Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10USOSCE25
2010-01-29 07:42:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Mission USOSCE
Cable title:  

OSCE WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS: JANUARY 18 - 22, 2010

Tags:  MARR OSCE PGOV PREL RS KZ UK SP LH AL AF 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 USOSCE 000025 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/26/2019
TAGS: MARR OSCE PGOV PREL RS KZ UK SP LH AL AF
UP, KG, ZK
SUBJECT: OSCE WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS: JANUARY 18 - 22, 2010

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Carol Fuller for Reasons 1.4(B)&(D)

Lithuania Leaning Toward Energy Security for 2011 EEF Theme

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 USOSCE 000025

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/26/2019
TAGS: MARR OSCE PGOV PREL RS KZ UK SP LH AL AF
UP, KG, ZK
SUBJECT: OSCE WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS: JANUARY 18 - 22, 2010

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Carol Fuller for Reasons 1.4(B)&(D)

Lithuania Leaning Toward Energy Security for 2011 EEF Theme


1. (SBU) In a January 14 meeting, Vytautas Nauduzas, a
Lithuanian ambassador-at-large and the personal
representative of the Chairman-in-Office for transport, told
PolOff that Lithuania is leaning very strongly toward
choosing energy security as the theme of the Economic and
Environmental Forum (EEF) to be held under Lithuania's 2011
OSCE Chairmanship. Whether this is feasible, since the EEF
requires a consensus Permanent Council decision, will be
determined by the outcomes of the conference and SG report
mandated by the
Athens Ministerial Decision on energy security. Regarding
his role as the personal representative, Nauduzas said delays
and corruption at border crossings are serious problems in
parts of the OSCE region, especially Central Asia, and
aspects of EU external policy (the energy supply early
warning mechanism with Russia, for example) could be used as
models to develop early warning or crisis management
mechanisms in the transport sector to prevent long queues and
other dysfunction. He also said Lithuania's history and
shared experience as a former Soviet republic gives it a
distinct advantage in working with the Central Asian
countries on issues such as this.

Head of Presence in Albania Warns on Political Deadlock


2. (SBU) The head of the OSCE Presence in Albania, Robert
Bosch, told CDA Fuller January 15 that the political
situation in Albania was increasingly problematic. He
pointed to Berisha's very personal attacks on Rama and
pressure on independent media and said that in particular the
GoA's use of selectively enforced building regulations to go
after SP supporters was out of hand and dangerous. He said
the OSCE mandate on early warning indicated a need for more

active engagement at higher levels, but the Greek
Chairmanship had missed its opportunity, despite his urging.
Aside from having little sway in the Balkans, the Kazakhstani
Chairmanship will not be able to speak from the high ground
on issues of democracy, leaving the United States and the EU
as the key entities with enough influence to intervene.
Bosch criticized ODIHR for pulling out its monitoring mission
too early and for omitting mention of the incorrect Electoral
College ruling on the SP request to re-open ballot boxes,
saying that ODIHR had "given in" on this so as to not worsen
its problems with the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly.

FM Saudabayev Pleased with Discussion on Summit, Informal
Ministerial


3. (C) At a meeting January 19, Kazakhstani PermRep
Abdrakhmanov informed us that FM Saudabayev was very pleased
with the discussion at the January 14 Permanent Council
meeting of a possible summit and informal Ministerial in

2010. Although noting that it was too early to predict
future developments, Abdrakhmanov asked whether June or July
would be more convenient from our point of view for an
informal Ministerial in Almaty. Abdrakhmanov also explained
that the Chairmanship would be looking for strong U.S.
support for the June conference on tolerance and
non-discrimination. Kazakhstan plans to invite all OSCE
foreign ministers, as well as representatives of relevant
organizations, to attend the conference.

