Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09USOSCE129
2009-05-20 08:00:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Mission USOSCE
Cable title:  

OPEN SKIES:MAY 18 PLENARY - RUSSIA REGRETS SEIZURE

Tags:  PARM PREL KCFE OSCE 
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VZCZCXRO8699
PP RUEHAST RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHLA RUEHMRE RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSK RUEHSR
DE RUEHVEN #0129/01 1400800
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 200800Z MAY 09
FM USMISSION USOSCE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6391
INFO RUCNOSC/ORG FOR SECURITY CO OP IN EUR COLLECTIVE
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUEKJCS/DIA WASHDC
RUEASWA/DTRA ALEX WASHINGTON DC
RUESDT/DTRA-OSES DARMSTADT GE
RUEKJCS/JCS WASHDC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 USOSCE 000129

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR VCI/CCA, EUR/RPM, EUR/PRA
JCS FOR J-5
OSD FOR ISA (PERENYI)
NSC FOR NILSSON, HAYDEN
EUCOM FOR J-5

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PARM PREL KCFE OSCE
SUBJECT: OPEN SKIES:MAY 18 PLENARY - RUSSIA REGRETS SEIZURE
OF LITHUANIA FILM

(SBU) Summary: In the Open Skies plenary on May 17,
Lithuania noted the seizure of mission film by Moscow airport
security personnel. In response, Russia said its authorities
had "gone too far" and promised to do all it could to
mitigate the incident. In a brief intervention, the U.S.
underlined the importance of full compliance with the Treaty
and expressed confidence that Russia and Lithuania would work
out the issue on a bilateral basis. After the meeting, both
parties expressed appreciation for the U.S. statement.
Additionally, the dates June 7-9, 2010 in Vienna under U.S.
Chairmanship were proposed for the Second Review Conference
on the Open Skies Treaty. End Summary.

--------------
Lithuania Reports Russian Seizure of Images
--------------

(U) The second plenary session of the 49th Session of the
Open Skies Consultative Commission (OSCC) met on May 17 under
the chair of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Davidovic). Lithuania
(Ziugzda) briefed the OSCC on Russian seizure of Open Skies
images following a May 7 joint Russia-Belarus flight mission
over Lithuania. He explained that on May 13, Lithuanian Open
Skies inspectors monitored processing of the film fr2&P~O*.3Q~CQenter (RNRRC),
the Lithuanian
inspectors were detained, questioned, and searched by Russian
airport security services. The Lithuanian representatives
were compelled to surrender the mission film on the basis
that the film "lacked documents authorizing its export" prior
to boarding their flight.

(U) Ziugzda stated that the seizure of the film constituted a
violation of the Treaty on Open Skies, per Article XII,
Section II, paragraph 1 and Article IX, Section II, paragraph
6 and requested its return in due haste. He also noted that
it will be impossible to establish the veracity of the
imaging upon its return.

--------------
Russia Admits it Went "Too Far"
--------------

(SBU) Russia (Kozlov) expressed regret for the
misunderstanding and affirmed that security at Moscow
International Airport had indeed "gone too far" in seizing
the film. He promised that Russia would pass the film to the
Lithuanian embassy at Lithuania's convenience. Kozlov also
noted that the Treaty in fact did not stipulate the method or
timeline for the delivery of film duplicates and indicated
that it might be helpful for the OSCC to consider a Draft
Decision to clarify these procedures.

(SBU) The U.S. (Neighbour) briefly noted the need for all
States Parties to fully follow the letter and spirit of the
Treaty and expressed U.S. confidence that the issue would be
swiftly resolved on a bilateral basis. After the meeting,
both Lithuania (Kalibatas) and Russia (Kozlov) expressed
their appreciation for the U.S. intervention and assistance.

--------------
Dates Proposed for the 2010 Review Conference
--------------

(U) The Chair (Davidovic) noted the distribution of a Draft
Decision for the Second Review Conference on the
Implementation of the Treaty on Open Skies (OSCC.DD/4/09).
This proposes to convene the conference on June 7-9, 2010.
As chair of the Review Conference, the U.S. (Neighbour)
explained that the dates for the conference were proposed
with an eye toward a number of OSCE and other key diplomatic

USOSCE 00000129 002 OF 002


events, such as the 2010 NPT Review Conference prepcom in
Vienna. Assuming consensus, the June 15 OSCC plenary will
adopt the decision fixing the June 2010 dates. The U.S. also
said it continued to welcome input from States Parties
planning the Open Skies Review Conference.

--------------
Meeting on Distribution of Active Quotas
--------------

(U) Germany (Ratzlaff) noted that the negotiation meeting for
distribution of active quotas for the upcoming year was
scheduled for October 8-9, 2009 in Vienna. Ratzloff
indicated that Germany would forward detailed information on
quota negotiations prior to the OSCE summer recess.
VanDreal