OPEN SKIES: 2010 OPENING PLENARY - AN EFFICIENT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 USOSCE 000019 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KCFE OSCE PARM PREL SUBJECT: OPEN SKIES: 2010 OPENING PLENARY - AN EFFICIENT CANADA TAKES THE CHAIR REF: STATE 006955 1.(U) Summary: The first plenary of the 51st session of the Open Skies Consultative Commission was efficient and productive under Canadian chairmanship. Canada provided a useful overview of its principle objectives as Chair and indicated it would initiate a full agenda for the run-up to the Second Open Skies Review Conference in June. Additionally, States Parties agreed two draft decisions prolonging the work of the Informal Working Group on Sensors and harmonizing the OSCC scales of distribution with those of the OSCE, and welcomed two new draft decisions for review. Request for guidance in para 10 regarding support for Canada's initiative to bring Kazakhstan into the Open Skies system. End summary. -------------- Canada Charts its Flight Path -------------- 2.(U) The first plenary meeting of the 51st Session of the Open Skies Consultative Commission was held on January 25 with Canada (Linteau) assuming the chairmanship. Delegates were greeted by Canadian Ambassador to the OSCE Fredericka Gregory, who detailed Canada's four key priorities for the upcoming session: 1) to support and facilitate the preparation of the Second Open Skies Review Conference, 2) support and closely cooperate with the informal Open Skies working groups, 3) align the OSCC Scale of Distribution with that of the OSCE, and 4) actively promote the Open Skies Treaty to other delegations within the OSCE to both communicate its value in the OSCE toolkit and recruit new accessions to the Treaty. 3.(U) Ambassador Gregory called the Open Skies Treaty "a real jewel" in the politico-military toolkit but argued the States Parties should not rest on their laurels. Gregory called for a review of OS instruments and methods, including how States Parties can increase cost effectiveness, and suggested the States Parties consider how the regime could become "more relevant" to 21st Century security challenges. -------------- Taking Care of Business in the OSCC -------------- 4.(U) The OSCC adopted two draft decisions during the January 25 meeting. States Parties agreed on a decision Prolonging the Work of the Informal Working Group on Sensors (IWGS) into the Year 2010 (OSCC.DD/1/10),which allowed the IWGS to continue its momentum toward completing Revision 1 to Decision 14 and a draft decision for Digital Image Processing during 2010. States Parties also agreed on a decision regarding the OSCC Scales of Distribution for 2010 (OSCC.DD/2/10/Corr.1),which brought them in line with those of the OSCE, per Permanent Council Decision 924. Per Ref A, U.S. del joined consensus on both decisions. 5.(U) On behalf of the chair, the U.S. (Neighbour) introduced a draft decision on the Rules of Procedure and Working Methods of the Open Skies Consultative Commission and Its Informal Working Groups (OSCC.DD/3/10). The U.S. stated that this decision would provide a useful "housekeeping" fix that would allow the regime to operate at peak efficiency. The U.S. pointed out the decision incorporated recommendations from several States Parties, such as allowing for more than one OSCC plenary per month, as suggested by Luxembourg, and re-establishing the Informal Working Group on Notifications and Formats, per input from Hungary. The U.S. stated it was willing to chair the Informal Working Group on Notifications and Formats, as it had in the past, unless another State Party wished to volunteer. Canada (Linteau) placed this item on the agenda for adoption by the next OSCC plenary. 6.(U) Canada (Linteau) tabled a draft letter to EUROCONTROL concerning procedures for charging fees for air navigation services during Open Skies missions. The Russian Federation (Federyakov) noted the draft letter seemed to incorporate all Russian concerns but nonetheless requested additional time to review. Ukraine (Taran) also requested for time for his USOSCE 00000019 002 OF 002 capital to study the proposal. Canada placed this item on the agenda for endorsement at the next OSCC session. -------------- The U.S. Remains Active -------------- 7.(U) The United States (Neighbour) delivered a statement on U.S. usage of Open Skies airframe and imaging assets to assist in Haiti relief efforts. The U.S. noted its OC-135B aircraft used nearly 8,000 feet of film to image approximately 75% of Haitian territory. The processed images were sent to the U.S. Department of Defense for review and dissemination to interested support and humanitarian organizations to assist in planning and implementing relief efforts on the ground. The U.S. hoped this mission illustrated the continued value of both the regime and related assets. 8.(U) The U.S. also provided an update to the plenary on IWGS efforts to date, including U.S. efforts to implement the January 25 digital target specifications workshop and upcoming IWGS meetings. No States Parties followed up with U.S. del during the formal session or on the margins. -------------- RFG: Support for Canada on Kazakhstan Accession -------------- 9.(SBU) After the meeting, Canada (Gregory and Linteau) told USDel (Neighbour) regarding their objective as Chair on new accessions to Open Skies that Kazakhstan made the most sense, perhaps joined by Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. As former Soviet republics, each enjoys privileged entree into the Open Skies regime; with Kazakhstan holding the OSCE Chairmanship in the year of the OS Review Conference, the timing is just right. Separately, Turkey (Begec) told us they would be very supportive of efforts to bring in any new Central Asian members, including with demarches in Central Asian capitals if requested by the OSCC chair (Note: Turkey's firm position against accession for Cyprus remains unchanged). When we asked Russia (Federyakov) if any new members made sense to them, he replied "Central Asia, why not?" explaining those states might wish to accede for political reasons. USDel noted it was uninstructed and undertook to request guidance from capital. 10.(SBU) Request for Guidance: Canada is planning to go forward with letters to OSCE pS that are not members of Open Skies to invite them to consider accession and to work with delegations in Vienna. Canada is likely to particularly encourage Kazakhstan since it is CiO, citing political and non-hard security (e.g., environmental monitoring) arguments as reasons to join. Since the U.S. is Chair of the RevCon, Canada would welcome whatever support we can offer. USDel is prepared to approach the Kazakhstan delegation and others as appropriate in support of Canada and to appropriately follow up. Please advise. End guidance request. 11.(U) The next Open Skies Consultative Commission plenary session will be held on February 22 under Canadian chairmanship. FULLER