Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09USOSCE30
2009-02-11 15:54:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Mission USOSCE
Cable title:
CFE/JCG: FEBRUARY 11, 2009 PLENARY (CONF)
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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).
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
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