CFE/JCG: MARCH 24: RUSSIA CRITICIZES, BUT U.S.

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 USOSCE 000061

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR VCI/CCA, EUR/RPM
NSC FOR HAYES
JCS FOR J5/COL NORWOOD
OSD FOR ISA (PERENYI)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/20/2018
TAGS: KCFE OSCE PARM PREL RS
SUBJECT: CFE/JCG: MARCH 24: RUSSIA CRITICIZES, BUT U.S.
DOESN'T TAKE THE BAIT

Classified By: Charge d' Affairs a.i. Hugh Neighbour,
for reasons 1.4(b) and (d).


1. (SBU) Summary: At the March 24 JCG plenary, Russia
apologized for its having missed the March 10 JCG meeting due
to heavy traffic. Russia also attempted, to no avail, to
ensnare the U.S. delegation in a debate over who really was
ready to resume negotiations on the parallel actions package.
The Chair requested delegations agree next week to cancel
the April 28 JCG plenary since many delegations plan to be in
Brussels that day for an HLTF meeting. End Summary.

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Russia Glad No One Cancelled CFE When It Wasn't Looking
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2. (SBU) The Joint Consultative Group (JCG) met on March 24
under the Chairmanship of Germany (Richter). Russia
(Ulyanov) immediately took the floor to apologize for its
having missed the March 10 JCG plenary due to heavy traffic.
Ulyanov joked that he was pleased "no one had cancelled CFE"
or "taken new measures," something he said the UN Security
Council once did when no Russian representative was present.

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Russia Says It Has Waited Almost Two Years
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3. (SBU) Russia (Ulyanov) used today's meeting to respond
to the U.S. statement (JCG.JOUR/690/Annex) from March 10.
Inter alia, in that statement the U.S. pointed out that 29
States Parties continued to implement the CFE Treaty and
urged the Russian Federation to work cooperatively with
concerned CFE States to reach an agreement on the basis of
the parallel actions package. Ulyanov noted his "amazement"
with such appeals made to Russia to engage constructively.
Ulyanov noted that failure to act on the parallel actions
package was not because of Russia's "lack of goodwill," but
because no U.S.-Russia meetings had taken place. Ulyanov
noted that Russia has been "waiting over one and a half
years" for its American colleagues to resume negotiations.
Ulyanov said Russia was ready to resume negotiations either
"here in Vienna this week, or next week in Moscow." He said
Russia was interested in "when and where" the U.S. would be
willing to meet. Ulyanov stressed, a bit sarcastically,
whether the U.S. would really "put into action" exactly what
it was asking Russia to do.


4. (SBU) The U.S. (Neighbour) replied it would convey the
Russian delegation's statement to Washington and said,
without going into details, that the U.S. assessment of the
previous 18 months was substantially different. Neighbour
observed that the change of U.S. administration has had an
impact on a range of issues, including CFE, and that it could
be some weeks before top U.S. arms control officials were in
place. Neighbour recalled the positive March 6 meeting in
Geneva between Secretary Clinton and Foreign Minister Lavrov,
who had an exchange on arms control in the context of their
tour d' horizon.


5. (SBU) The Chair (Richter) underscored that Russia's
absence during the March 10 JCG plenary should not be
misinterpreted as a "political signal."

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April 28 JCG Likely Will be Cancelled
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6. (SBU) The Chair (Richter) announced that the next HLTF was
planned for April 28, the same day that a JCG plenary is
scheduled. Richter recommended cancelling the April 28 JCG
plenary as a large number of delegations were planning to be
in Brussels for the HLTF. No delegation took the floor to
express any objection to the Chair's proposal. Absent any

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objection, the April 28 JCG will be cancelled at the next JCG
plenary on March 31.

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Turkey Seeks Allies' Opinion on Joint Moldovan-Russian
Statement
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7. (C) During the JCG-T Plus 4, chaired by Belgium (Kenes),
and which met immediately prior to the JCG plenary today,
Turkey (Begic) called attention to the joint Moldovan-Russian
statement, wherein Moldova described the Russian peacekeeping
forces in Transdnistria as "a stabilizing factor." Turkey
said it was happy that Moldova was making progress on this
matter, but would have been happier to know in advance that
there would be a joint Moldova-Russia statement. The Chair
(Kenes) noted that many capitals were studying the statement,
and suggested that even the Moldovans may now be "realizing
what they have committed."


8. (C) Germany (Richter) said it helps to look back at the
Istanbul Commitments document, in particular paragraph 18 of
the Istanbul Summit Declaration, which he quoted: "we
recognize positive role of peacekeepers for ensuring the
stability in the region." Richter cautioned that we have to
view this in the light of making a clear distinction between
"peacekeepers and regular forces." The Chair (Kenes) noted
that "host nation consent" is crucial. Turkey (Begic) said
that its interpretation of the Istanbul Commitments was
similar to that of Germany, but that a clear definition was
still lacking. Begic said if for nothing else, at least the
"Moldovans were solving this on behalf of the Alliance."


9. (C) Romania (Matei) noted that it was studying the
statement and could not yet give a final opinion. Matei
suggested a "cautious approach," and stressed that we did not
have to rush to a final conclusion. Germany (Richter) also
supported a cautious approach. Richter said Germany did not
want to reopen the debate in the JCG, but recalled that
Germany had issued a paper some time ago in an attempt to
define Istanbul Commitments. Peacekeepers in Transdnistria
was a "case in point."

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U.S. Approach to March 25 Security Dialogue in FSC
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10. (C) Under any other business, the U.S. (Neighbour)
briefed Allies on U.S. views regarding Russia's intention to
raise the re-opening of Vienna Document 99 during the March
25 FSC Security Dialogue. The U.S. (Neighbour) said the U.S.
position was unchanged, but in light of the transitioning
administration and focus on "resetting" U.S.-Russia
relations, the U.S. wanted to refrain from debating again
proposals that had not received much traction in the past,
e.g., CSBMs on naval forces. Neighbour said the U.S. would
ask Russia to raise specific concerns that it had and
indicate how re-opening VD99 could address those concerns.
Neighbour also said that the U.S. would say it was surprised
VD99 was not working well for Russia, as Ulyanov had alleged,
since Russia has been one of the most enthusiastic
implementers of the document, more than all Allies combined.

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Next Meeting
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11. (U) The next JCG Plenary will be on March 31 under the
Chairmanship of Germany. The next JCG-T will be on March 30,
chaired by Bulgaria.
NEIGHBOUR