JCIC-XXXIV: (U) RUSSIAN CLOSING PLENARY

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