CFE: CFE/JCG: MAY 19 PLENARY - NO SCHEDULE YET;

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 USOSCE 000131 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR VCI/CCA, EUR/RPM NSC FOR NILSSON, HAYDEN JCS FOR J5 NORWOOD, COL SMITH OSD FOR ISA (PERENYI) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KCFE OSCE PARM PREL SUBJECT: CFE: CFE/JCG: MAY 19 PLENARY - NO SCHEDULE YET; JCG-T IS REBORN "NATO-T" REF: A. A.USOSCE 122 ¶B. B.STATE 47107 ¶1. (U) Summary. During the May 19 Joint Consultative Group (JCG) plenary, Russia objected to holding the first JCG meeting of the fall session on September 15 as proposed in a Draft Decision. Russia argued it should be on September 8, immediately following the opening meeting of the Permanent Council (PC). Meanwhile, Poland recorded the latest Russian CFE inspection refusal. ¶2. (SBU) During the JCG-T, Allies concluded previous discussions on logistical coordination. The "JCG-T" will now be known as the "NATO-T." The confusing system of weekly chairmanships will be replaced by a monthly rotation that corresponds to the new rotation by the ambassador-level "NATO Caucus," beginning in the month of June with the U.S. as chair. In addition, FSC issues will be folded into the new "NATO-T" agenda alongside CFE-related issues, thereby eliminating the confusing "NATO mini-caucus." End summary. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Opening of Fall Session Remains TBD - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶3. (U) Russia (Ulyanov) confirmed its May 12 objection (ref A) to the Draft Decision on the Duration of the Present Session (JCG.DD/1/09). Russia argued that the first JCG plenary of a new session is customarily held immediately after the opening-of-session meeting of the Permanent Council (PC). Thus, Ulyanov indicated that the Draft Decision should be amended to schedule the first JCG plenary of the fall session for September 8, vice September 15 as currently proposed. Ulyanov claimed it would send a "bad signal" that JCG partners were "not ready to work" if the opening plenary of the fall session were held on September 15. Russia also noted it did not object to holding the last JCG meeting of the current session on July 21. The Chair (Armenia, Hovhannisyan) noted Russia's concern and placed the Decision on the agenda of the June 2 JCG plenary. ¶4. (U) The Chair (Hovhannisyan) informed States Parties that Greece - in its capacity as OSCE Chair - had requested the cancellation of the June 23 JCG plenary, given its alignment with the dates of the 2009 OSCE Annual Security Review Conference (ASRC). Russia spoke in favor of cancellation. Hovhannisyan requested that delegations consider Greece's request for cancellation and stated that this could be agreed at the next JCG session. ¶5. (SBU) Comment: At the June 2 JCG plenary, delegations are almost certain to agree to set the close of round meeting on July 21 and place the fall opening of round on September 8. Many delegations consider finishing the spring session on July 21 to be a week "early" (and are delighted). They also note the JCG skipped the entire month of April for its spring recess and has cancelled three more meetings of the spring session. Thus, there is no will to quarrel with Russia over the date of the opening of the fall round. End Comment. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Poland Notes Latest Russian Inspection Refusal - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶6. (U) Poland (Sobotka) notified the plenary of Russia's refusal of a May 14 CFE inspection notification and called for Russia to resume full implementation of CFE while emphasizing the necessity that all States Parties comply with the terms of the Treaty. Several Allies and partner states spoke in support of Poland's statement and urged Russia to resume compliance, including the Czech Republic (Reinohlova), France (Fournier),Georgia (Giorgadze),Portugal (Teixeira), Turkey (Begec),the UK (Gare),and the U.S. (Neighbour). - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - TOI Consolidated Matrix Nears Completion - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - USOSCE 00000131 002 OF 002 7.(U) The TOI Chair (Linteau) informed the plenary that Canada had received comments and changes to the Draft Consolidated Matrix (JCG.TOI/1/09) from several delegations and had incorporated these changes into the document. The U.S. had previously commented on the draft, per ref B. Linteau stated that the document had been passed to Germany for final production. - - - - - - - - - - - - - JCG-T is Now the "NATO-T" - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶8. (SBU) During the May 18 JCG-T 6, Allies concluded discussions from the previous weeks on logistical coordination for the new "NATO-T" meeting format. Allies agreed that merging the JCG-T 6 and NATO Mini-Caucus meetings will allow for more efficient discussion and coordination of political-military issues in the OSCE space, provided that procedures could be enacted to eliminate the prospect of a non-CFE Ally acting as NATO-T chair during the discussion of JCG issues. ¶9. (SBU) Prior to the May 18 JCG-T 6 meeting, Denmark (Petersen) circulated a non-paper on options for ensuring that non-CFE Allies do not chair JCG-related discussions. Based on this non-paper, Allies agreed to a protocol whereby the Chair, if it is not a CFE State Party, shall relinquish chairmanship during the part of a NATO-T meeting when CFE is under discussion to the current JCG chair (if the current JCG chair is a NATO member) or to the CFE-depositary (the Netherlands). All seemed comfortable with this arrangement. ¶10. (U) This also means the confusing system of week-long chairmanships will be replaced by a monthly rotation that corresponds to the new rotation by the ambassador-level "NATO Caucus" beginning in the month of June with the U.S. as chair. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Bringing Open Skies into NATO-T - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶11. (SBU) The UK (Gare) suggested that the Open Skies Consultative Commission (OSCC) be included in the weekly agenda for NATO-T meetings in the "rare instance" that NATO coordination is required therein. The U.S. (Neighbour) supported this recommendation, noting that the Second Review Conference on the Implementation of the Treaty on Open Skies in 2010 would benefit from Allied coordination and input. Germany (Schweitzer) and Denmark (Petersen) also supported the UK recommendation. Luxembourg (Pilot) twice spoke out against coordinating Open Skies implementation within NATO, noting that such practice was not customary and could potentially be complicating. ¶12. (SBU) With the support of Turkey (Begec),JCG-T 6 Chair Spain (Carnicero) offered a compromise whereby Open Skies could be included on NATO-T agenda at the chair's discretion. The Chair recommended further discussions on the matter at the next NATO-T; most delegations are ready to drop the issue and raise Open Skies under "any other business" whenever needed. ¶13. (U) The next JCG plenary will be held on June 2, under Armenian chairmanship. It will be immediately preceded by the first meeting of the newly constituted "NATO-T" under U.S. chairmanship. Scott