Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09USOSCE151
2009-06-29 10:54:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Mission USOSCE
Cable title:  

OSCE 2009 ASRC SESSION II, STATES WELCOME

Tags:  PARM PREL KCFE OSCE 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO1258
PP RUEHAST RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHLA RUEHMRE RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSK RUEHSL
RUEHSR
DE RUEHVEN #0151/01 1801054
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 291054Z JUN 09
FM USMISSION USOSCE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6452
INFO RUCNOSC/ORG FOR SECURITY CO OP IN EUR COLLECTIVE
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0785
RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA 1342
RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RHMFISS/CDRUSAREUR HEIDELBERG GE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHDLCNE/CINCUSNAVEUR LONDON UK
RUEKJCS/DIA WASHDC
RUEASWA/DTRA ALEX WASHINGTON DC
RUESDT/DTRA-OSES DARMSTADT GE
RHMFIUU/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RUEKJCS/JCS WASHDC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1280
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 USOSCE 000151 

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR VCI/CCA, EUR/RPM, EUR/PRA,
NSC FOR HAYES, JCS FOR J5/NORWOOD/CAMPBELL,
OSD FOR ISA/PERENYI

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PARM PREL KCFE OSCE
SUBJECT: OSCE 2009 ASRC SESSION II, STATES WELCOME
INCREASED DIALOGUE ON EURO SECURITY

REF: A. USOSCE 00147

B. USOSCE 00150

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 USOSCE 000151

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR VCI/CCA, EUR/RPM, EUR/PRA,
NSC FOR HAYES, JCS FOR J5/NORWOOD/CAMPBELL,
OSD FOR ISA/PERENYI

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PARM PREL KCFE OSCE
SUBJECT: OSCE 2009 ASRC SESSION II, STATES WELCOME
INCREASED DIALOGUE ON EURO SECURITY

REF: A. USOSCE 00147

B. USOSCE 00150


1. (SBU) Summary. Session II of the 2009 Annual Security
Review Conference (ASRC) on June 24 centered on arms control
and CSBMs--in particular the status of CFE, CSBMs, Russia's
European Security Initiative and the value of expanded
dialogue. The keynote speakers, Klaus-Peter Gottwald of the
German MFA and Russia's MGIMO Professor Kulebyakin, read
familiar, but very different assessments of the causes behind
the current impasse on CFE. Both, however, stressed the
importance of the regime and expressed hope for progress
through negotiations on the parallel actions package,
positions that were universally supported around the table.
Allied interventions noted the importance and complimentary
relationship between of CSBMs and CFE, remaining on message.


2. (SBU) Kulebyakin and Russia repeatedly referred to
Russia's call for a European security treaty, but did not
describe Russia's proposal in detail, which was in Russian
Foreign Minister Lavrov's message from the previous day's
opening round (reftels). Most interventions welcomed
additional opportunities for dialogue on European security;
Russia proposed another FSC Security Dialogue session on the
future of arms control for this fall. End Summary.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Same Presentations, Different Venue
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -


3. (SBU) German MFA Disarmament and Arms Control Commissioner
Gottwald read his statement verbatim. (Gottwald's statement
was distributed as PC.DEL/478/09.) Closely following his
remarks from the June 10 German MFA-sponsored meeting in
Berlin on "The Future of Conventional Arms Control in
Europe," Gottwald underscored that arms control had played a
key role in disarmament and confidence-building in an
integrated security policy in the Euro-Atlantic area. He
asserted that two of the three most important elements of
European arms control (CFE and VD99) have suffered
considerable damage in recent years and are in need of
repair. He said that CFE is our greatest cause for concern
and requires additional support and new (unspecified)

structural elements. Gottwald linked nuclear and conventional
disarmament, and opined that initial progress in U.S.-Russian
bilateral strategic talks could pave the way for progress on
conventional arms control. Finally, Gottwald predicted that
military developments will have to be assessed to determine
their security-related consequences; that basic calculations
for force balance will have to shift from a quantitative to a
qualitative focus.


4. (SBU) In turn, Moscow State Institute of International
Relations (MGIMO) Professor Kulbyakin's keynote address,
which he also read verbatim, seemed to be a cut-and-paste
compilation of several official Russian statements and
documents, including, inter alia, Russia's "aide memoire."
(Kulebyakin's presentation was distributed under
PC.DEL/479/09.) He recalled the hopes of Russian leaders in
1980s and 90s, regretting that their optimism turned out to
be "naive illusions."


