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.


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Second Review Conference June 2010
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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.


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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.


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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.


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Other OSCC Activity:
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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