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