JCIC-XXXIV GUIDANCE-003: U.S. OPENING STATEMENT

C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 058456 GENEVA FOR JCIC E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/08/2029 TAGS: PARM KACT START US RS UP BO KZ SUBJECT: JCIC-XXXIV GUIDANCE-003: U.S. OPENING STATEMENT REFS: A. STATE 055556 (JCIC-XXXIV GUIDANCE-001) ¶B. STATE 058439 (JCIC-XXXIV GUIDANCE-002) Classified by: Jerry Taylor, Director, VCI/SI. Reasons: 1.4(b) and (d) ¶1. (U) Delegation is authorized to deliver the text in paragraph 2 below during the opening plenary meeting of JCIC-XXXIV. ¶2. (C) Begin text: STATEMENT BY THE UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE TO THE JOINT COMPLIANCE AND INSPECTION COMMISSION AT THE OPENING PLENARY MEETING OF THE THIRTY-FOURTH SESSION June 8, 2009 The United States delegation is pleased to join with representatives of the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Russian Federation, and Ukraine in opening this thirty-fourth session of the START Treaty's Joint Compliance and Inspection Commission. I The United States continues to have serious concerns regarding the conduct of reentry vehicle inspections (RVOSIs) of the SS-27 ICBM, in both the silo launcher configuration and the road-mobile configuration. During the most recent SS-27 RVOSI inspection, conducted on April 21-22, 2009, at the Tatishchevo ICBM Base, U.S. inspectors experienced problems with the SS-27 RV cover similar to those encountered and subsequently solved with the SS-25 RVOSI. A solution to the SS-25 RVOSI issue came as a result of our mutual hard work and cooperative approach. The U.S. delegation hopes that our discussions on the SS-27 RVOSI issue will likewise lead to resolution of this issue in the very near future. II During JCIC-XXXIII, the Parties held in-depth discussions of the conversion of the B-1B heavy bomber to a heavy bomber equipped for non-nuclear armaments. That conversion process, which began in late 2007 at the Davis-Monthan AFB Conversion or Elimination Facility, has continued. To date, 32 B-1 heavy bombers have been converted to heavy bombers equipped for non-nuclear armaments. Russian inspectors continue to question whether the conversion procedures used by the United States conform to the purpose of paragraph 11 of Section VI of the Conversion or Elimination Protocol. The U.S. delegation stresses that if this issue is to be resolved, the Parties must come to a practical understanding of the concept of "incapable of carrying nuclear weapons." The U.S. delegation stresses that the conversion process to make the weapons bay "incapable of carrying nuclear armaments" does not imply that the capability to deliver non-nuclear armament must also be removed from the B-1. III The United States notes that, beginning in 2008, and in keeping with the Russian Federation's statements delivered during the closing plenary meeting of JCIC-XXXI, the Russian Federation changed its elimination procedures for SS-25 ICBMs by also eliminating the entire self-contained dispensing mechanism (SCDM). The United States welcomes this change in procedure and concurs with Russia's declaration that the ICBMs eliminated using the changed procedures can be removed from accountability. One last step, however, needs to be taken to remove this issue from the JCIC agenda. The elimination of the entire SCDM needs to be completed for the 109 partially eliminated SS-25 ICBMs, in order to remove these 109 ICBMs from accountability. The U.S. delegation awaits Russia's proposal on how this will be accomplished and looks forward to a discussion of when these procedures may be completed. IV Russia's March 2009 aide-memoire stated that the Russian Federation was awaiting the U.S. response to Russian concerns with the Courtland Missile Assembly facility and the U.S. conversion of 50 Peacekeeper silo launchers to Minuteman III silo launchers, as well as a demonstration of the Minuteman III front section. The United States has withdrawn its notification of conversion of the 50 Peacekeeper silo launchers to Minuteman III silo launchers. The United States regrets any confusion this notification may have caused and considers this issue to be closed. With regard to the Courtland Missile Assembly Facility, the U.S. delegation will offer additional clarification on the issue of the Courtland Missile assembly facility which should allow the resolution of this issue. On the Minuteman III front section demonstration, the U.S. continues to research the possibility of a one-time demonstration and will provide information during this session. V In closing, I welcome our Treaty Partners to this thirty-fourth session of the JCIC. The U.S. delegation looks forward to working with our Treaty partners to fulfill the mission of this Commission -- to discuss and resolve Treaty implementation and compliance issues. Thank you. End text. CLINTON NNNN End Cable Text