U.S.-EU SPRING CONSULTATIONS ON OSCE: DETERMINING

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 USOSCE 000089 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR/RPM; EUR/ERA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PHUM OSCE EUN SUBJECT: U.S.-EU SPRING CONSULTATIONS ON OSCE: DETERMINING THE MUTUAL NEED ¶1. (U) The EU hosted on March 6 a U.S. delegation, headed by USOSCE Charge Kyle Scott and EUR/RPM Office Director Bruce Turner, for the semi-annual U.S.-EU "COSCE" consultations on the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). The discussions ranged over a variety of topics confronting the OSCE. Both the Czech EU Presidency and the U.S. professed the value and importance of continued close coordination on OSCE issues of concern. ¶2. (SBU) Main topics covered included: European Security Architecture -- There was an agreement on the value of engaging with the Russians on this while remaining mindful of the shared principles of: fulfilling commitments, emphasizing comprehensiveness, retaining a transatlantic component and centering the discussions in the OSCE. Next steps in the dialogue process will include national seminars in Italy and Austria and the OSCE,s Annual Security Review Conference June 23-24. The EU agreed with the U.S. assertion that gaining traction on CFE would be an important barometer of genuine progress in any overall security discussions. Afghanistan -- Main OSCE activities currently are proposed border security projects and possible assistance to upcoming Presidential elections. The key in both cases is to ensure OSCE focus on niche roles. A thematic niche role for the OSCE also is to build regional cooperation in these and other functional areas in Central Asia that can be extended to Afghanistan. Protracted Conflicts -- These remain at the heart of European insecurity. Events last year in Georgia destabilized the region and for the time being derailed possible progress in Nagorno-Karabakh. For Moldova, EU has a number of useful tools to contribute to an eventual resolution, but it is doubtful that Moldovan President Voronin or Transniestrian leader Smirnof really desire a resolution. One interesting wrinkle is to consider the Ukrainian angle on Moldova and whether certain power centers in Kyiv benefit by having Transniestria remain mostly an ungoverned space. SE Europe )- The U.S. presented arguments for why the OSCE Mission to Kosovo (OMIK) should be downsized and refocused to avoid overlapping competencies with other international efforts and ease concerns that due to strict status neutrality constraints it undermines Kosovo,s elected government. The EU agreed to consider a U.S. suggestion that it send an assessment mission to Pristina to gauge OMIK,s current effectiveness. On the OSCE office in Croatia, the EU resisted U.S. calls to close it down, saying it still serves two important roles: monitoring progress on IDPs and fostering a judicial process on war crimes. In response to U.S. questions a threshold for closure, the EU suggested establishing specific benchmarks. The U.S. also raised concerns about the apparent inverse relationship between the presence of OSCE offices or Missions and progress in the EU,s Stabilization and Association Process. Georgia )- Both sides appreciated improved coordination between the EU and OSCE monitors. There was also agreement on the value of Greek efforts to broker a new OSCE Mission mandate, with the U.S. insisting the time would soon come to call the Russian bluff and see if they would agree to maintaining the OSCE,s presence. A representative from the Council of Europe (COE) described their activities in Georgia, including the fact that the COE had a representative based for stretches at a time in Tshkinvali, and urged the U.S. look more closely at COE reports on Georgia. Belarus )- The EU assessed some encouraging aspects of recent Belarusian behavior and said positive incentives such as inclusion in the EU,s upcoming Eastern Partnership and suspension of the implementation of the visa ban would be offset by an extension of various sanction regimes that could easily be re-imposed if required. The EU said that opposition leaders in Minsk are cautiously optimistic about an improvement in the political climate, which they attribute in part to a more positive EU attitude. Both sides were concerned about Minsk,s possible acquiescence to Russian pressure to recognize South Ossetia and Abkhazia. While not a member of the Council of Europe, Belarus is interested in closer relations with Strasbourg, which might include establishment of a COE information office in Minsk and Belarusian adherence to several COE conventions including torture. ¶3. (SBU) COMMENT: These semi-annual discussions remain a USOSCE 00000089 002 OF 002 useful opportunity to take a step back and consider larger trends and developments at the OSCE. That they broke little new ground, however, is a tribute to the close communication and coordination we currently enjoy in Vienna with the EU troika. Particularly effective have been our efforts to reach out directly to the Czech Presidency ahead of the EU,s weekly coordination meeting in an effort to avoid being confronted later on with an EU fait accompli following the often tortuous position formulation negotiations among all 27 members. SCOTT