GUIDANCE FOR U.S. DELEGATION TO THE U.S./RUSSIA

S E C R E T STATE 050911 GENEVA FOR JCIC E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/15/2029 TAGS: PARM KACT START US RS UP BO KZ SUBJECT: GUIDANCE FOR U.S. DELEGATION TO THE U.S./RUSSIA NEGOTIATIONS ON A START FOLLOW-ON TREATY IN MOSCOW, MAY 19-21 REF: A. STATE 41125 ¶B. STATE 30048 Classified By: Jerry Taylor, Director VCI/SI. Reason 1.4B and D. ¶1. (U) Assistant Secretary for Verification, Compliance, and Implementation, Rose Gottemoeller, is scheduled to begin negotiations regarding a START follow-on agreement with Russian MFA Director of Security and Disarmament Affairs Anatoliy Antonov, during meetings of the U.S. and Russian Delegations in Moscow on May 19-21, 2009. ¶2. (S) GUIDANCE: Delegation may draw, as necessary, from the points in Ref A with regard to U.S. views relating to a START follow-on agreement. Delegation may draw from the U.S. non-paper on the Elements of a START Follow-on Treaty (provided septel) to explain U.S. views with respect to a START Follow-on treaty. Delegation should report on all meetings as expeditiously as possible. ¶3. (S) In a May 4 meeting with National Security Advisor, Gen. Jones, the Kazakhstani Foreign Minister, Marat Tazhin, told Jones that Kazakhstan should be a part of any negotiations on a successor to START, saying that some of the sites that will likely be governed by a START follow-on treaty would be located in Kazakhstan. In past discussions, Ukraine has also stated that Ukraine needs to be part of START follow-on treaty. Amb. Antonov raised this issue in Rome, saying that the United States and the Russian Federation should work out a common approach to the other three START parties, making it clear that it is not appropriate for them to be part of the START Follow- on treaty. Delegation may draw from Ref B and the points in paragraph 4 below to explain the U.S. position regarding this issue. ¶4. (S/Releasable to the Russian Federation) U.S. points on a joint approach for addressing concerns expressed by Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Ukraine regarding a START Follow-on treaty. - United States has already made clear to Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Ukraine that we intend to pursue a bilateral agreement with Russia on further reductions in our strategic forces. - Need to develop a joint approach with respect to how to address the concerns expressed by Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Ukraine regarding their participation in the negotiation of a START Follow-on treaty. - Should continue to express our appreciation for their decision to become non-nuclear weapon states parties to the Non-proliferation Treaty, and for their conscientious participation in the JCIC since 1992. - Could assure them that the December 5, 1994, security assurances given to them by the United States and the Russian Federation do not expire with START. - Could assure them that no facilities or sites on their territory will be subject to the START Follow-on treaty without their approval, including space launch facilities. - Could offer to voluntarily keep them apprised, without providing details, of the basic parameters and scope of our negotiations regarding the START follow-on treaty. - Could offer to periodically brief them regarding U.S. and Russian implementation of the START Follow-on treaty, as appropriate. - For its part, the United States intends to continue, as appropriate, funding of selected projects in connection with the Cooperative Threat Reduction program and has provided assurances to that effect. End text. CLINTON