CFE/JCG: 2009 FALL OPENING OF ROUND--RUSSIA MORE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 USOSCE 000195

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR VCI/CCA, EUR/RPM
NSC FOR NILSSON, HAYDEN
JCS FOR J5 NORWOOD,
OSD FOR ISA (KEHL, WALLENDER)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KCFE OSCE PARM PREL
SUBJECT: CFE/JCG: 2009 FALL OPENING OF ROUND--RUSSIA MORE
COMMITTED TO ACFE THAN ALLIES (SBU)

REF: A. STATE 92639

B. STATE 92528


1. (SBU) Summary. During the opening session of the Fall
round of the Joint Consultative Commission (JCG) on September
8, USDel underscored the U.S. commitment to CFE, noted that
Russia's "suspension" left an ominous gap in CFE's unique
transparency and predictability, observed that Russia had
also given indications of the value it places on the treaty,
and called for efforts to sustain the core functions of the
JCG. In reply, Russia claimed that it was obviously more
committed to A/CFE than the U.S., as Russia had already
ratified the adapted treaty. Germany and the U.S. criticized
Russia for refusing CFE inspections in August and received
statements of support from nine countries. The Chair
announced the cancellation of the September 22 JCG due to a
scheduled OSCE workshop on Small Arms and Light Weapons
(SALW). End Summary.


2. (SBU) The Fall session opened under the Chairmanship of
Belgium (Kenes) with the U.S. (Neighbour) underscoring the
U.S. commitment to CFE, noting Russia's "suspension" left an
ominous gap in CFE's unique transparency and predictability,
observing that Russia had also given indications of the value
it places on the treaty, and calling for efforts to sustain
the core functions of the JCG (Ref A). Intervening in
support of the U.S. statement, The Netherlands (Kleinjan)
underscored the great importance it attaches to CFE and said
it deplores the fact that States Parties (SP) are entering
the fourth semester in which one party is not implementing
the Treaty. Kleinjan also reiterated The Netherlands full
support for efforts outside the JCG to resolve the crisis.


3. (SBU) Russia (Ulyanov) said he was pleased that the U.S.
and The Netherlands confirmed their support for the CFE, but
added that he doubted that either party was more committed to
the treaty than Russia as, unlike Russia, neither party had
ratified the adapted treaty, which he described
as "unfulfilled Istanbul Commitments." Responding to points
in the U.S. statement, Ulyanov said that Russia's decision to
enact a moratorium on implementation of the Treaty in
December 2007 was a difficult one, but one that was forced on
it by the NATO partners. The situation has not changed and
Russia can not return to implementation of the CFE Treaty.
Ulyanov lamented that most SP declined to assist in working
towards a solution, leaving the burden of negotiations on
Russia and the U.S. Finally, he noted that the list of tasks
highlighted by the U.S. in its statement was incomplete, and
that in fact Article 16 of the Treaty envisioned a much more
active and substantive role for the JCG. (Comment. Russia
did not raise the three issues it had left as "homework" for
delegates at the JCG's last meeting in July. End Comment)

4. (SBU) Belarus (Krayushkin) also noted that it had showed
its commitment to ACFE by ratifying the Treaty long ago, and
referred to the lack of ratification of the adapted treaty as
the
"biggest unfulfilled Istanbul Commitment." Belarus expressed
hope that a solution would be found on the basis of the
Parallel Actions Package.

5. (SBU) As coordinated in the NATO-T, Germany (Schweitzer)
and the U.S. (Neighbour) criticized Russia for rejecting CFE
inspections in August. Eight Allies (France, Turkey,
Romania, Bulgaria, the UK, Italy, Portugal, and Denmark) as
well as Georgia intervened in support of these statements.
Russia remained silent. (Comment. Bulgaria has typically not
been a vocal supporter in the JCG of Allied interventions
criticizing Russia's rejections of Allied inspections.
Bulgaria (Iliev) informed USDel on the margins that it felt
compelled to intervene after Russia had commented to Bulgaria
that it appeared from Bulgaria's silence in previous JCGs
that Bulgaria did not support the U.S. position. End
Comment.)


6. (SBU) The Chair (Belgium/Kenes) announced that the JCG
scheduled for September 22 would be canceled due to the OSCE
workshop on SALW which is scheduled for 22-23 September.
Finally, The Czech Republic, Germany, Spain, Turkey, Norway,

USOSCE 00000195 002 OF 002


Denmark, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Belgium, and the U.S.
introduced new members to the JCG.


7. (SBU) USDel (Neighbour) presented Ref B readout on A/S
Gottemoeller's 3 September talks on CFE with Russia (Antonov)
to Allies at the NATO-T held on 8 September.


8. (U) The next JCG will be held on 15 September under the
chairmanship of Bulgaria. The next NATO-T is planned for 14
September, also under the chairmanship of Bulgaria.

FULLER