JCIC-XXXIV: (U) RUSSIAN OPENING PLENARY

S E C R E T GENEVA 000440 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) RUSSIAN 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-007. ¶2. (U) At paragraph 3 below is the official translation of the text of the Russian 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 JCIC-XXXIV Plenary Meeting June 8, 2009 STATEMENT by the Representative of the Russian Federation Esteemed Colleagues, Allow me, on behalf of the Russian Delegation, to welcome the Belarusian, Kazakhstani, U.S., and Ukrainian Delegations at today's opening of the Thirty-fourth Session of the Joint Compliance and Inspection Commission. I want to express the hope that the productive work done at previous sessions of the Commission will continue at this round of negotiations and that the sides will succeed in making progress in resolving existing problems. We have stressed that this meeting is the last one - in terms of the treaty - at which we could attempt to resolve issues relating to the substance of its operation. In our view, our task is to leave as few unresolved problems as possible. During the intersessional period the Russian side did quite a lot of "homework" and provided the sides with a number of documents through diplomatic channels. The most important of these are the drafts of the JCIC Agreement and letters of exchange governing the completion of continuous monitoring activities at Votkinsk. In our view, completing the work on these documents and signing them is a top priority at JCIC-XXXIV. In that case the U.S. side will have about six months to carry out the necessary measures to cease continuous monitoring activities at Votkinsk in cooperation with the administration of the Votkinsk Machine-Building Plant and the Nuclear Risk Reduction Center of the Russian Federation. We are prepared to provide comprehensive assistance in this regard. We also look forward to continuing discussion of the issues concerning conversion of B-1 heavy bombers to delivery vehicles for non-nuclear armaments, activities at Courtland, and redeclaration of 50 Peacekeeper ICBM silo launchers as launchers of Minuteman III ICBMs. We hope that the U.S. side is interested in resolving these issues as soon as possible. We will also be prepared to consider other issues placed on the Commission's agenda by the START Parties. On behalf of the Russian Delegation, I want to wish everyone successful and productive work. End text. ¶4. (U) Taylor sends. STORELLA