Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09USOSCE205
2009-09-22 06:27:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Mission USOSCE
Cable title:  

FSC: 1540 BEST PRACTICE GUIDE MOVES FORWARD UNDER

Tags:  KCFE OSCE PARM PREL RS XG 
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VZCZCXRO1075
PP RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHLA RUEHMRE RUEHROV RUEHSL RUEHSR
DE RUEHVEN #0205/01 2650627
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 220627Z SEP 09
FM USMISSION USOSCE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6589
INFO RUCNOSC/ORG FOR SECURITY CO OP IN EUR COLLECTIVE
RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RHMFISS/CDRUSAREUR HEIDELBERG GE
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC
RUESDT/DTRA-OSES DARMSTADT GE
RUEASWA/DTRA ALEX WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA 1384
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0827
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1325
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 USOSCE 000205 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR VCI/CCA, VCI/NRRC, EUR/RPM, EUR/PRA, EUR/CARC,
SCA/CEN, SCA/RA, PM/WRA, ISN/CPI
NSC FOR SHERWOOD-RANDALL, HAYDEN, MCFAUL, HOVENIER,
NILSSON, FRIEDT
OSD FOR ISA (WALLENDER, KEHL)
JCS, EUCOM, USAREUR AND CENTCOM: FOR J-5

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/15/2019
TAGS: KCFE OSCE PARM PREL RS XG
SUBJECT: FSC: 1540 BEST PRACTICE GUIDE MOVES FORWARD UNDER
SILENCE PROCEDURE

Classified By: Chief Arms Control Delegate Hugh Neighbour, Reason 1.4B/
D

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 USOSCE 000205

SIPDIS

STATE FOR VCI/CCA, VCI/NRRC, EUR/RPM, EUR/PRA, EUR/CARC,
SCA/CEN, SCA/RA, PM/WRA, ISN/CPI
NSC FOR SHERWOOD-RANDALL, HAYDEN, MCFAUL, HOVENIER,
NILSSON, FRIEDT
OSD FOR ISA (WALLENDER, KEHL)
JCS, EUCOM, USAREUR AND CENTCOM: FOR J-5

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/15/2019
TAGS: KCFE OSCE PARM PREL RS XG
SUBJECT: FSC: 1540 BEST PRACTICE GUIDE MOVES FORWARD UNDER
SILENCE PROCEDURE

Classified By: Chief Arms Control Delegate Hugh Neighbour, Reason 1.4B/
D


1. (SBU) Summary: After two years, the 1540 best practice
guide appears to be moving forward in the OSCE's Forum for
Security Cooperation (FSC). It is now under a silence
procedure and should move to the FSC plenary for adoption as
early as September 30. Meanwhile, on 16 September Deputy
SACEUR General Sir John McColl briefed the FSC plenary on
strategic priorities, emphasizing Afghanistan and Western
Balkan operations. Inter alia, McColl helpfully suggested
OSCE could assist ISAF Operations in election support and
borders. The FSC also heard Finnish State Secretary Pertti
Torstila's presentation of a White Paper on European
Security. End Summary.


2. (SBU) Finnish MFA State Secretary Pertti Torstila
presented the Government Report on Finnish Security and
Defense Policy. Torstila highlighted OSCE's continuing
relevancy in advancing comprehensive security. He noted
Finnish interests include effective multilateralism, credible
national defense, European Union membership as a "fundamental
security choice," and the role of NATO and Partnership for
Peace as the mechanism for trans-Atlantic cooperation.
Torstila underscored there was no place for "zero-sum games,"
and highlighted the important roles for EU, NATO, COE, and
OSCE as each brought a comparative skill and advantage to the
concept of comprehensive security. A key component for
addressing the current and emerging challenges to European
Security was the further development of civil-military
capabilities and interoperability. Torstila applauded the
multidimensional approach to security undertaken by NATO
(ISAF, NRC, Strategic Concept, etc. and NATO-EU-UN
cooperation ("key enablers"),and the proper venue for OSCE
to address issues related to European Security (Corfu, FSC,

Arms Control, etc. as vital components to Finland's national
interests. He said, "The Helsinki Process has contributed
markedly to the security and stability in Europe and has also
opened perspectives for change. The CSCE grew into a full
fledged organization, and I hope it will soon get a legal
capacity to further consolidate that role."


