PROMOTING GREATER NATO/OSCE COORDINATION

UNCLAS USOSCE 000020 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL MARR OSCE NATO RS SUBJECT: PROMOTING GREATER NATO/OSCE COORDINATION REF: USOSCE/USNATO EMAILS January 25-27 ¶1. (U) Summary: Recent IPCs and discussions during the COM conference in Washington during January emphasized the need to promote greater coordination between NATO and the OSCE, especially in view of the Russian proposals for a European Security Treaty and for a treaty in the NRC. As NATO prepares its new Strategic Concept for the November Summit in Portugal and as the OSCE prepares for intensive European Security discussions (i.e., the Corfu Process, an anticipated Informal Ministerial in July, and perhaps a Summit in October),this need will become increasingly urgent. USOSCE recommends we take advantage of two opportunities to do so, beginning with a TDY by a US NATO representative to a NATO Defense College seminar in Vienna February 3-4 and consultations with USOSCE. End Summary. ¶2. (U) On January 27, France proposed to the other 27 members of the NATO Caucus at the OSCE to develop during its February chairmanship the concept of cross visits between Brussels and Vienna, beginning with a visit to Brussels by the troika of past, present, and incoming Chairs of the Caucus-countries hold the chair on a rotating basis which changes every month. No such troika exists in NATO Brussels, but France suggested one option could be the dean of NATO PermReps, someone from the IS, and a third undefined member. The troika would meet with the full 28 in Brussels to exchange views on European security being dealt with in both bodies and to initiate regular contacts. France suggested that the first visit could be made in March under Hungary's chairmanship of the Caucus, with participation by outgoing chair France and incoming chair Greece (the 2009 Chair of the OSCE and current Chair of the OSCE Forum for Security Cooperation through March 2010). Such an arrangement, which would need to be worked out in detail during France's chairmanship in February, would not preclude the possibility of an eventual exchange visit by all 28 PermReps of NATO Brussels to Vienna and vice versa. ¶3. (U) A more immediate opportunity for promoting coordination stems from the seminar being jointly organized in Vienna February 3-4 as part of the Partnership for Peace by the NATO Defense College and the Government of Austria: "Indivisibility of European Security." Topics on the agenda include: Euro-Atlantic and Pan-European Architectures; Arms Control and Transparency; Comprehensive Security and the Human Dimension; and Energy Security. Invitations were issued by the NATO Defense College to NATO permanent missions in Brussels in December, whereas invitations to OSCE Missions were only received last week. We view this event as an excellent opportunity for someone from US NATO to participate in these discussions that pertain to both organizations, and to consult with USOSCE on how the Corfu Process may affect NATO's agenda. ¶4. (U) Action Request: USOSCE requests US NATO consider sending a mission representative to Vienna February 3-4 to attend the seminar and consult with USOSCE staff. POC USOSCE: Political Military Officer Chris Ellis (+43 31339-3364). FULLER