Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10STATE4441
2010-01-15 17:57:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Secretary of State
Cable title:  

CFE: JCG OPENING OF SESSION GUIDANCE AND

Tags:  OSCE PARM PREL KCFE 
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VZCZCXRO9861
PP RUEHSK RUEHSL
DE RUEHC #4441/01 0151803
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 151757Z JAN 10
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE PRIORITY 6962
INFO RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 6776
RHMFISS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
CONVENTIONAL ARMED FORCES IN EUROPE COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 STATE 004441 

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OSCE PARM PREL KCFE
SUBJECT: CFE: JCG OPENING OF SESSION GUIDANCE AND
STATEMENT FOR JANUARY 19, 2010

REF: (A) 09 USOSCE 285: CFE/JCG: END-OF-ROUND, FALL 2008
(B) 09 STATE 92639: CFE: JCG FALL 2009 OPENING OF
SESSION GUIDANCE AND STATEMENT, (C) 09 STATE 4933: CFE:
JCG OPENING OF SESSION GUIDANCE AND STATEMENT FOR
JANUARY 20, 2009, (D) 08 STATE 12563: CFE/JCG:
CONTRIBUTING TO NATO'S CFE GAME PLAN


UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 STATE 004441

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OSCE PARM PREL KCFE
SUBJECT: CFE: JCG OPENING OF SESSION GUIDANCE AND
STATEMENT FOR JANUARY 19, 2010

REF: (A) 09 USOSCE 285: CFE/JCG: END-OF-ROUND, FALL 2008
(B) 09 STATE 92639: CFE: JCG FALL 2009 OPENING OF
SESSION GUIDANCE AND STATEMENT, (C) 09 STATE 4933: CFE:
JCG OPENING OF SESSION GUIDANCE AND STATEMENT FOR
JANUARY 20, 2009, (D) 08 STATE 12563: CFE/JCG:
CONTRIBUTING TO NATO'S CFE GAME PLAN



1. (SBU) Russia's ongoing suspension of its CFE Treaty
implementation since December 12, 2007 will set the tone
for the opening session of the Joint Consultative Group
(JCG) in 2010. Russia will likely continue to press for
discussion of elements of its May 2009 Aide Memoire in
the JCG and NATO-Russia Council, and to seek to gain
traction in whatever forum Russia can for defining
"substantial combat forces" and conditions for accession
of new CFE States Parties. We also expect Russia to
continue to reject criticism of its own non-compliance
by accusing NATO CFE States Parties of violations based
on Russia's unilateral interpretation of the existence
of aggregate collective ceilings rather than the
legitimate limits specified in the CFE Treaty and actual
national holdings, in particular in the flank region.


2. (SBU) In 2010, we anticipate that the High Level Task
Force will remain the primary venue for coordinating
NATO policy on CFE and that the U.S. will engage Russia,
as well as key Allies, at more senior levels on the way
ahead for solving the political and treaty issues at the
core of the CFE impasse. As bilateral consultations
with Russia on CFE continue, Washington is interested in
maintaining a unified Alliance voice in support of our
efforts, and in cultivating an environment in the JCG
that reinforces the NATO-endorsed positions regarding
these negotiations. The JCG should continue to serve as
the key venue for addressing CFE compliance and
implementation issues, including those compliance
failures associated with Russia's "suspension," in
addition to those associated with other CFE States
Parties (as detailed in the most recent Condition 5
Report).


