OSCE WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS: JANUARY 18 - 22, 2010

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