VCC: POINTS FOR MARCH 6 MEETINGS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 020411

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/26/2015
TAGS: OSCE PARM PREL KCFE
SUBJECT: VCC: POINTS FOR MARCH 6 MEETINGS

Classified by: Donna A. Phelan, VCI/CCA Acting Office
Director, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (U) This is an action cable. USdel may draw from the
following points during the VCC Meeting and Experts
Meeting on March 6, 2009.


REPORTS ON U.S. VIENNA DOCUMENT ACTIVITIES
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2. (C/REL NATO) The United States conducted an above-
quota, paid CFE inspection of the 36th Separate Coastal
Defense Brigade (S638) at Pereval'noye, Ukraine, from 2
to 5 February 2009. Inspectors assessed the levels of
holdings of TLE for the brigade were as reported by
Ukraine in its CFE data declarations as of 1 January
2009, with the exception of five armored combat vehicles
(ACV's). One BTR-70 armored personnel carrier (APC)
had been assigned permanently to the brigade in January,
one BTR-80 APC had been assigned temporarily to the
brigade since January, and three armored infantry
fighting vehicles (AIFV's)-one BMP-2 and two BRM-1K's-
had been transferred permanently to other units. Most
of the brigade's equipment was in excellent condition
and well-maintained. The brigade displayed a high level
of morale, discipline, and combat readiness, and
inspectors assessed that the unit's equipment could be
made ready for deployment within several hours.


3. (SBU) On 10 February 2009, a U.S.-led team with
guests from Estonia and Poland conducted a Vienna
Document evaluation visit of the 3rd Motorized Rifle
Division (URN: S1995) at Novyy, Russia. Relations
between the escort and evaluation teams were
professional and cordial during the visit.

-- (SBU) The evaluation began in Nizhniy Novgorod at a
Veteran's club with informative briefings from the
division commander. Following the briefing the
evaluation team traveled by bus to the division
garrison.

-- (SBU) The Evaluation team toured a barracks, spoke
with soldiers from the division, visited a dining
facility, saw a static display of representational
equipment, observed small arms live-fire training at the
local training area, and toured the division medical
facility, club, gymnasium, and museum.

-- (SBU) The personnel strength and equipment numbers
provided in the briefing were consistent with the data
provided by Russia in the Annual Exchange of Military
Information, valid as of 1 January 2009. Differences in
holdings of equipment were explained as normal
fluctuations due to equipment rotation and maintenance
schedules. The 3rd Motorized Rifle Division is a
permanent readiness division with a high level of
readiness and a very high percentage of contract service
members.

-- (SBU) All observed equipment was in good condition
and is frequently used for training. All of the unit
personnel that the evaluation team encountered displayed
a high level of discipline and professionalism.

-- (C/REL NATO) It appeared that the division has not
yet been affected by announced plans to restructure the
Russian Ground Forces, which envision the elimination of
division-level formations, which are to be replaced by
brigades.


VIENNA DOCUMENT IMPLEMENTATION PLANNING
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4. (C/REL NATO) On 26 February, Kazakhstan notified
military activity "Cooperation 2009" for September 2009.
Therefore, the United States has changed its VD99
Inspection from calendar week 31 to calendar week 39, in
order to inspect the notified activity.


AIAM

STATE 00020411 002 OF 002


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5. (U) USdel should report on Allied views of the AIAM
but refrain from making any commitment to further work
at NATO or in the FSC on any of the proposals or
suggestions made at the AIAM.
CLINTON