USOSCE 00000025 002 OF 004



Saudabayev Disappointed Over Limited London Role


4. (C) Ambassador Abdrakhmanov also told us that FM
Saudabayev was "puzzled" that his invitation to the January
28 London conference on Afghanistan was in his national
capacity, not as OSCE Chairman-in-Office, and that he was not
offered the opportunity to speak. Abdrakhmanov insisted that
Kazakhstan had done much to help allied efforts in Kazakhstan
and had both national and multilateral assistance to "put on
the plate." Moreover, he said, Kazakhstan has pledged $50
million in scholarship for Afghan students to study in
Kazakhstan's educational institutions. Abdrakhmanov hinted
that Saudabayev was possibly reconsidering his attendance at
the London conference. Separately, UK Ambassador Cliff told
us that he had also been asked to obtain a speaking role for
Saudabayev and had passed this request to London.

Possible Donor Conference on the Aral Sea?


5. (U) Later, Abdrakhmanov mentioned that his government had
begun early planning for a potential international donors'
conference under OSCE auspices to deal with the environmental
degradation of the Aral Sea, possibly in May. Kazakhstan has
already created an Aral Sea Fund and sees this initiative as
a major way to bring Central Asians together on a joint
effort.

FM Moratinos Highlights Spanish EU Presidency Priorities


6. (SBU) Spanish FM Moratinos presented a rather lengthy list
of Spain's priorities for its EU Presidency at a special
Permanent Council meeting January 19. The main points
include implementation of the Lisbon Treaty, creation of a
sustainable economic system, and progress in the accessions
process. He spoke out in favor of granting EU membership to
those countries that fulfill the criteria and are in a
relevant "geographical position." He noted that the western
Balkans are now very close to achieving the "happy end" of
full integration into the EU. As for Kosovo, the Spanish
Presidency will be "exceedingly constructive and neutral" and
intends to invite all parties to a meeting planned for
Sarajevo. Within the human dimension, Spain will focus on
the death penalty, gender, trafficking in persons, and the
Alliance of Civilizations initiative. Moratinos spoke out
strongly in favor of an OSCE summit in 2010, stating that it
is necessary to "put order in this debate on security and its
structure." The inability to agree on a political statement
at the annual Ministerial will only change, according to
Moratinos, upon impetus of the Heads of State and Government.

Responses to Moratinos Focus on EU Expansion and Visa Regime


7. (SBU) Most responses to FM Moratinos' presentation focused
on the need for progress in the accessions process and swift
revision of the visa regime, which Belarus called
"humiliating" and "disproportionately costly" for citizens of
former Soviet states. Russia urged the EU to rethink new
commitments in the area of freedom of movement, which could
help renew relations between the EU and Russia. Russia also
praised Moratinos' statement on the need for collective
measures to prevent conflict and address threats to security,
tying this in to Russia's EST and conflict prevention
proposals.


USOSCE 00000025 003 OF 004


Kazakhstan Opens a New Season for the Corfu Process


8. (U) At the January 19 inaugural session of the new round
of Corfu Process discussions on European security, chaired by
Kazakhstan, delegations stressed the need for concrete
progress on key issues, especially in view of Astana's desire
to hold an OSCE summit later this year. Kazakhstani PermRep
Abdrakhmanov in his opening remarks viewed the upcoming
sessions as developing new and enhanced ways to tackle
threats to comprehensive security. Speaking in part for the
EU, Spain urged the operationalization of the discussions by
seeking to resolve "low-hanging fruit" while not shying away
from confronting the most intractable and persistent issues.
Russia appreciated the "business-like" approach of the
Chairmanship and welcomed the goal of involving subsidiary
Permanent Council and Forum for Security Cooperation (FSC)
bodies, which could filter proposals ahead of any Corfu
Process discussions (note: a singular Russian
interpretation). Most other delegations agreed with the need
to ramp up the discussions, involve outside experts, and aim
for tangible results. Several delegations praised the U.S.
statement, which listed key areas for further deliberation
and promised further development of ideas on mechanisms for
conflict prevention.

