Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09USOSCE198
2009-09-10 09:21:00
SECRET
Mission USOSCE
Cable title:
FSC/VD99: U.S. DELIVERS POINTS TO NORWAY, RUSSIA
how-toVZCZCXRO2315 PP RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHLA RUEHMRE RUEHROV RUEHSL DE RUEHVEN #0198/01 2530921 ZNY SSSSS ZZH P 100921Z SEP 09 FM USMISSION USOSCE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6574 INFO RUCNOSC/ORG FOR SECURITY CO OP IN EUR COLLECTIVE RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0823 RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA 1380 RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE RHMFISS/CDRUSAREUR HEIDELBERG GE RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHDLCNE/CINCUSNAVEUR LONDON UK RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC RUEASWA/DTRA ALEX WASHINGTON DC RUESDT/DTRA-OSES DARMSTADT GE RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL RUEKJCS/JCS WASHDC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1321
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 USOSCE 000198
SIPDIS
STATE FOR VCI/CCA, VCI/NRRC, EUR/RPM, EUR/PRA, EUR/CARC,
SCA/CEN, SCA/RA, PM/WRA, ISN/CPI
JCS FOR J-5
OSD FOR ISA (KEHL, WALLENDER)
NSC FOR NILSSON, HAYDEN
USUN FOR LEGAL, POL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/09/2014
TAGS: PARM PREL KCFE OSCE RS XG
SUBJECT: FSC/VD99: U.S. DELIVERS POINTS TO NORWAY, RUSSIA
AND BELARUS REGARDING "WEST-2009"
REF: STATE 93327
Classified By: Chief Arms Control Delegate Hugh Neighbour,
for reasons 1.4(b) and (d).
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 USOSCE 000198
SIPDIS
STATE FOR VCI/CCA, VCI/NRRC, EUR/RPM, EUR/PRA, EUR/CARC,
SCA/CEN, SCA/RA, PM/WRA, ISN/CPI
JCS FOR J-5
OSD FOR ISA (KEHL, WALLENDER)
NSC FOR NILSSON, HAYDEN
USUN FOR LEGAL, POL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/09/2014
TAGS: PARM PREL KCFE OSCE RS XG
SUBJECT: FSC/VD99: U.S. DELIVERS POINTS TO NORWAY, RUSSIA
AND BELARUS REGARDING "WEST-2009"
REF: STATE 93327
Classified By: Chief Arms Control Delegate Hugh Neighbour,
for reasons 1.4(b) and (d).
1. (SBU) Per reftel, USDel (Neighbour and Meyer) delivered
points (paras 29-33) to Norway, Belarus and Russia. Initial
reactions are provided below:
2. (S) Norway--The new Norwegian military representative to
the FSC (Colonel Terje Killi) said he was unaware that Norway
had planned to participate in a U.S.-led inspection to
Belarus during the combined exercise "West-2009." USDel
explained the circumstances surrounding Russia's inspection
to Belarus as well as Washington's intentions to speak with
Belarus about the possibility of additional transparency
measures. Killi asked whether, in the event the U.S. was
offered an additional transparency measure, Norway would
still be included in U.S. plans. USDel did not commit one
way or the other, but promised to keep Norway informed.
3. (C) Belarus--USDel delivered points from Reftel, para 32,
to Belarusian First Secretary Dimitri Krayushkin. USDel also
thanked Krayushkin for passing in advance the text of his
statement in the FSC regarding "West-2009" (informal
translation by USDel e-mailed to VCI/CCA, original Russian
version distributed as FSC.DEL/153/09). (Note. The statement
provided total number of personnel and equipment
participating in the exercise and reminded participating
States that Belarus had notified the exercise in accordance
with Vienna Document 1999 (VD 99) and, in addition, had
invited neighboring states and military attaches accredited
to the Ministry of Defense to observe some of the exercise
activities. End Note.) USDel welcomed these measures noting,
however, that these kinds of observations typically do not
provide the same level of transparency as VD 99 verification
measures. (Note. USDEL Joint Staff Rep reports that USDAO
Kiev received one invitation to attend the observation event
on September 28 and plans to send an officer. End Note.)
4. (C) Krayushkin noted USDel's points and promised to
forward them to Minsk. Krayushkin opined that Minsk had
exceeded its obligations for verification and transparency.
USDel emphasized that it was not/not suggesting that Belarus
was obliged to provide additional transparency measures, but
that such measures would greatly increase the transparency on
an exercise unique in its size and scope and could be to the
advantage of the GOB. Krayushkin said he would pass the
message to Minsk and inform USDel when if and when he
received an answer.
5. (C) Russia--After presenting points in reftel para 30 to
Russia (Ulyanov),Ulyanov stated that he had been surprised
that Russia had conducted a VD99 inspection in Belarus and
said he was unaware that their inspection had exhausted the
last inspection quota for Belarus for the year. Ulyanov said
he would have to speak with Moscow for greater clarity before
writing a formal cable back to Moscow. Ulyanov asked what
type of transparency measures the U.S. envisioned. USDel
said that would be up to Belarus, but that pS had conducted
above quota inspections in the past. Ulyanov noted that he
did not like the idea of an "inspection" adding that if
anything, he personally would envision a "friendly visit."
