SFO-GVA-VIII: (U) DEFINITIONS WORKING GROUP MEETING,

S E C R E T GENEVA 000113 SIPDIS DEPT FOR T, VCI AND EUR/PRA DOE FOR NNSA/NA-24 CIA FOR WINPAC JSCS FOR J5/DDGSA SECDEF FOR OSD(P)/STRATCAP NAVY FOR CNO-N5JA AND DIRSSP AIRFORCE FOR HQ USAF/ASX AND ASXP DTRA FOR OP-OS OP-OSA AND DIRECTOR NSC FOR LOOK DIA FOR LEA E.O. 12958: DECL: 2020/02/23 TAGS: PARM KACT MARR PREL RS US SUBJECT: SFO-GVA-VIII: (U) DEFINITIONS WORKING GROUP MEETING, FEBRUARY 11, 2010 REF: 10 GENEVA 53 (SFO-GVA-VIII-024) CLASSIFIED BY: Rose E. Gottemoeller, Assistant Secretary, Department of State, VCI; REASON: 1.4(B),(D) ¶1. (U) This is SFO-GVA-VIII-039. ¶2. (U) Meeting Date: February 11, 2010 Time: 3:30 P.M. - 5:30 P.M. Place: U.S. Mission, Geneva -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶3. (S) At the Definitions Working Group meeting co-chaired by Mr. Siemon and Adm (Ret) Kuznetsov, the sides continued discussion on the terms "warhead," "variant" and "new type." The U.S. side provided the Russian side with the U.S. Official Translation of the Proposal of the Russian Federation on the term "non-deployed heavy bomber," dated February 11, 2010, and the U.S-proposed definition of the term "new type," dated February 11, 2010. The sides agreed to delete the term "ICBM for mobile launchers of ICBMs." End summary. ¶4. (U) SUBJECT SUMMARY: Definitions Discussed. -------------- DEFINITIONS DISCUSSED -------------- ¶5. (S) Siemon provided the Russian side with the U.S. Official Translation of the Proposal of the Russian Federation on the term "non-deployed heavy bomber," dated February 11, 2010, and the U.S-proposed definition of the term "new type," dated February 11, ¶2010. ¶6. (S) Kuznetsov suggested the working group discuss the terms "warhead," "variant" and "new type." He believed the terms "missile defense interceptor" and "telemetric information" needed to be discussed in other working groups before further work could be conducted in the Definitions Working Group. Confirming the intention from the last meeting of the working group (Ref A),the sides agreed to delete the term "ICBM for mobile launchers of ICBMs." ¶7. (S) Kuznetsov stated that resolution of the term "warhead" was a priority for Russian Head of Delegation Ambassador Antonov so it was important that the sides agree on a definition. After a thorough discussion on the fact that a warhead was a unit of account and nuclear armaments were physical objects, the Russian side was hopeful that the following U.S.-proposed definition could be agreed after discussion within the Russian delegation. Begin text: The term "warhead" means a unit of account used for counting toward the aggregate limit specified in Article II 1(b). End text. ¶8. (S) Regarding the term "variant," Siemon indicated the term could be deleted if the Russian side could agree to U.S.-proposed changes in the definition of "new type." The U.S. side proposed changing the percentages to the length and diameter subparagraphs of the current definition. It proposed both subparagraphs include the formulation "by more than three percent." The U.S-proposed definition was as follows. Begin text: The term "new type" means, for ICBMs or SLBMs, a type of ICBM or SLBM, the technical characteristics of which differ from those of an ICBM or SLBM, respectively, of each type declared previously in at least one of the following respects: (a) number of stages; (b) type of propellant of any stage; (c) length of either the assembled missile without front section or length of the first stage, by more than three percent; (d) diameter of the first stage, by more than three percent. End text. ¶9. (S) Kuznetsov noted that under START U.S. inspectors would distinguish between variants using length and diameter measurements and photos of external features. He was confused how the new definition would be exercised. Col Kamenskiy provided an example to help the U.S. side explain the changes. He asked what the U.S. side would consider a missile that had the same number of stages, same type of propellant, same length and diameter measurements but differed externally from any existing type of missile. Would this missile be a new type? After discussion on the U.S. side, Siemon stated that Kamenskiy posed a very good question that he would have to take back for further discussion with the U.S. delegation. ¶10. (S) Kuznetsov asked if Siemon had time to study the definition of "non-deployed heavy bomber" he had provided earlier in the day at the Expanded Ad Hoc Group meeting. The U.S. official translation of the Russian-proposed definition follows. Begin text: The term "non-deployed heavy bomber" means a test heavy bomber and a heavy bomber located at the repair facility for heavy bombers. End text. ¶11. (S) Siemon responded that although the definition seemed straight forward he had not had time to thoroughly study the definition. However, he believed the sides had differing views on whether the heavy bombers located at the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base conversion or elimination facility would count within the aggregate limit on deployed and non-deployed ICBM launchers, SLBM launchers and heavy bombers. Siemon noted the Russian-proposed definition was linked to a limit of 15 non-deployed heavy bombers that had not been discussed at the table. ¶12. (S) In addition to the definition of a warhead, the following U.S.-proposed definitions were provided to the Russian working group. Begin text: The term "nuclear armaments" means, for heavy bombers, long-range nuclear ALCMs, nuclear air-to-surface missiles, and nuclear bombs. The term "heavy bomber equipped for nuclear armaments" means a heavy bomber equipped for long-range nuclear ALCMs, nuclear air-to-surface missiles, or nuclear bombs. The term "heavy bomber equipped for non-nuclear armaments" means a heavy bomber that is not equipped for long-range nuclear ALCMs, nuclear air-to-service missiles, or nuclear bombs. End text. ¶13. (U) Documents provided: - United States: -- U.S. Official Translation of the Proposal of the Russian Federation on the term "non-deployed heavy bomber," dated February 11, 2010; -- U.S-proposed definition of the term "new type," dated February 11, 2010; -- U.S-proposed definition of the term "nuclear armaments," dated February 11, 2010; -- U.S-proposed definition of the term "heavy bomber equipped for nuclear armaments," dated February 11, 2010; and -- U.S-proposed definition of the term "heavy bomber equipped for non-nuclear armaments," dated February 11, 2010. ¶14. (U) Participants: UNITED STATES Mr. Siemon Mr. Connell Lt Col Comeau Mr. Dean Mr. Hanchett (RO) Mr. Taylor Mrs. Zdravecky Ms. Gross (Int) RUSSIA Adm (Ret) Kuznetsov Ms. Fuzhenkova Col Kamenskiy Ms. Komshilova (Int) ¶15. (U) Gottemoeller sends. GRIFFITHS