CFE/JCG: NOVEMBER 17: COMMEMORATING ISTANBUL;

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 USOSCE 000258 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 17: COMMEMORATING ISTANBUL; PREPARING FOR ATHENS ¶1. (SBU) Summary. At the November 17 Joint Consultative Group (JCG) plenary, Greece supported by 14 other delegations, including the U.S., raised the Russian Federation's refusal to its recent CFE inspection request. The French Chair commemorated the tenth anniversary of the Istanbul Summit 1999. The Chair also sought comments on the draft JCG Chairman's letter to the Ministerial Council and the draft JCG contribution for the ministerial declaration. In light of the reinforced PC on November 24, the date and time of the next JCG plenary is to be determined. End summary. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Commemorating Istanbul 1999 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶2. (SBU) The November 17 JCG was chaired by French Ambassador Alabrune, who opened the meeting with brief remarks commemorating the tenth anniversary of the OSCE Summit in Istanbul (November 17-19, 1999) when all States Parties signed the adapted CFE Treaty. Russian Head of Military Security and Arms Control delegation Mikhail Ulyanov said in the last ten years the JCG had made a stark departure from the cooperative spirit that marked Istanbul. He said the JCG was in a "virtual stalemate" with a "strict ban on real exchange" among JCG members. He wondered whether we had "reached the point of no return." He cautioned that if we did not initiate negotiations in early 2010 to save CFE, we might have to acknowledge it was dead. ¶3. (SBU) Ulyanov observed that NATO currently was preparing its traditional yearly communique on a wide range of subjects, including CFE. He noted the previous two communiques had urged the Russian Federation toward constructive engagement. In Ulyanov's opinion, however, NATO had assumed a "passive stance" and was the one who needed to constructively engage. He hoped the NATO communique would include "better wording" this year. Lastly, Ulyanov asked when the Alliance would provide feedback to the Russian Aide-Memoire, "Restoring the Viability of the CFE Treaty: A Way Forward." circulated on May 5 in the JCG. ¶4. (SBU) The U.S. (Ellis) underscored its commitment to full implementation of the CFE Treaty. Ellis noted that the U.S. was ready to engage in discussions in a positive, constructive manner, and that it regretted Russia's dissatisfaction with progress made to date as expressed by the Russian rep. today, adding the lines of communication from the U.S. perspective were still open. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Fifteen States Concerned over Russian Refusal - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶5. (SBU) Greece (Kalpadakis) raised Russia's refusal last week for a CFE inspection. Fourteen other delegations, including the U.S., registered support for the Greek statement and reaffirmed their commitment to full CFE implementation. The U.S. (Ellis) noted if the Russian Federation wants to engage constructively and positively in strengthening the European security architecture it should end its "suspension" of CFE Treaty implementation. Ulyanov replied the Russian Federation had imposed a "moratorium" on CFE "after eight years of patiently waiting for NATO to comply with its own Istanbul Commitments for the expeditious ratification of adapted CFE." This led the Russian Federation to realize entry into force of a/CFE "was scanty." Ulyanov also said "the last drop" was Georgia's request that "military pensioners and children" leave Gudauta. According to Russia, NATO's silence on this matter implied its approval. Ulyanov said the "Russian-American package" needed to be approved to overcome the CFE impasse. (COMMENT: Ulyanov has referred to the parallel actions package on several occasions as the Russian-American package. End comment.) USOSCE 00000258 002 OF 003 ¶6. (SBU) Georgia (Giorgadze) in reply to Ulyanov's earlier comment that the JCG had done nothing since 2000 noted post-Yeltsin leadership did not engage in democratic negotiations on European security, including CFE. Giorgadze indicated that Georgia, too, waited "eight long years" for the withdrawal of Russian troops but all it got was "five more military bases and 20 percent more of its country occupied" by Russian forces. Giorgadze believed the detainment of four Georgian teenagers by Russian forces in South Ossetia one week ago was not indicative of Russia's willingness to move forward. Russia (Ulyanov) accused the Georgian rep of poor "diplomatic etiquette" (for singling out Putin's administration) and requested him to adhere to the ways of "civilized conduct that characterized international diplomacy." - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Chair's Letter and Ministerial Paragraph - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶7. (SBU) The French Chair observed the draft JCG Chairman's letter (JCG.DEL/3/09) circulated November 16 and the draft JCG ministerial contribution (JCG.DEL/2/09) circulated October 23 were open for comment. The Chair noted it had received some informal comments which pointed to discrepancies. (COMMENT: In previous NATO-T and Quad meetings France was pessimistic that a Chairman's letter would be agreed, but indicated its duty as Chair was to make good faith efforts on both texts. It was somewhat surprising that France did not incorporate comments received by Romania and the U.S., or from any other delegation, into the draft letter circulated on November 16. End comment.) Greece (Kalpadakis) believed both drafts were "a good start." Germany (Genrich) did not want unsuccessful attempts in previous years to dash our hopes for a letter and ministerial declaration paragraph for Athens. The German rep supported both drafts with minor editorial suggestions, and recalled that a joint declaration was adopted this year in Berlin "without reference to different views and without wishing to belittle those differences." Russia expressed willingness to work with both texts "concentrating on matters that bring us together," facts, and way ahead. Ulyanov said the Chairman's letter should reflect there is no common view on the role of the JCG, that substantive matters are discussed elsewhere. Belarus (Krayushkin) endorsed the Russian comments. ¶8. (SBU) Romania (Matei) generally commented that both texts needed further improvement to reflect accurately the current situation. The U.S. (Ellis) agreed with some of what Ulyanov had said and underscored the importance that any JCG contribution to a possible ministerial declaration be factual and relevant. Ellis noted U.S. proposed amendments to the Chairman's letter, previously shared with the letter's authors (France/Spain/Denmark),would be shared with all. ¶9. (SBU) Spain (Sabadell),as previous JCG chair, noted differing views persisted when France, Spain, and Denmark began drafting. That was why, Sabadell said, the authors had tried to be "as factual and objective" as possible. He believed neither of the two texts "attempted to hide discrepancies." The French Chair said it would pursue informal consultations in order to arrive at revised versions of the texts. - - - - - - - - - - Next JCG Meetings - - - - - - - - - - ¶10. (SBU) Turkey (Begec) inquired whether the French Chair intended to hold a JCG meeting at Athens. Ambassador Alabrune did not commit to a meeting, instead suggesting to see how informal consultations turned out. Georgia (Giorgadze) clarified that a JCG meeting in Athens would be USOSCE 00000258 003 OF 003 chaired by Georgia; although Georgia was not planning to hold such a meeting, it realized the situation might change. ¶11. (SBU) In light of a reinforced PC on November 24, the date and time of the next JCG plenary (to be chaired by France) is to be determined. At this week's NATO-T, the Croatian chair asked whether delegations felt the need to hold a T next week. The U.S. (Ellis) signaled we should be driven by substance and the need for coordination. FULLER