Ulyanov noted that Belarus had invited neighboring states and
accredited attaches to observe the exercise. USDel welcomed
these measures, noting, however, that observations typically
do not provide the same level of transparency as other VD 99
verification measures.
USOSCE 00000198 002 OF 002
6. (C) Ulyanov noted that the Russian MOD has taken a dim
view of voluntary measures recently, feeling that such
measures are always one-sided. Ulyanov also noted that while
Belarus was ultimately responsible for such transparency
measures, Russia and Kazakhstan would have to agree since
this was a joint exercise. Finally, Ulyanov opined that it
was very late to expect Moscow to make a decision in time.
FULLER
SIPDIS
STATE FOR VCI/CCA, VCI/NRRC, EUR/RPM, EUR/PRA, EUR/CARC,
SCA/CEN, SCA/RA, PM/WRA, ISN/CPI
JCS FOR J-5
OSD FOR ISA (KEHL, WALLENDER)
NSC FOR NILSSON, HAYDEN
USUN FOR LEGAL, POL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/09/2014
TAGS: PARM PREL KCFE OSCE RS XG
SUBJECT: FSC/VD99: U.S. DELIVERS POINTS TO NORWAY, RUSSIA
AND BELARUS REGARDING "WEST-2009"
REF: STATE 93327
Classified By: Chief Arms Control Delegate Hugh Neighbour,
for reasons 1.4(b) and (d).
1. (SBU) Per reftel, USDel (Neighbour and Meyer) delivered
points (paras 29-33) to Norway, Belarus and Russia. Initial
reactions are provided below:
2. (S) Norway--The new Norwegian military representative to
the FSC (Colonel Terje Killi) said he was unaware that Norway
had planned to participate in a U.S.-led inspection to
Belarus during the combined exercise "West-2009." USDel
explained the circumstances surrounding Russia's inspection
to Belarus as well as Washington's intentions to speak with
Belarus about the possibility of additional transparency
measures. Killi asked whether, in the event the U.S. was
offered an additional transparency measure, Norway would
still be included in U.S. plans. USDel did not commit one
way or the other, but promised to keep Norway informed.
3. (C) Belarus--USDel delivered points from Reftel, para 32,
to Belarusian First Secretary Dimitri Krayushkin. USDel also
thanked Krayushkin for passing in advance the text of his
statement in the FSC regarding "West-2009" (informal
translation by USDel e-mailed to VCI/CCA, original Russian
version distributed as FSC.DEL/153/09). (Note. The statement
provided total number of personnel and equipment
participating in the exercise and reminded participating
States that Belarus had notified the exercise in accordance
with Vienna Document 1999 (VD 99) and, in addition, had
invited neighboring states and military attaches accredited
to the Ministry of Defense to observe some of the exercise
activities. End Note.) USDel welcomed these measures noting,
however, that these kinds of observations typically do not
provide the same level of transparency as VD 99 verification
measures. (Note. USDEL Joint Staff Rep reports that USDAO
Kiev received one invitation to attend the observation event
on September 28 and plans to send an officer. End Note.)
4. (C) Krayushkin noted USDel's points and promised to
forward them to Minsk. Krayushkin opined that Minsk had
exceeded its obligations for verification and transparency.
USDel emphasized that it was not/not suggesting that Belarus
was obliged to provide additional transparency measures, but
that such measures would greatly increase the transparency on
an exercise unique in its size and scope and could be to the
advantage of the GOB. Krayushkin said he would pass the
message to Minsk and inform USDel when if and when he
received an answer.
5. (C) Russia--After presenting points in reftel para 30 to
Russia (Ulyanov),Ulyanov stated that he had been surprised
that Russia had conducted a VD99 inspection in Belarus and
said he was unaware that their inspection had exhausted the
last inspection quota for Belarus for the year. Ulyanov said
he would have to speak with Moscow for greater clarity before
writing a formal cable back to Moscow. Ulyanov asked what
type of transparency measures the U.S. envisioned. USDel
said that would be up to Belarus, but that pS had conducted
above quota inspections in the past. Ulyanov noted that he
did not like the idea of an "inspection" adding that if
anything, he personally would envision a "friendly visit."
Ulyanov noted that Belarus had invited neighboring states and
accredited attaches to observe the exercise. USDel welcomed
these measures, noting, however, that observations typically
do not provide the same level of transparency as other VD 99
verification measures.
USOSCE 00000198 002 OF 002
6. (C) Ulyanov noted that the Russian MOD has taken a dim
view of voluntary measures recently, feeling that such
measures are always one-sided. Ulyanov also noted that while
Belarus was ultimately responsible for such transparency
measures, Russia and Kazakhstan would have to agree since
this was a joint exercise. Finally, Ulyanov opined that it
was very late to expect Moscow to make a decision in time.
FULLER