OPEN SKIES: SEPTEMBER - DECEMBER 2009 END OF ROUND

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 USOSCE 000288 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR VCI/CCA, EUR/RPM, EUR/PRA JCS FOR J-5 OSD FOR ISA (KEHL, WALLENDER) NSC FOR FRIEDT E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PARM PREL KCFE OSCE SUBJECT: OPEN SKIES: SEPTEMBER - DECEMBER 2009 END OF ROUND REF: A. STATE 95050 ¶B. USOSCE 204 ¶C. USOSCE 226 ¶D. USOSCE 268 ¶E. USOSCE ¶1. (SBU) Summary: The fall session of the Open Skies Consultative Commission (OSCC) saw adoption of the quota distribution decision for 2010, further preparations for the second Review Conference, and more progress on the draft decision for digital sensors. OSCC business continues to be positive and collaborative. The OSCC adopted five Decisions. All U.S. goals (reftel) were met or exceeded. Key issues for the winter include development of the agenda for the Review Conference, and achieving progress on the digital sensor decision. The OSCC plenary winter schedule has meetings on January 25, February 22, and March 22. End Summary. -------------- Second Review Conference June 2010 -------------- ¶2. (SBU) In the fall, USDel continued work toward preparation of the Treaty-mandated second Review Conference (RC). The OSCC adopted two decisions as proposed by the U.S.: OSCC.DEC 5/09 on the Rules and Procedures for the RC, and OSCC.DEC/6/09 establishing and Informal Working Group on Planning the Review Conference (IWGPRC). ¶3. (SBU) USDel hosted two meetings of the newly formed IWGPRC to begin discussions on the RC agenda and Final Document. USDel introduced the concept of including other security issues under discussion in the OSCE, including climate change, energy, and critical infrastructure protection, with Open Skies missions. USDel continued to consult broadly with delegations on preparation of the RC, including goals and objectives for RC desired outcomes. Allies and Russia alike welcomed these initial food for thought discussions, and agreed that the RC should be future-oriented. States have grasped the importance of coordination on transition to digital sensors, and the need to plan for that transition. -------------- Progress on Sensor Decision -------------- ¶4. (SBU) The Informal Working Group on Sensors (IWGS) held two key events this fall. First a workshop in October to review the best method for analyzing target images. The results of this workshop bore fruit in the full IWGS meeting in December, where consensus was reach on using one of the four proposed rules. The December meeting also reached agreement on the number of data points (10) required for calculation of minimum height. The mandate of the IWGS will need to be extended in January so the group can meet as planned the week of February 15. Mission recommends we seek an extension of OSCC.DEC/1/09, pending distribution of a draft decision that covers multiple OSCC modalities. -------------- Quotas for 2010 Agreed -------------- ¶5. (SBU) In October, the U.S. participated in the annual distribution of active quotas meeting. The OSCC adopted the 2010 distribution as OSCC.DEC/8/09. The U.S. received the quotas requested - 14 over Russia/Belarus, and 1 over Ukraine. The U.S. will share at least seven of these flights with partners. The U.S. also successfully chaired the 2010 calendar deconfliction meeting for states conducting missions USOSCE 00000288 002 OF 002 in Russia and Ukraine. -------------- Other OSCC Activity: -------------- ¶6. (SBU) In addition, --In October, the OSCC adopted a revision to the annual distribution of quotas for 2009 to take account of a new sharing arrangement between the U.S. and Romania (OSCC.DEC/7/09); --The UK, Georgia, and Russia reported on the successful conduct to two reciprocal flights organized by the UK. These flights were hailed as a CSBM contribution between Russia and Georgia; --The OSCC Chair prepared a Letter to the OSCE Ministers on the activity of the OSCC in 2009 (MC.GAL/2/09/Rev 2),as well as a draft paragraph on the Open Skies Treaty for the proposed Ministerial Declaration (MC.GAL/3/09/Rev 1). --the OSCC adopted the scale of distribution of expenses for the OSCC (OSCC.DEC/9/09); --Russia raised invoice issues with Eurocontrol and asked the OSCC Chair to notify them of the Treaty exemption for air traffic control fees; --USDel consulted on proposed changes to notification formats 8 and 19 provided by Hungary; --OSCC delegations welcomed a USDel recommendation to draft a decision to streamline OSCC working modalities and working group information. -------------- Winter Session Issues -------------- ¶7. (SBU) There are three main areas of focus for the upcoming Open Skies session which convenes on January 25, under Canadian chairmanship: --further work in preparing the RC; --finalizing the digital sensor decisions; and --organizing the OSCC working modalities. FULLER