5. (SBU) He said that Russia's "suspension" of CFE was a
logical response to CFE,s "balance principle being violated
in the most brazen manner" due to three waves of NATO
expansion and NATO armaments raised to levels far beyond
those laid down under the 1990 treaty. He further cited NATO
positioning itself as a "global corporate security
organization operating outside the bloc's borders on its own
discretion," and NATO's disregard for Russian calls for CFE

USOSCE 00000151 002 OF 004


legal norms to be brought into alignment with the current
state of affairs as justifying the Russian actions on CFE.


6. (SBU) As stated in Russia's aide memoire on CFE
distributed in May, Kulbyakin noted that the parallel action
package could become the basis for progress on ACFE, provided
that the package adequately addressed Russia's concerns on:
flank limitations, NATO force levels, concrete NATO actions
on accession of new NATO members, definition of substantial
combat forces and future modernization of the treaty after
entry into force. He repeated Russia's offer to consider
certain transparency measures regarding Moldova and the
Trans-Caucasus, "with due account being taken of the actual
circumstances in those regions."


7. (SBU) The remainder of Kulebyakin's address covered
familiar Russian criticisms of VD99. He attempted to assuage
pS concerns over opening VD99 and promoted Russian proposals
for naval and international Rapid Reaction Force CSBMs.
Kulbyakin refrained from re-reading Minister Lavrov's
marketing pitch for a new European Security Treaty, but
cautioned critics of Russia's proposal who cite its lack of
specifics to put "everything in its proper order: first,
questions of principle, followed by attention to detail."


8. (SBU) Kulbyakin closed by cautioning pS against taking
unilateral actions that will create new dividing lines. He
reiterated that Russia does not contemplate the dismantling
of existing institutions or abandonment of agreements such as
CFE, VD 99 or Open Skies. The OSCE must be one of the
appropriate platforms for discussion of European Security,
but not the only one.

- -
CFE
- -


9. (SBU) Nearly every intervention reaffirmed the importance
of CFE and the need to work on the basis of the Parallel
Action Package to bring ACFE into force. Gottwald remarked
that CFE is an "absolutely essential pillar of European
Security," while Spain (Batanzos Roig),Greece, the
U.S.(Neighbour),Lithuania (MFA Director of Tran-Atlantic
Cooperation and Security Policy Department -- Leskevicius)
and Poland (Gradzinski),Kazakhstan, Russia (Ulyanov),
Armenia (Kirakossian),Georgia (Garprindashvili) and Belarus
all confirmed the key role CFE has played since 1990.


10. (SBU) Poland (Gradzinski) cautioned that the current
state of affairs, where one state is not fully implementing
its commitments, can not continue indefinitely. Gradzinski
said that loss of CFE would mean the loss of transparency and
confidence, as well as the loss of information. Greece
cautioned that no arms control regime can function
effectively with the existence of "black holes" within its
area of application. Lithuania (Leskevicius) recounted how
the consequences of CFE's erosion go beyond the boarders of
States Parties. He lamented the fact that its bilateral CSBM
with Russia, which included information exchange on
Kaliningrad, had been a casualty of Russian suspension.
Leskevicius also confirmed Lithuania's intent to join A/CFE,
repeating that Lithuania is ready to begin discussions on
accession as soon as ACFE enters into force. He said that
Lithuania "wishes to be firmly anchored into the solid
European arms control structure." Leskevicius and Gradzinski
emphasized that the parallel actions package represents the
only credible way to move forward on ACFE.


11. (SBU) The U.S. (Neighbour) submitted that the real
obstacles preventing the Adapted CFE Treaty from entering

USOSCE 00000151 003 OF 004


into force have been Russia's unilateral "suspension" of the
CFE, its lack of respect for host nation consent, and
non-fulfillment of all of its Istanbul commitments. He also
reiterated the U.S. commitment to working with Russia on the
basis of the Parallel Actions Package to find a solution that
takes account of all treaty partners and allows all to ratify
ACFE. Greece welcomed Russia's aide memoire and said it sees
merit in exploring an update to A/CFE after it enters into
force. Kazakhstan noted it was reviewing Russia's Aide
Memoire and said Russia's proposal for provisional
application was particularly interesting. Kazakhstan also
opined that the JCG could play a supplemental role in A/CFE
negotiations. Armenia's Kirakossian called for enhanced
accountability and mechanisms to ensure compliance.