3. (SBU) DSACEUR McColl followed Torstila's presentation
with a sharply focused assessment of the operational tempo
for European and Trans-Atlantic military forces deployed in
Afghanistan and the Western Balkans. Wearing both hats
(DSACEUR and EUFOR Operational Commander),McColl described
the roles and purposes for NATO's deployments, its
accomplishments in Afghanistan (progress made with the
development of Afghan National Forces since 2002),and the
continuing issues of violence in Southern Afghanistan
(Kandahar Province),poppy and narcotic production, and the
challenges posed by incessant corruption. McColl noted that
in Kosovo, NATO forces in support of local and EULEX roles,
successfully created a secure environment that now permits
NATO to begin in 2010 the initial of three KFOR draw downs
("gates"). He also briefed on Operation Allied Endeavor,
Ocean Shield, EUFOR Althea, and the importance of NATO and EU
coordination. McColl was critical about the impact of weak
information and intelligence sharing among the organizations
engaged in each of there theaters. He noted that although ad
hoc arrangements have been made by commanders on the ground,
the absence of an agreed protocol for information sharing
(e.g., between NATO, EU, and UN commands),presented a
tangible threat to mission success and unnecessarily exposed
troops to risks in the field. In response to a U.S.
(Neighbor) question, McColl said OSCE could best assist in
Afghanistan with election support, governance, and rule of
law capacity building.


USOSCE 00000205 002 OF 003


--------------
Working Groups A and B
--------------


4. (SBU) There were no substantive issues for Working Group B
(WGB). There were substantive issues in Working Group A
(WGA). Under Vienna Document, The Chair (UK) noted comments
were due by COB 9/24 on the draft decision on the dates and
venue of the twentieth Annual Implementation Assessment
Meeting (AIAM -- FSC.DD/7/09). A special WGA will be held
prior to the FSC plenary to adopt the decision. Sweden
endorsing the decision was the only delegation that spoke.

Regarding the VD99 Best Practice Guide (BPG) on
Implementation of Chapter IV, Contacts (FSC.AIAM/8/09/Rev.2),
Russia, which co-sponsored the draft with the UK, noted
delegates had sufficient time for study and feedback and that
inputs received have been incorporated into the text. The
WGA accepted U.S. suggested edits that emphasized welcoming
the development of the BPG "for implementation of" the VD99
Chapter IV. Contacts" in the draft decision (FSC.DD/6/09).
Canada announced that it expected to provide its comments to
the UK Chair later in the week.

Turkey continued consultations among delegates and requested
the Chair to retain as an agenda item the proposal for a
draft decision on digital cameras and GPS in the application
of VD99 compliance and verification measures
(FSC.DEL/124/09).

The CPC noted that FSC.GAL/94/09 regarding the Announcing
Mechanism had been posted and that November 15 was the
deadline for Provision of Information on Contacts (VD99,
Chapter IV, Sec 36-37; Annual Calendars (VD99, Chapter VII,
Sec 61-63); and Constraining Provisions (VD99, Chapter VIII,
Sec 67-71).

There were no comments under WGA agenda item 3 (SALW),item 4
(Stockpiles of Conventional Armaments, or item 5 (Code of
Conduct on Pol-Mil Aspects of Security.

Under WGA agenda item 6 (all other agreed CSBMs),Turkey
requested an additional sentence in the third paragraph
(preamble) to the OSCE Best Practices Guide (BPG) on UN
Security Council Resolution 1540 Export Controls and
Transhipment (FSC.DEL/65/09/Rev.2/Corr.1). The added
sentence ("Effective export controls made at states of origin
are of utmost significance") generated no comments from
Delegates. The Chair also took on board some minor U.S.
fixes that clarified language within the draft BPG, and
reissued a revised Draft Decision. The Chair gave delegates
until September 24 to make comments on the BPG on 1540 Export
Controls. Barring any unexpected turns, the Chair expects
the decision to be approved in the WGA during the special
session in advance of the September 30 FSC plenary, so it can
be formally adopted by the plenary itself later that same
morning.


5. (C) Comment: Both guests' presentations in the FSC were
well-received and non-controversial. The styles of the two
diplomatic and military briefs were particularly contrasted
in the question and answer periods (which were relatively
anodyne and short). While Torstila was attentive to put
Finnish views of European Security interests in perspective,
careful to support current institutional arrangements, the
respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty, and a
healthy discussion of European Security issues within the
framework of the current architecture, he also balanced the
three dimensions (security, human, and economic) as necessary
to any successful conclusions within the framework of the

USOSCE 00000205 003 OF 003


Helsinki Final Act. McColl, on the other hand, made clear
his requirements were to improve the ability of European and
Trans-Atlantic forces to perform at their best. He
underscored that the conflicts in all theaters cannot be
resolved through military actions, but rather through
information and intelligence sharing, and working at both
grass roots and official levels to build civilian and
military capacities for stable and secure governments and
institutions under local controls. He noted that only then
would the desirable end-state -- the return home of his
soldiers -- be obtained. End Comment.
FULLER