FSC MAY 6: FSC SUPPORTS COMPROMISE ASRC AGENDA

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 USOSCE 000119 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR VCI/CCA, VCI/NRRC, EUR/RPM, EUR/PRA, EUR/CARC, SCA/CEN, SCA/RA, PM/WRA, ISN/CPI JCS FOR J-5 OSD FOR ISA (PERENYI) NSC FOR HAYES USUN FOR LEGAL, POL EUCOM FOR J-5 CENTCOM FOR J-5 UNVIE FOR AC GENEVA FOR CD E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PARM PREL KCFE OSCE RS XG SUBJECT: FSC MAY 6: FSC SUPPORTS COMPROMISE ASRC AGENDA REF: A. MEYER-SILBERBERG EMAIL MAY 4 ¶B. STATE DEPT MEDIA NOTE MAY 4 (2009/415) ¶1. (SBU) Summary: The Forum for Security Cooperation supported its Georgian chair's letter to the Permanent Council endorsing the Annual Security Review Conference agenda, until recently the pretext of another Georgian-Russian disagreement. Germany introduced Food-for-Thought papers on review of the OSCE Document on Small Arms and Light Weapons and on standards for briefings conducted during Vienna Document inspections. Denmark proposed a meeting of heads of national verification centers in December 2009. The UK will incorporate in a revised draft comments from delegations on a Best Practices Guide for Vienna Document contact visits. Selection of a qualified bidder for the OSCE-Ukraine melange disposal project is almost complete. End summary. ASRC Agenda -------------- ¶2. (SBU) A letter from the Georgian FSC chair to the Permanent Council chair recommending adoption of "something along the lines of" the agenda and modalities for the 2009 Annual Security Review Conference (PC.DD/13/09/Rev.1) was endorsed by the FSC without discussion (FSC.DEL/105/09/Rev.1). The FSC chef de file for the ASRC (Simonet, France) announced that a draft FSC "list of political-military elements" for the ASRC would be circulated May 8 for comment by FSC delegations (advance copy emailed to State VCI/CCA May 4). ¶3. (SBU) Note: Adoption of the ASRC agenda in the Permanent Council had been delayed by rancor between Georgia and Russia over language in the agenda referring to the August 2008 war. Greece, the CiO, was able to broker compromise language: "developments since the 2008 ASRC, including in August 2008" that has been accepted by both countries and is contained in the draft decision on the agenda "recommended" by the FSC. End note. Food-for-Thought Papers -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Germany (Kantorczyk) announced a Food-for-Thought paper proposing guidelines for briefings by "military representatives and/or officers commanding formations" during inspections and evaluations under the Vienna Document (FSC.DEL/103/09). Kantorczyk noted the proposal was mentioned at the 2008 Annual Implementation Assessment Meeting. The paper will appear on the May 20 working group A agenda and proposes guidelines on the scope, structure, and content of the briefings to include location, purpose, identity and size of military units, relevant military activities, and equipment deployed. Slovenia (Grabnar) supported the proposal and will co-sponsor. ¶5. (SBU) The chair of the Informal Group of Friends on SALW (Schweizer, Germany) announced a Food-for-Thought paper (FSC.DEL/104/09) on a "possible way forward" in implementing the 2008 ministerial decision "to review the OSCE Document on SALW and its supplementary decisions with a view to explore further actions" (MC.DEC/11/08). The paper will appear on the May 20 working group A agenda and proposes discussions USOSCE 00000119 002.2 OF 003 during the current session of "principles" and "elements," such as implementation, for a review meeting held on or about September 22-23. Also proposed is the development of: - normative framework on stockpile management; - normative framework on marking and tracing; - SALW export control criteria; and - standardized end-use certificates for the OSCE area. ¶6. (SBU) Denmark (Petersen) announced a Food-for-Thought paper proposing a meeting of heads of national verification agencies (HOV) in December 2009 in conjunction with the data exchange (FSC.DEL/107/09). The paper will appear on the May 13 working group A agenda. The paper suggests holding the HOV meeting in December will allow proposals made by the HOV to be further developed before the AIAM, normally held in the spring, and assumes consensus that an HOV meeting should be held. Quad Meeting on CSBMs -------------- ¶7. (SBU) Germany (Kantorczyk) on the margins proposed to the U.S. (Neighbour) a Quad meeting on May 18 or 19 to discuss next steps on CSBM proposals, including the Vienna Document, at the FSC. Kantorczyk said Allies need to take the initiative away from Russia by making their own proposals. He added that Quad Allies still hope to learn more of U.S. views of Russia's proposals for a limited revision of the Vienna Document. Neighbour responded that he could not speculate when Washington would have a final view on this issue, but noted that a relevant question would be what specific changes to VD99 could benefit Allies. Revision for its own sake would be unlikely to garner support. ¶8. (SBU) Neighbour asked Kantorczyk if there was a reason that Allied proposals could not first be proposed in stand-alone CSBMs. After a series of them were adopted, at that point it potentially could be appropriate for them to find a home in a limited revision of VD99. Kantorczyk replied these were logical questions and emphasized that Germany wanted to work within the Alliance on CSBMs, and in the first instance, the Quad. Ukraine Melange -------------- ¶9. (SBU) The head of the Conflict Prevention Center (Salber) reported that selection of qualified bidders for the melange disposal project in Ukraine was nearing completion. Review of the bids by an independent evaluation committee in March resulted in the elimination of two bidders as not technically qualified. The remaining two bidders are now undergoing "post-qualification" evaluation, which includes environmental impact studies and due diligence investigations. A written report will soon be distributed by the CPC. ¶10. (SBU) Ukraine (Leschenko) thanked the OSCE, and announced the memorandum of understanding between the Ukraine and the OSCE had been "ratified" by its parliament. The MOU includes terms on liability. Best Practices Guides -------------- USOSCE 00000119 003 OF 003 ¶11. (SBU) The UK (Gare) reported she had received several comments on the draft Best Practices Guide on Vienna Document contact visits (FSC.AIAM/8/09) that will be reflected in a subsequent version of the guide. The U.S. provided comments (ref A) earlier to Gare. SALW/Conventional Ammunition -------------- ¶12. (SBU) The U.S. (Silberberg) announced the Department-hosted workshop in Zagreb, May 6-7, to develop a regional approach to stockpile reduction in South East Europe (ref B). Next Meeting -------------- ¶13. (SBU) The next meeting of the FSC will be on May 13 and will feature Security Dialogue presentations by Kenneth Pickles, OSCE stockpile security project coordinator in Moldova, and the deputy of the Tajikistan national security committee, General Kasym Gafarov, on border security. SCOTT