Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09USOSCE252
2009-11-12 09:09:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Mission USOSCE
Cable title:  

CFE/JCG: NOVEMBER 10: NO CHAIRMAN'S LETTER;

Tags:  KCFE OSCE PARM PREL 
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FM USMISSION USOSCE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6696
INFO RUCNCFE/CONVENTIONAL ARMED FORCES IN EUROPE PRIORITY
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 1768
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUESDT/DTRA-OSES DARMSTADT GE PRIORITY
RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J5-DDPMA-IN/CAC/DDPMA-E// PRIORITY
RUEAHQA/HQ USAF WASHINGTON DC//XONP// PRIORITY
RUEADWD/DA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEASWA/DTRA ALEX WASHINGTON DC//OSAE PRIORITY
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 USOSCE 000252 

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

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

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KCFE OSCE PARM PREL
SUBJECT: CFE/JCG: NOVEMBER 10: NO CHAIRMAN'S LETTER;
MINISTERIAL TEXT RE-TABLED

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 USOSCE 000252

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

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

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KCFE OSCE PARM PREL
SUBJECT: CFE/JCG: NOVEMBER 10: NO CHAIRMAN'S LETTER;
MINISTERIAL TEXT RE-TABLED


1. (SBU) Summary. At the November 10 Joint Consultative
Group (JCG) plenary, Italy and France supported by 13 other
delegations, including the U.S., raised the Russian
Federation's refusals to their recent requests for CFE
inspections. Russia again accused NATO allies of violating
group limitations on Treaty Limited Equipment (TLE). The
start date for the winter/spring JCG session was agreed.
There was no agreement on the draft Chairman's letter; the
draft JCG ministerial text was re-tabled. France, as
incoming JCG Chair, recommended rescheduling the November 24
JCG plenary since a reinforced PC is planned for the same
date and time. End summary.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Fifteen States Express Concern over Russian Refusals
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -


2. (SBU) At the November 10 JCG plenary, chaired by Spain,
Italy and France raised Russia's refusal of their recent
inspection requests. They in turn were backed by 13 other
delegations which expressed appreciation and support for
bringing the latest Russian refusals to the attention of the
JCG. These were: Turkey, the Netherlands, Portugal, Romania,
United Kingdom, Czech Republic, Spain, Bulgaria, Denmark,
Belgium, Germany, Georgia, and the U.S.



3. (SBU) A reply by Russia (Ulyanov) took issue with Denmark,
the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom for their
descriptions of Russia's refusals as "noncompliant" with the
CFE Treaty. The U.S. (Neighbour) intervened to observe that
Russia should take issue with the U.S. approach too, since
the U.S. similarly views Russia's refusals as not compliant
with the Treaty. He stated this view had been detailed
(JCG.JOUR/682/Annex 4). Ulyanov tried to turn the blame onto
NATO allies, whom, he alleged "grossly violated" numerical
group limitations of TLE under the CFE Treaty. The UK rep
(Gare),noting she was instructed to speak when accused of
"gross violation" of the Treaty, observed that no evidence of
any violation had been demonstrated. Ulyanov said that the
UK, on a national basis, was not in violation of TLE limits;

however, collectively, NATO was. Ulyanov recalled the
"statistical analysis" distributed by Russia to the JCG
before summer recess.


4. (SBU) Germany (Genrich) rejected the notion of NATO's
collective political responsibility. When Russia raised
these allegations earlier this year, Germany went on record
that legally no State Party was in violation of national or
group (as a member of NATO) limits. Ulyanov said the German
statement "had failed to satisfy Russia" because it took into
account adapted CFE Treaty provisions, which contain national
instead of group limits. Ulyanov again asserted NATO allies
were in violation of "former CFE Treaty" provisions.
(COMMENT. Ulyanov has referred this way to the current CFE
Treaty a number of times. End comment.) Germany immediately
replied that its argument was indeed based on the current CFE
treaty, which "is still in force."

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Draft Ministerial Text Back on Table
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -


5. (SBU) Under any other business the Chair (Spain-Sabadell)
implied the prospects of a JCG Chairman's letter to the
Ministerial Council were bleak, but that consultations were
ongoing. Meanwhile, a draft JCG paragraph that would be a
contribution to a proposed ministerial declaration in Athens
had been circulated on October 23 (JCG.DEL/2/09) and remained
on the table. Sabadell said a JCG contribution this year
would "be a much needed signal to demonstrate our commitment
to CFE and arms control." Russia endorsed this. Ulyanov,
instructed by Moscow, said Russia believed consensus on a
draft paragraph was possible "provided we resist word play,"
i.e., whether CFE was a cornerstone of European security.

USOSCE 00000252 002 OF 002


Instead, Russia believed we should concentrate on common
ground, i.e., our desire to overcome the current crisis and
commitment to arms control. Russia stands ready to engage in
consultations.


6. (SBU) (NOTE: Sabadell was even stronger at the NATO-T
and said the letter was dead, but would leave responsibility
to confirm it to the incoming French JCG Chair. He then
looked at the French delegate who made a motion of killing
the letter with a stabbing action. Sabadell indicated he
would restart consultations on the draft ministerial text.
Italy's rep Negro compared the current draft JCG ministerial
text to "a newborn on life support," and warned that we
consider all atmospherics, including Georgia, Moldova,
Nagorno-Karabakh, etc., which potentially would also
complicate OSCE ministerial declaration agreement. Turkey's
rep Begec strongly noted that the draft text circulated was a
Spain/Denmark/France version, NOT a JCG version. End note.)


7. (SBU) On the margins of the JCG, France (Simonet)
cautioned, however, that as incoming Chair he felt he would
have to "carry the torch until the bitter end" on a draft
paragraph since the Greek CiO explicitly confirmed its
intention to aim for an OSCE political declaration with a
placeholder for CFE. Mission will rely on standing guidance
that any draft JCG ministerial text accurately reflect the
current situation, unless otherwise directed.


8. (SBU) In the JCG plenary, incoming French Chair (Simonet)
also noted that a reinforced PC had been scheduled same time
as the November 24 JCG plenary, but expressed that we should
not miss the JCG plenary, especially since it was the last
before the December ministerial. Italy, the UK, and Georgia
agreed, suggesting that the JCG convene a half hour earlier
than normal (at 09:30) so delegations could attend both
meetings. The U.S. (Neighbour) even suggested more
flexibility by giving France the options of convening the
meeting at 09:30 or to cancel the November 24 JCG if nothing
substantive (such as agreeing to a draft ministerial
paragraph) was expected. Russia said it could support the
Italian/British/Georgian proposal, or agree to postpone the
JCG plenary.


9. (SBU) On the margins, Russia's Chief Arms Control Delegate
(Ulyanov) told the U.S. (Neighbour) that after the Athens
ministerial, he might send a deputy to most JCG meetings. He
said the JCG meetings are not useful and he might prefer to
concentrate on other issues, such as the FSC.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Dates Set for Next JCG Session
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -


10. (U) No objections were raised to the draft decision on
the duration of the present JCG session. The current session
will close December 18 with the last plenary taking place
December 15. The work of the next JCG will theoretically
begin January 11, but the first plenary will not take place
until January 19 (JCG.DEC/2/09).


11. (U) The next JCG plenary will be on November 17 under
the chairmanship of France. The NATO-T, chaired by Croatia,
will take place on November 16.
FULLER