DELIVERY OF GROUND TRANSPORTATION CARGO INVENTORY

UNCLAS STATE 018619 SENSITIVE SIPDIS MOSCOW FOR DTRO-M/ACID GENEVA FOR JCIC E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KACT PARM START JCIC US RS BO SUBJECT: DELIVERY OF GROUND TRANSPORTATION CARGO INVENTORY LISTS TO RUSSIA REF: A. 02 GENEVA 1134 (JCIC-XXIV-055) ¶B. STATE 008377 (ANC/STR 09-72/144A) ¶C. STATE 015669 (ANC/STR 09-118/144B) ¶1. (SBU) Background. On March 20, 2002, the United States, Belarus, and Russia reached agreement in the START Treaty,s Joint Compliance and Inspection Commission (JCIC) regarding use of ground transportation and related services, provided by a Russian commercial cargo carrier designated by the Russian Government, to transport U.S. equipment and supplies to/from the U.S. START Continuous Portal Monitoring Facility (VPMF) located near Votkinsk, Russia (Ref A). The U.S. Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) is the designated U.S. government agency responsible for implementing the terms of the Ground Transportation Agreement (GTA). Raytheon Technical Services Company (RTSC) is the U.S. commercial logistics contractor designated by DTRA to coordinate the provision of GTA-mandated services with the Russian commercial cargo carrier (Votkinsk Plant State Production Association). The Russian Nuclear Risk Reduction Center (RNRRC) and the Belarusian National Agency for Control and Inspections (NAKI) have been designated by their respective governments as the agencies responsible for implementation of the GTA. ¶2. (SBU) On January 30, 2009, and February 20, 2009, the RNRRC and the NAKI were notified, via U.S. START notifications (Refs B and C),regarding the U.S. intent to conduct the next VPMF Ground Transportation Resupply Mission. As outlined in Refs B and C, the mission is to occur on March 12-26, 2009. On March 12, 2009, the commercial Russian trucks are to arrive at the VPMF where they will be loaded with outbound cargo and depart the VPMF for Darmstadt, Germany (Nathan Hale Army Depot). The trucks are to arrive at Nathan Hale Army Depot on March 19, 2009. On that date, outbound cargo will be offloaded, inbound cargo will be loaded, and the trucks will depart Nathan Hale Army Depot for the return trip to the VPMF. The trucks are to arrive at the VPMF with inbound cargo on March 26, 2009. ¶3. (U) Paragraph 9 of the attachment to the GTA letters states that the United States "shall provide the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation with an inventory of the cargo consisting of equipment and supplies to be delivered to the monitored facility at Votkinsk or removed from that facility." Paragraph 9 also states that the United States shall provide such inventory through its embassy no less than ten days prior to the arrival of the vehicles on the territory of the Republic of Belarus and prior to their arrival on (or departure from) the territory of the Russian Federation." ¶4. (SBU) RTSC, under the direction of DTRA, has prepared cargo inventory lists for the inbound and outbound cargo as required by the GTA. RTSC will be forwarding the cargo inventory lists to Embassy Moscow (DTRO-M/ACID) via unclassified E-mail on or about February 25, 2009. Washington is requesting that Embassy Moscow deliver the inventory lists to appropriate host nation government officials. Due to manning issues at Embassy Minsk, the inventory lists will be delivered directly to the NAKI by the U.S. Nuclear Risk Reduction Center via a service message. ¶5. (SBU) Washington has prepared talking points for host nation representatives which reiterate to Russia and Belarus the obligations contained in the GTA to ensure: (1) expeditious processing of the cargo shipments at the Russian and Belarusian national borders; (2) that the cargo shipments are exempt from all customs duties; and (3) that examination of the cargo shipments is limited to an examination by Russian officials at the VPMF. Washington is requesting that Embassy Moscow deliver the talking points to appropriate host nation government officials in conjunction with the delivery of the inventory lists. The talking points will be delivered to the NAKI via the service message mentioned in paragraph 4 above. ¶6. (SBU) Action request for Embassy Moscow (DTRO-M/ACID): Embassy Moscow is requested to deliver the U.S. Cargo Inventory Lists and the information in paragraph 7 below to appropriate host nation government officials not later than March 2, 2009. Embassy Moscow is further requested to confirm, via cable to Washington and unclassified E-mail to DTRA/OSSM (joseph.myer@dtra.mil, michael.morrill@dtra.mil, and norman.fuss@dtra.mil) and DTRA/OSAS (robert.habashi@dtra.mil and philip.smith@dtra.mil),the delivery of the cargo inventory lists, the name and office of the official to whom they were delivered, the date of delivery, and any comment or reaction provided at that time. ¶7. (SBU) Begin text: -- On January 30, 2009, and February 20, 2009, the Russian Nuclear Risk Reduction Center (RNRRC) and the Belarusian National Agency for Control and Inspections (NAKI) were notified, via U.S. START Treaty notifications ANC/STR 09-72/144A and ANC/STR 09-118/144B, regarding the U.S. intent to conduct the next Ground Transportation Resupply Mission for the U.S. Votkinsk Portal Monitoring Facility (VPMF) on March 12-26, 2009. -- The commercial Russian trucks are expected to arrive at the VPMF on or about March 12, 2009. Upon arrival, the trucks will be loaded with outbound cargo and depart the VPMF for Darmstadt, Germany (Nathan Hale Army Depot). The trucks are expected to arrive at Nathan Hale Army Depot on or about March 19, 2009. Upon arrival, outbound cargo will be offloaded, inbound cargo will be loaded, and the trucks will depart Nathan Hale Army Depot for the return trip to the VPMF. The trucks are expected to arrive at the VPMF with inbound cargo on or about March 26, 2009. -- The U.S. Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) has prepared, in accordance with paragraph 9 of the attachment to the March 20, 2002, Ground Transportation Agreement (GTA) letters, inventory lists for cargo consisting of equipment and supplies to be delivered to or removed from the monitored facility at Votkinsk. These inventory lists are being provided to the Russian and Belarusian governments as required by the GTA. -- DTRA appreciates the assistance of the RNRRC, NAKI, and other appropriate Russian and Belarusian Government agencies, in ensuring that the inbound and outbound cargo shipments are expeditiously processed at the Russian and Belarusian national borders and exempt from all customs duties (in accordance with paragraph 12 of the attachment to the GTA letters); and are examined solely by Russian officials at the VPMF (in accordance with paragraph 11 of the attachment to the GTA letters). -- DTRA looks forward to the continued successful implementation of the GTA for this and all future Ground Transportation Resupply Missions. End Text. CLINTON