FSC MAY 6: FSC SUPPORTS COMPROMISE ASRC AGENDA

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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

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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
--------------


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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