Russia Executes a Pre-Emptive Strike on Conflict Resolution


9. (U) In the January 19 session of the FSC, Russian
Ambassador Ulyanov tabled a draft decision on conflict
resolution, which essentially reinforces the requirement for
consensus of the 56 participating States for any response to
a crisis, and requested that it be negotiated at the next
Working Group B session of the FSC. (Note: USOSCE has since
incorporated elements of the Russian proposal into our
proposed draft decision based on the mechanism we launched
last fall during the Corfu Process discussions -- one of the
few concrete proposals to emerge from those discussions.) At
the January 21 Permanent Council meeting, Russian PermRep
Azimov formally requested that the Russian draft be
considered simultaneously in the FSC and the Permanent
Council. CDA
Fuller took the floor in response to note that conflict
prevention and resolution has been one of the most important
items discussed throughout the Corfu Process and to thank
Russia for its contribution to this/this process. She made
clear that the U.S. delegation had specifically held off
introducing any formal decision on the mechanism proposed
last fall in order for all to benefit from the February 23
Corfu Process discussion and expert seminar (which the United
States is helping to organize),but would be glad to work
with Russia on elements of its contribution. Various
delegations later commented to CDA Fuller that this was a
typical Soviet-style tactic -- to introduce a noxious paper
early on promoting their viewpoint and to try to force
delegations to negotiate on the basis of their document. The
move was a clear attempt to pre-empt Corfu Process
discussions of the U.S. proposal. USOSCE has been consulting
with many allies and with the Conflict Prevention Center on
the way forward. Allies have urged us to share with them our
revised text.

Ukrainian Elections Meet OSCE Standards...


10. (SBU) Ukraine,s January 17 presidential election largely
met OSCE commitments, according to observers. Most

USOSCE 00000025 004 OF 004


international observers reported that the voting and counting
processes were orderly and transparent and that voters were
permitted a free choice among the 18 candidates. The most
significant problems involved the addition of a significant
number of voters up to election day and the lack of clarity
in Ukraine's election law and regulations governing the
process for late registration. In some polling stations, the
precinct election commissioners decided the question of
permitting late registration, with the required
identification, by consensus. Other polling stations called
upon the district election commission to make the
determination, and some voters attempting to register on
election day were directed to the court for resolution.

...But ODIHR-PA Relations Go South


11. (C) While international observers praised Ukraine's
progress toward meeting OSCE commitments, the obvious
deterioration between the two OSCE institutions charged with
monitoring elections is cause for alarm. ODIHR and the
Parliamentary Assembly (PA) continued to disagree on the
process by which the post-election statement would be
developed, as well as on the content of the statement, until
the post-election press conference. The geographic distance
between Long-Term Head of Mission Ambassador Heidi Tagliavini
and PA President Joao Soares at the table at which they were
seated during the press conference served to highlight the
growing distance and declining cooperation between them.
That Ambassador Tagliavini was relegated to speaking last
after PACE, NATO, and the COE spoke volumes. The situation
was further exacerbated by President Soares' public agreement
with the CiS PA's statement on the election. Serious
concerns now exist as to the state of cooperation between
ODIHR and the PA for the second round of the election,
scheduled for February 7.


U.S. Praises First Round of Ukrainian Presidential Election


12. (U) At the January 21 Permanent Council meeting, the
United States was the only delegation to comment on and
congratulate Ukraine on the conduct of the January 17
presidential election. The U.S. statement implored the other
46 participating States that provided short-term observers
for the first round of the election to continue to support
the observation mission during the second round. Other
delegations, including the EU, have indicated their intent to
wait until after the second round to comment on the elections
and their conduct. In reply, the Ukrainian delegation
thanked the United States for its statement and said the MFA
would continue to provide support for the observation mission
during the second round.

Kyrgyzstan: Pavlyuk's Murder under Investigation


13. (U) In response to EU and U.S. statements at the January
21 Permanent Council meeting calling for a thorough
investigation of the December 16 murder of Kyrgyz journalist
Gennadi Pavlyuk in Almaty, Kyrgyzstan assured participating
States that the Kyrgyz General Prosecutor's Office was
working on the case and had set up a joint investigative
commission and special task force with the Kyrgyz Ministry of
Interior. Kyrgyzstan also noted that Kyrgyz and Kazakhstani
officials were cooperating in the investigation.
FULLER