FSC JANUARY 21: NEW ROUND, OLD AGENDA

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STATE FOR VCI/CCA, VCI/NRRC, EUR/RPM, EUR/PRA, EUR/CARC,
SCA/CEN, SCA/RA, PM/WRA, ISN/CPI
JCS FOR J-5
OSD FOR ISA (PERENYI)
NSC FOR HAYES
USUN FOR LEGAL, POL
EUCOM FOR J-5
CENTCOM FOR J-5
UNVIE FOR AC
GENEVA FOR CD

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PARM PREL KCFE OSCE RS XG
SUBJECT: FSC JANUARY 21: NEW ROUND, OLD AGENDA


1. (SBU) Summary: The winter 2009 session opened with no
surprises with many agenda items remaining from the autumn
2008 round. The new French chair proposed a straight forward
work plan for 2009 that includes long-established topics:
CSBMs, small arms (SALW) and conventional ammunition (SCA),
the Code of Conduct, and UNSCR 1540.


2. (SBU) The EU and others supported the work plan. Russia,
too, offered support, noting it wanted "serious dialogue" on
security issues and an improved CSBM regime in Europe. The
U.S. offered support for addressing practical security
concerns and implementation of CSBMs as well as continued
efforts to implement UNSCR 1540 and prevent the proliferation
of MANPADS.


3. (SBU) Ukraine reported Russia had exceeded certain
bilaterally agreed arms limits pertaining to the Russian
Black Sea Fleet stationed in Ukraine. Russia denied this but
promised to provide clarification. End summary.

FSC 2009 Work Plan
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4. (SBU) France (Lebedel) opened its chairmanship of the FSC
winter 2009 session with a rapid review of the new year's
work plan as agreed by the 2009 FSC chairs, including Georgia
and the UK (FSC.INF/4/09). Priorities include:

-- intensified use of the Security Dialogue;

-- continued implementation of existing OSCE documents in the
political-military dimension (Vienna Document, SALW and
conventional ammunition, the Code of Conduct) and the
discussion of possible new initiatives (MC.DEC/11/08); and

-- further work on UNSCR 1540 per the 2006 and 2008 decisions
(FSC.DEC/10/06, MC.DEC/13/08).

France and the other chairs also want to promote the "OSCE
concept of cooperative security" and follow-up on
implementation of the 2008 Helsinki Ministerial decision on a
range of FSC issues besides SALW/SCA.


5. (SBU) France confirmed that four FSC coordinators have
been reconfirmed in their positions for 2009: Petersen
(Denmark) for SCA; Hartnell (UK) for SALW; Eischer (Austria)
for the Code of Conduct; and Schweizer (Germany) as chair of
the Informal Group of Friends of SALW. A coordinator is
still needed for the 2009 Annual Security Review Conference.


6. (SBU) France announced it had invited the Partners for
Cooperation to attend and participate in the discussions of
the FSC working groups; Partners already have a standing
invitation to the FSC plenary sessions.

Wide Support for Work Plan
--------------


7. (SBU) The Czech Republic (Pocuch),on behalf of the EU,
Greece, the 2009 OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Switzerland,
Finland, and others immediately expressed support for the
French plans (FSC.DEL/3/09, FSC.DEL/4/09). Pocuch pointed
out that UNSCRs 1540 and 1810 were of particular relevance to
regional organizations like the OSCE. All urged other

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participating States to adopt quickly the draft update of the
Code of Conduct questionnaire, still pending after over a
year of negotiation.

Russia's Priorities
--------------


8. (SBU) Russia (Ulyanov) welcomed Georgia to the Troika and
praised the 2009 work plan as "sound, of high quality, and
likely to help the FSC reach its full potential." Ulyanov
said Russia had two major priorities for the FSC in 2009: (1)
serious dialogue on security issues and (2) improving the
CSBM regime in Europe.


