OSCE/FSC: RESPONDING TO UKRAINE'S LATEST PROPOSAL

UNCLAS STATE 006632 SENSITIVE SIPDIS C O R R E C T E D COPY CAPTION E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OSCE PARM PREL SUBJECT: OSCE/FSC: RESPONDING TO UKRAINE'S LATEST PROPOSAL ON NONPROLIFERATION REF: LETTER FROM 1540 COMMITTEE CHAIR TO OSCE DECEMBER 29 - COPY PROVIDED TO VCI/CCA VIA WUCHTE EMAIL 1/5/10 ¶1. (U) This is an action message. See paras 2-4. ¶2. (SBU) In response to Ukraine's proposal (FSC.DEL/212/09) to update the OSCE 1994 Principles Governing Nonproliferation, endorsed by Heads of State at the OSCE Summit in Budapest, USDel should inform Ukraine and others, as appropriate, that we are satisfied that the recent OSCE Ministerial Declaration on Nonproliferation (MC.DOC/5/09) already accomplishes that goal. With regard to nonproliferation efforts, Washington prefers the FSC focus its attention on supporting efforts already underway in other venues and promoting practical implementation steps, notably those proposed by the 1540 Committee Chair in his letter to the OSCE dated December 29, 2009. USDel may draw from the following points: -- The U.S. recognizes that a positive contribution is made by increased OSCE focus on nonproliferation in general, and that this provides an opportunity to focus our efforts on practical implementation. -- The Athens OSCE Ministerial Declaration on Nonproliferation (MC.DOC/5/09) effectively updates the 1994 OSCE Principles Governing Nonproliferation by taking into account the current nonproliferation landscape. The "updating" provided by the Ministerial Declaration is sufficient and we see no reason for the FSC to undertake any further work with regard to the 1994 OSCE Principles. ¶3. (SBU) USDel should engage the Ukrainian delegation early on this approach, seeking to divert its approach to focus on practical implementation steps rather than a political endorsement exercise through either an update to the 1994 OSCE Principles or another new document. If the Ukrainians do not support this approach, USDel should seek an explanation on the reasoning behind the need for an update even though the 2009 Ministerial Declaration addressed the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, as well as reaffirmed that the NPT remains the cornerstone of the nuclear nonproliferation regime. Security Assurances, If Raised -------------- ¶4. (SBU) If the issue of binding security assurances is raised, USDel should make clear that the U.S. is not open to discussing further security assurances beyond those already made in 1994 by the U.S., Russia, and the UK, and reaffirmed in the U.S.-Russia Joint Statement on the expiration of the START Treaty delivered December 4, 2009. Furthermore, the U.S. will not support any attempt to place such assurances into multilateral documents such as the OSCE Principles Governing Nonproliferation. CLINTON