12. (SBU) Russia (Ulyanov) echoed Kulebyakin's assessment of
the Parallel Action Plan, calling on Western Allies to
intensify work on CFE on the basis of the package, and noting
that Russia's aide memoire provides a vision for a way
forward. He cited examples where Russia and its partners had
overcome significant obstacles in 1990's to agree on CFE as
proof that, given political will, Russia and its NATO
partners could overcome any difficulty.

- - -
CSBMs
- - -


13. (SBU) Ulyanov reiterated Russian views on the need to
update VD99, to pursue Russian proposals on Naval and Rapid
reaction Force CSBMs, and to conduct an internal inventory of
current politico-military instruments available to the OSCE.
Kazakhstan said it could support any measure that enhanced
transparency. Noting what he characterized as the "dubious
implementation of certain CSBMs," Armenia (Kirakossian) said
there was a need for an enhanced role for hard security and
to increase the effectiveness of the FSC's toolkit. Poland
(Gradzinski) said that while soft security could assist in
political solutions to security problems, soft measures could
not replace CSBMs. Participating States must find a way to
ensure CSBMs are "all weather" measures, and they should
concentrate their efforts on conflict prevention measures.


14. (SBU) The U.S. (Neighbour) noted that despite acute
challenges, overall implementation of VD99 has generally gone
well. He recalled that although Russia regularly calls for
updating VD99, Russia's robust application of verification
activities dwarf the activity of any other pS. Finally he
urged partners to make clear specific concerns, recognizing
that many such issues have already been discussed within the
FSC and not led to agreement. The U.S. also urged continuing
efforts to address concerns stemming from 21st century
threats, but said this can be accomplished without needlessly
detracting from VD99, which is working well.

- - - - - - -
Euro-Security
- - - - - - -


15. (SBU) Spain (Batanzos Roig) recognized five possible
areas of convergence on Europeans security--the central role
of the OSCE; the primacy of existing principles,
organizations and agreements; the necessity of a
multi-dimensional approach, the need to adjust mechanisms to
address regional and sub-regional security issues; and the
importance of CFE.


16. (SBU) Russia (Ulyanov) reiterated its characterization of
European Security as in a state of crisis. He explained that
Russia's focus on hard security is based on unfavorable

USOSCE 00000151 004 OF 004


trends in this area. Comparing hard and soft regimes, Ulyanov
noted that some 80 conventions and agreements under the
Council of Europe relate to the human dimension of security,
while the collection in Europe's pol-mil sphere includes only
three. Of the latter, CFE is in crisis, VD99 is outdated and
functions at less than 50 percent effectiveness, and only one
third of the Treaty on Open Skies works as designed. Finally,
citing the "rearming of Georgia," Ulyanov lamented that other
politico-military aspects of security are not fully
implemented. Ulyanov stressed the importance Russia attached
to a legally binding European Security Treaty.

- - - - - - - - -
Expanded Dialogue
- - - - - - - - -


17. (SBU) Nearly every delegation commented favorably on the
June 10 German MFA-sponsored meeting in Berlin on "The Future
of Conventional Arms Control in Europe". Spain (Batanzos
Roig),and Lithuania (Leskevicius) thanked Germany for their
relentless efforts, while Kazakhstan welcomed the meeting.
Poland (Gradzinski) proclaimed, "The main objective--to
revitalize dialogue--was achieved." Spain thanked Germany and
said it expected that Corfu would result in consensus on how
to proceed with dialogue on European Security.


18. (SBU) Russia (Ulyanov) hailed Germany's "pan-European
summit in Berlin" as an example of ways in which pS can
expand dialogue. He proposed that pS maintain momentum by
holding a special FSC session in November on the "Future of
Conventional Arms Control." Ulyanov also suggested that the
FSC begin drafting a ministerial decision for Athens, tasking
the FSC to intensify its work in the area of arms control.


19. (SBU) The U.S. (Neighbour) noted that in Berlin, the
Allies sent a consistent and unified message regarding CFE,
which among other things, stressed the need to address first
order issues before other venues for negotiations to solve
the impasse can be productive.
Scott