9. (SBU) Georgia (Giorgadze) noted its alignment with the EU
statement and pledged full support to the FSC Troika and
efforts to strengthen the effectiveness of the Forum.

U.S. Goals
--------------


10. (SBU) The U.S. (Neighbour) pledged support for practical,
results-oriented initiatives in the working groups and use of
the Security Dialogue to explore relevant issues. The U.S.
called for continued work on implementation of UNSCR 1540,
including completion of the Best Practice Guide. The U.S. is
eager to engage on various aspects of cyber security and
seeks support for continuing efforts by participating States
and the Partners for Cooperation to counter the proliferation
of MANPADS.

French Defense White Paper and EU Security Strategy
-------------- --------------


11. (SBU) Michel Miraillet, director of strategic affairs at
the French defense ministry described the impact of the
recent French defense white paper on the chair's approach to
European security issues: the EU and NATO are complementary
and French commitments to the former cannot be separated from
its restored role in the Alliance. France will work with
other Member States to implement the European Security
Strategy, which includes combating terrorism, preventing the
proliferation of WMD and conventional weapons, and nuclear
and conventional disarmament.

Ukraine Calls Russia Out on Black Sea Fleet
--------------


12. (SBU) Ukraine (Herasymenko) called on Russia to reduce
its "excess" holdings of certain weapons stationed on
Ukrainian territory as part of the bilateral Black Sea Fleet
stationing agreement (FSC.DEL/194/08). Russia (Ulyanov)
explained that the apparent excesses were due to an anomaly
in the Vienna Document that reported certain Black Sea Fleet
units actually in Russia as being in Ukraine. Ulyanov said a
fuller elaboration was forthcoming from Moscow.


13. (SBU) The U.S. (Neighbour) said both interventions would
be forwarded to Washington and urged all participating States
to fulfill all their international obligations. Privately,
the Ukrainian delegation noted their appreciation to the U.S.
for its intervention.
The Treaty of Utrecht and All That
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14. (SBU) Spain and the UK exchanged interventions noting
their Vienna Document submissions at the Annual Exchange of
Military Information in December 2008 were without prejudice
to their territorial claims on Gibraltar.

SALW and Conventional Ammunition Projects
--------------


15. (SBU) The FSC coordinator for SALW (Hartnell) gave an
overview of ongoing or proposed projects in Tajikistan,
Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, and Cyprus (FSC.DEL/2/09). Hartnell
reminded that the deadline for proposals in response to
Cyprus's request for assistance in destroying MANPADS was
January 21. Proposals will be compiled by the CPC; an
assessment visit is planned in February.


16. (SBU) The FSC coordinator for stockpiles of conventional
ammunition (Petersen) reported on projects in Georgia,
Kyrgyzstan, Montenegro, Kazakhstan, and Ukraine
(FSC.GAL/196/08). He noted that continuation of the
ammunition demilitarization project in Georgia would depend
on the future of the OSCE presence there, "or that of other
international organizations." In his national capacity,
Petersen announced Denmark was donating half a million euros
to the melange project in Ukraine.

Coming Attractions
--------------


17. (SBU) France (Simonet) reminded delegations to submit
nominations for speakers, coordinators, and rapporteurs for
the Annual Implementation Assessment Meeting on March 3-4 and
the special cyber security workshop on March 17-18. A
"coordination" meeting for the cyber workshop will be held on
February 3.


18. (SBU) Germany invited participating states to send
high-ranking MFA and MOD officials to a seminar on
"Conventional Arms Control and Disarmament in the Current
Strategic Environment," to be held March 24-26 at RACVIAC in
Zagreb, Croatia. Deadline for applications to the German
Foreign Office is February 20.

Next Meeting
--------------


19. (SBU) The next meeting of the FSC, including working
groups, will be on January 28 and will feature Peter Croll,
director of the Bonn (Germany) International Center for
Conversion, discussing non-proliferation and export controls
in the Security Dialogue.
SCOTT