FSC/VD99: U.S. DELIVERS POINTS TO NORWAY, RUSSIA

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