Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09STATE18619
2009-02-27 18:14:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Secretary of State
Cable title:  

DELIVERY OF GROUND TRANSPORTATION CARGO INVENTORY

Tags:  KACT PARM START JCIC US RS BO 
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VZCZCXYZ0020
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHC #8619 0581830
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 271814Z FEB 09
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW IMMEDIATE 0000
INFO RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA IMMEDIATE 0000
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE 0000
RHMFISS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RHMFIUU/DTRA ALEX WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RHMFIUU/DTRA DULLES WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RHMCSUU/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
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)

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