3. (SBU) The U.S. Arms Control Delegation in Vienna
should continue to follow standing guidance (per reftels
B and C and outlined below) while making interventions
in accordance with U.S. policy, as required. U.S. del
should continue to encourage Allied CFE States to use

the JCG to establish a clear record of ongoing Russian
noncompliance while calling on Russia to return to full
implementation. In doing so, the delegation should seek
to:

-- actively raise (in the JCG and/or bilaterally as
appropriate) and report on instances of noncompliance
with CFE Treaty obligations by Russia and other States
Parties (i.e. raise bilaterally with Azerbaijan its
continued overages in holdings of tanks and artillery,
and report on any response);

-- emphasize the benefits of the CFE regime and the
importance of all States Parties implementing the CFE
Treaty fully;

-- stress the continued interest of the U.S. and its
Allies in creating the conditions that will result in
the ratification and subsequent entry into force of the
adapted CFE Treaty;

-- resist efforts by Russia and possibly others to use
the JCG to discuss and/or negotiate elements of the
Parallel Actions Package, thereby complicating efforts
to resolve the CFE impasse, which we expect to take
place at more senior levels this year;

-- ask questions about Russia's military posture per ref
D, in plenary and bilaterally as appropriate. Encourage
Russia to provide more details, in the spirit of
transparency, on the results of the ongoing
restructuring of its Armed Forces, and on Russian forces
in the flank region. Ask for clarification about
current and planned activity by Russian military forces
reported in press, namely any anticipated to take place

STATE 00004441 002 OF 003


near other CFE States Parties;

-- refute claims by Russia that NATO States Parties are
in violation of CFE limits, avoid being drawn into any
technical debate on treaty numbers, and redirect
discussion toward forward-looking and productive efforts
that will lead to entry into force of the adapted
Treaty; and,

-- approach Georgian del bilaterally to follow-up on
inconsistencies between Georgia's official hardcopy and
electronic versions of its CFE data provided to States
Parties on 15 December 2009, valid as of 1 January 2010.
A U.S. data expert has asked Georgia's representative at
the January 11-12 DMEG in Brussels to investigate
inconsistencies that surfaced during a detailed review
of Georgia's CFE military information. Washington will
provide U.S. del specifics on the discrepancies, results
of the data expert discussion, and any pending action as
details become available.


4. (SBU) The following statement is provided for
delivery at the JCG Opening of Session Plenary on 19
January 2010. U.S. Representative may provide advance
copies to NATO Allies in the NATO-T and to others as
appropriate.

Begin Text --------------

Mr. Chairman,

A new year and a new decade present a fresh opportunity
to focus our efforts in this forum, and elsewhere, to
overcome the challenges facing the Treaty on
Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE).

The United States would like to reassure all in this
room of our continued commitment to the CFE Treaty and
our resolve to work cooperatively with all parties to
create the conditions that would allow the Adapted CFE
Treaty to enter into force.

We regret the Russian Federation's continued refusal to
implement the Treaty since December 2007. We continue
to believe that Russia's non-implementationposes a
serious risk to a regime of significant value to the
security of Europe. We look forward to working closely
with Russia and our Treaty partners in 2010 to resolve
the continued CFE impasse so that this important and
significant treaty can be preserved along with its
essential role in European security.


Today, we look to 2010 with renewed hope.We continue to
believe that the future of CFE and the principles which
it embodies depend on the compliance and cooperation of
all CFE Parties. At present, twenty-nine States Parties
continue to participate faithfully in inspections and
information exchanges, to the mutual security benefit of
all. At the same time, Russia's suspension of
inspections and information exchanges under the treaty
is widening a significant gap in predictability and
transparency. We urge Russia to return to compliance
and reverse this situation. If Russia does not, it
could make it difficult to provide information to Russia
in the future as stated in paragraph 13 of the December
2009 statement by Foreign Ministers of the North
Atlantic Council.

The United States of America, again, calls on the
Russian Federation to meet its CFE Treaty obligations
fully, and in so doing, return to Europe the
predictability and transparency that continues to erode.
Full compliance of all parties will significantly
contribute to the security and stability of Europe.

A decision by Russia to return to full compliance would
set a productive tone as we intensify our efforts during
2010 to preserve the benefits of the landmark CFE
regime. Just as important, it would demonstrate
commitment to the principles that bring us to this forum
and to cooperative approaches to security that reinforce
trust and build confidence.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

We ask that this statement be appended to the Journal of

STATE 00004441 003 OF 003


the Day.

End Text --------------
CLINTON