CFE/JCG: FEBRUARY 11, 2009 PLENARY (CONF)

C O N F I D E N T I A L USOSCE 000030 SIPDIS STATE FOR VCI/CCA, EUR/RPM NSC FOR HAYES JCS FOR J5 NORWOOD OSD FOR ISA (PERENYI) E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/10/2013 TAGS: KCFE OSCE PARM PREL SUBJECT: CFE/JCG: FEBRUARY 11, 2009 PLENARY (CONF) Classified By: Chief Arms Control Delegate Hugh Neighbour, for reasons 1.4(b) and (d). ¶1. (SBU) Summary. Allies isolated Russia again with a series of interventions contrasting its rejection of inspection notices from Germany and Turkey with the continued implementation of the inspection regime by the 29 other States Parties. Russia in turn blamed the lack of progress in resolving CFE issues on "NATO's passive negotiating posture" and called for NATO to get down to the "serious work of meaningful negotiating." Meanwhile, Azerbaijan and Armenia remained silent. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) At the 10 February JCG, Germany (Richter) and Turkey (Gungen) admonished Russia for rejecting their countries' respective CFE inspection notifications. Richter registered regret at Russia,s continued "suspension" and reiterated Germany's intent to fully implement the treaty. He called on Russia to accept the parallel action package, which "takes into account all of Russia's concerns." Richter also plugged FonMin Steinmeier's seminar on CFE in Berlin in June, calling it another opportunity to consult on a solution to the current impasse. Gungen noted Turkey's support for Germany's intervention, adding a rebuke to Russia for its further noncompliance regarding a recent Turkish notification (full text in JCG Journal). ¶3. (SBU) In an slight change of pace from previous supporting interventions, the U.S. (Neighbour) contrasted Russia's serial non-compliance with the continued compliance with the CFE Treaty, particularly its inspection regime, by 29 of 30 States Parties. Neighbour noted that more than 60 inspections had taken place on the territory of 20 States Parties during the current Treaty Year and that every State Party with forces in the AOA, except Russia, had taken an active part in the inspection regime. He concluded by calling for immediate and full compliance by all States Parties (full text in JCG Journal). ¶4. (SBU) Several Allies picked up the new mantra emphasizing compliance by all except Russia. The United Kingdom (Hartnell) effectively contrasted its successful recent inspection to Ukraine with the day's reproaches from Turkey and Germany. ¶5. (SBU) Greece (Katsanis),Belgium (Kenes),Italy (Negro), Bulgaria (Karapenev),France (Simonet),Romania (Matei) and Portugal (Teixeira) piled on and supported the previous Allied interventions. ¶6. (SBU) Russia (Ulyanov) "thanked" the U.S. and others for highlighting the inspection regime's continued value. He noted Russia's desire to join the list of States Parties fully implementing the Treaty, but alleged that that NATO's position prevented this. Ulyanov carped on NATO's "remarkably passive negotiating posture," bitterly criticizing the frequency of U.S.-Russian bilateral talks. Punctuating his message with the line, "Russia is waiting for you!", he expressed hope that NATO would get down to the "serious business of meaningful negotiation." ¶7. (SBU) Also of note, Azerbaijan and Armenia broke the cycle of caustic recriminations by remaining silent. (Note. Both Parties told the U.S. prior to the meeting that they would not intervene, except in reply to the other. End note.) ¶8. (C) Comment: The U.S. had previewed its message that inspections were continuing by all except Russia during the 9 February JCG-T and received wide-spread positive feedback. Following the JCG, several Allies expressed satisfaction with Allied interventions, believing that emphasizing implementation by 29 States Parties, including participation in the inspection regime in the current Treaty year by neighbors such as Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Armenia, effectively isolated Russia in yet another way. The Allied approach may have indeed struck a sensitive cord, as Ulyanov had, prior to the JCG, told USDel (Neighbour) that he no intention of intervening. End comment. SCOTT