DAYTON ARTICLE IV:CONTACT GROUP LETTER TO THE

UNCLAS STATE 078583 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PARM OSCE BK HR SR SUBJECT: DAYTON ARTICLE IV:CONTACT GROUP LETTER TO THE PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE RE: PROPOSED OWNERSHIP PLAN REF: USOSCE 169 ¶1. (U) This is an action message, see paragraph 3. ¶2. (U) Per Reftel, at a July 8 meeting, the Contact Group (CG) (France, Italy, Germany, Russia, UK and the U.S.) offered tentative support for the Chairman in Office's (CiO) Personal Representative's (PR--Italian Brigadier General Costanzo Periotto),vision on the future of the Dayton Article IV arms control regime. Contact Group representatives in Vienna drafted a letter to the PR endorsing his vision for transferring responsibilities for administration from his office to Article IV Parties. Mission has also indicated that the PR will address the OSCE Permanent Council (PC) in early September 2009; we expect that the presentation will include some mention of his proposed approach. ¶3. (SBU) Washington has reviewed the CG-proposed letter, welcomes approach taken by the PR, and agrees that the CG should endorse the PR's vision. While Washington would have preferred for the CG to coordinate a joint statement, we are prepared to accept the approach proposed by the CG delegations in Vienna--sending a letter to the PR--provided that: -- the letter clearly indicates that the CG is responding to the PR; -- the CG clearly indicates that the contents of the letter are to be shared with the Parties; and -- the letter is delivered to the PR by one member of the group on behalf of the group. ¶4. (SBU) Once the above conditions are met, Mission is authorized to join consensus on a letter. Mission should report any additional developments that would interfere with this approach to Wshington. In addition, Washington would welcome comments from other members of the CG on how best to coordinate a response to the PR's anticipated appearance before the PC in September. CLINTON