Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09GENEVA470
2009-06-12 13:52:00
SECRET
US Mission Geneva
Cable title:  

JCIC-XXXIV: (U) RUSSIAN CLOSING PLENARY

Tags:  KACT PARM START JCIC INF US RS UP BO KZ 
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DE RUEHGV #0470/01 1631352
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
O 121352Z JUN 09
FM USMISSION GENEVA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8640
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RHEHNSC/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
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RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO IMMEDIATE 4588
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RUESDT/DTRA-OSES DARMSTADT GE IMMEDIATE
RUENAAA/CNO WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RHMFISS/DIRSSP WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
INFO RUEHTA/AMEMBASSY ASTANA PRIORITY 1753
RUEHKV/AMEMBASSY KYIV PRIORITY 0761
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PRIORITY 5929
S E C R E T GENEVA 000470 

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: 06/01/2019
TAGS: KACT PARM START JCIC INF US RS UP BO KZ
SUBJECT: JCIC-XXXIV: (U) RUSSIAN CLOSING PLENARY
STATEMENT, JUNE 11, 2009

Classified By: Jerry A. Taylor, United States Representative
to the Joint Compliance and Inspection Commission.
Reasons: 1.4(b) and (d).

S E C R E T GENEVA 000470

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: 06/01/2019
TAGS: KACT PARM START JCIC INF US RS UP BO KZ
SUBJECT: JCIC-XXXIV: (U) RUSSIAN CLOSING PLENARY
STATEMENT, JUNE 11, 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-019.


2. (U) At paragraph 3 below is the official translation of
the text of the Russian Statement that was delivered at the
Closing Plenary Meeting of the Thirty-fourth Session of the
START Treaty's Joint Compliance and Inspection Commission
(JCIC),held at the U.S. Mission on June 11, 2009.


3. (S) Begin text:

Official Translation

JCIC-XXXIV
Plenary Meeting
June 11, 2009

Statement
by the Representative of the Russian Federation

Esteemed Colleagues,

Today we are summing up the results of the Thirty-fourth
Session of the Joint Compliance and Inspection Commission for
the START Treaty.

We believe that there was a businesslike and
constructive atmosphere at this session, which enabled us to
shorten the list of problems on which we still have
differences.

I

This was one of the last JCIC sessions before START
expiration, where we could interact directly and engage in
substantive discussion of issues related to the Parties'
implementation of the Treaty provisions. I state this with
confidence because Russian President D. A. Medvedev and U.S.
President Barack Obama noted in London on April 1 "that the
START Treaty, which expires in December 2009, has completely
fulfilled its intended purpose and that the maximum levels
for strategic offensive arms recorded in the Treaty were

reached long ago. They have therefore decided to move
further along the path of reducing and limiting strategic
offensive arms in accordance with Russian and U.S.
obligations under Article VI of the Treaty on the
Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons."

In the Russian side's view, among the positive aspects
of this session one should cite the mutual interest of the
Parties in resolving a number of problems related to
implementation of the Treaty's verification and inspection
mechanism.

Specifically, the Russian side is pleased with U.S.
efforts to resolve a problem that arose during the initial
phase of Treaty implementation, i.e., inspection of the front
section of the Minuteman III ICBM. We hope that following
the demonstration, the concerns long expressed by the Russian
side in the JCIC will be resolved and this "ancient" problem
will be closed out.

There was a detailed discussion of the issue of

verification procedures for the front section of the SS-27
ICBM. We understand the U.S. concerns regarding this
problem, and we will give some additional thought to what
could be done to resolve them.

Among the issues that were resolved at this JCIC session
is the reattribution of Peacekeeper ICBM silo launchers at
Warren. The Russian side welcomes the U.S. actions to
correct the errors in the MOU data update. We trust that
once the relevant notifications have been provided, this
issue can be closed out.

We also note that at this session there was a detailed
discussion of the issues related to the exit of SS-27 ICBMs
through the portal at Votkinsk. Responding to the U.S.
side's request for updated photographs, we believe we will
find it possible to resolve this issue in a positive way.

The Russian side is also pleased with the discussion of
the problem of the legal status of the Courtland facility
under the Treaty. We will study the explanations provided by
the U.S. side and the relevant documents we received right
before and during this session, and we will provide a
response on the substance of these problems at a later date.

There was a useful exchange of views on the issue of
closing POEs. The Russian side took note of the U.S. side's
intention to resolve these problems well ahead of time and
within the legal framework of Russian legislation, and we
will be prepared to provide the necessary assistance.

II

Regrettably, at this session we were not able to reach
final agreement on and formalize, in legal terms, the accords
on closing the portal at Votkinsk and removing U.S. equipment
and property from the continuous monitoring facility. The
Russian position on this issue was set forth with the utmost
clarity. We trust that the U.S. side will complete its
internal coordination of this important and necessary package
of documents in the very near future.

III

We believe that some outstanding issues require further
study during the intersessional period.

This applies primarily to the procedures for converting
B-1 heavy bombers to bombers equipped to carry non-nuclear
armaments, as well as issues related to the basing of such
bombers. We hope that the U.S. side will do its utmost to
resolve the existing concerns. For our part, we are prepared
for joint constructive work.

IV

We took note of the Ukrainian concerns with respect to
expiration of the START Treaty on December 5 of this year.
We will take the Ukrainian Delegation's proposals with us for
analysis. We intend to carefully study all the points made
and present our response. Consideration will also be given
to Ukraine's proposal to convene an extraordinary session of
the Commission before the START Treaty expires.

V

In conclusion, allow me to thank all the participants in
this session for their productive cooperation, to wish
everyone who is returning home a good trip, and to express
the hope that our successful joint work will continue.

End text.


4. (U) Taylor sends.
STORELLA