV. At JCIC-XXXIII we witnessed a constructive dialogue aimed at resolving issues related to notification and inspection activities under the Treaty. We expect that at this session the dialogue will continue in the same positive atmosphere, which will make it possible to concretize ways of resolving concerns, specifically, on such issues as conversion of heavy bombers at Davis-Monthan, Minuteman III RVOSI, the status of the Courtland facility, and SS-25 RVOSI. We also express our readiness for constructive work on issues regarding completion of continuous monitoring at Votkinsk and closing POEs. At JCIC-XXXIII we began discussing issues related to expiration of the START Treaty in accordance with paragraph 2 of Article XVII of the Treaty. In this connection, there was an important exchange of views concerning the future regime for verification of strategic offensive arms after December ¶2009. The Russian Federation and the United States have already taken concrete steps in this direction and are holding intensive consultations on the future Treaty. We reaffirm our willingness to get involved in this work in a very serious manner. In light of the approaching START expiration date, we believe it is important to discuss the question of adopting a document that would reflect the contribution of the Parties to implementation of the Treaty and that would confirm the existing obligations in connection with the START Treaty, as well as the commitment to further reduction of strategic offensive arms. This will send a clear signal to the international community regarding the Parties' intention to preserve the security architecture created by the Treaty and to develop key agreements in the area of strategic offensive arms. We hope that a substantive dialogue at JCIC-XXXIV will make it possible to work out acceptable solutions to the issues raised for discussion. Thank you. End text. ¶4. (U) Taylor sends. STORELLA