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.

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Canada Charts its Flight Path
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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.

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Taking Care of Business in the OSCC
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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

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capital to study the proposal. Canada placed this item on
the agenda for endorsement at the next OSCC session.

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The U.S. Remains Active
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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.

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RFG: Support for Canada on Kazakhstan Accession
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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