FSC OF DECEMBER 9: WINDING DOWN 2009; WINDING UP

UNCLAS USOSCE 000274 SENSITIVE 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: N/A TAGS: KCFE OSCE PARM PREL RS XG SUBJECT: FSC OF DECEMBER 9: WINDING DOWN 2009; WINDING UP 2010 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: At 2009's penultimate meeting of the FSC on December 9, the UK Chair (Cliff) reviewed the its accomplishments and reflected on the 2010 workload. There were no items for discussion in Working Group "B." Working Group "A" had a quick exchange on Ukraine's "Food-for-Thought" paper on "interpretations of some provision is VD99, Chapter I "Annual Exchange of Military Information. Ukraine announced it would provide more detail at the Meeting of the Heads of Verification Centers on December 14. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) The December 9 FSC was chaired by UK Ambassador Ian Cliff as the final substantive plenary of the UK's chairmanship. Greece assumes the chair in 2010 (to be followed by Hungary and Ireland). Cliff reviewed the accomplishments including the Ministerial Decisions on Small Arms/Light Weapons and Stockpiles of Conventional Ammunition, the Issues Relevant to the FSC, which lays out a "full program of events, discussions and tasks" in 2010 on strengthening the political-military toolbox including VD99, and the noteworthy first declaration on Non-Proliferation. Cliff remarked that events "underscored the relevance of the FSC" and the important contribution of arms control experts in the broader Corfu process. Ukraine on Vienna Document and deployed forces ¶3. (SBU) No issues were raised in Working Group "B." Under Agenda Item 2 (Vienna Document) of Working Group "A," Ukraine reintroduced its "Food-for-Thought" paper on improving the interpretation of information on military units to include those deployed that were not located in their normal peacetime location (FSC.DEL/196/09). Ukraine planned to discuss in more detail the paper at the Meeting of Heads of Verification Centers (HOVC) on December 14, with the intention of introducing a draft FSC decision after the winter holidays. (Note: WGA's UK Chair (Hartnell) welcomed Ukraine presenting its paper at the HOVC, noting the dearth of Food-for-Thought papers for the meeting. End note.) ¶4. (SBU) Greece and Germany requested clarifications on elements within the Ukrainian paper. Greece asked about the time-lines for reporting on deployed units, and whether the reporting requirements would include military exercises and, separately, deployments in peace support operations. Germany asked for an elaboration of the terms "remote elements deployed separately," whether the units were independent battalions of other forces, and what would be the consequences under the Ukraine proposal for inspection visits and would it require an automatic increase in quotas? Ukraine took note of the questions and said these would be addressed at the HOVC Meeting. ¶5. (SBU) Austria announced that it would hold on December 14, a symposium titled "Ten Years Vienna Document 1999: Confidence and Security Building ) Past, Present and Future" (FSC.DEL/209/09),to be held at the National Defense Academy. ¶6. (SBU) The CPC noted, under Any Other Business, its Monthly Report on Activities was circulated December 1 (FSC.GAL/133/09); reminded delegates that the draft agenda for the HOVC was circulated (FSC.GAL/132/09); and noted it was circulating for the HOVC Meeting a Food-for-Thought paper on quota distributions for air base visits (FSC.GAL/139/09). ¶7. (SBU) The final FSC plenary for the calendar year under the UK Chairmanship will be held December 16. The two Working Groups will not be scheduled to meet until after Greece assumes the Chair in 2010. FULLER