WASSENAAR ARRANGEMENT: REQUEST FOR GUIDANCE ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L UNVIE VIENNA 000559 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR ISN/CATR, T, PM/DTC, PM/RSAT DOD FOR OSD: PDASD/S&TR, DUSD/TSP DOD ALSO FOR DIR DTSA/ST AND DIR DTSA/STP DOD ALSO FOR USD/(A&T)/ODUSD(I&CP) AND USD(A&T)/IDA USDOC FOR BXA/EA/OAS AND BXA/EA/OSTFPC E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/13/2019 TAGS: ETTC KSTC PARM SUBJECT: WASSENAAR ARRANGEMENT: REQUEST FOR GUIDANCE ON PLENARY DECISION ON EXTENSION FOR HEAD OF SECRETARIAT REF: UNVIE 522 - REPORT OF NOVEMBER WA GWG MEETING Classified By: Ambassador Glyn T. Davies, Reason 1.4 (d). ¶1. (U) Request for guidance from the December 2-3, 2009 Wassenaar Arrangement (WA) Plenary decision on the Head of Secretariat. A detailed reporting cable on the Plenary will follow. Guidance request para 7. ¶2. (SBU) The 2009 WA Plenary ended with a consensus decision extending the term of current Head of Secretariat, Ambassador Sune Danielsson (Sweden),to June 1, 2012, subject to a silence procedure ending February 15, 2010. ¶3. (C) The WA anticipated a difficult discussion on the extension of the Head of Secretariat since Russian behavior during the November 2009 General Working meeting (reftel para 23) had been problematic at best. At the Plenary, Russian Head of Delegation Grigory Mashkov withheld consensus on the Head of Secretariat extension until the Russian proposal for a silence procedure was agreed. He took the unusual course of insisting on Ambassador Danielsson's presence in the meeting room during the initial discussion of this item. He first praised Danielsson's tenure, but then asserted he only had the authority from Moscow to "agree on a consensus solution" which he would then take back to his authorities. Moscow, he maintained, would need until at least mid February to study the Plenary's consensus option. An Assessment Year is scheduled for 2011 and Mashkov voiced concern about a change in the head of secretariat during this year. ¶4. (SBU) Discussion on the Head of Secretariat issue focused on the duration of extension for Ambassador Danielsson. The Swedes made it clear that their government would make Danielsson available for as long as he may care to serve. The British voiced concerns that it was difficult to get a commitment from candidates for a head of secretariat successor until a definite start date was determined; they favored a two year extension for Danielsson. Consensus formed around a two year extension to allow for continuation during the Assessment Year. ¶5. (C) Upon reconvening after a break, Ambassador Danielsson was no longer present. The Plenary Chair, Ambassador Barrett (CA),reported on his consultations. Mashkov made it clear that Russia would not join in consensus for any prolongation of Danielsson's term unless it was subject to their proposed silence procedure. Claiming confusion that Danielsson was trying to force the Plenary into a decision, Mashkov saw it "a sign of disrespect" to the WA that Danielsson had made it known that he preferred a definite answer from the Plenary whether he was to be extended. Barrett offered to speak with Danielsson and assured the delegations that no sign of disrespect was intended and asked for consideration of Danielsson's "circumstances." (Note: Danielsson will rely chiefly on his own resources, due to the small size of the secretariat staff, to arrange the moving of his household effects at the end of his contract. End note.) ¶6. (SBU) When Plenary reconvened, Ambassador Barrett reported with some relief that Ambassador Danielsson had accepted the Plenary consensus decision of a 2 year extension subject to a silence procedure ending February 15, 2010. The Russian delegation objected to the wording implying a decision to extend had been made at Plenary. They ultimately agreed to consensus language that included a preface indicating the two-year extension for Ambassador Danielsson was "subject to approval by silence procedure expiring 15 February 2010". ¶7. (SBU) Post supports Danielsson's extension and requests guidance before February 15, 2010, on the silence procedure on the two year extension (until June 1, 2012) for Ambassador Danielsson as WA Head of Secretariat. DAVIES