CFE/JCG: FEBRUARY 2 - CONCERN OVER SLOW RUSSIAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L USOSCE 000032 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/02/2020 TAGS: KCFE OSCE PARM PREL SUBJECT: CFE/JCG: FEBRUARY 2 - CONCERN OVER SLOW RUSSIAN REFUSALS ¶1. (SBU) Summary: The Joint Consultative Group met briefly on February 2. In discussions with Allies, Italy noted with concern the delayed Russian response to a recent Italy CFE inspection request. Several States Parties noted that they looked forward to working with recently-appointed Special Envoy for CFE Victoria Nuland. End summary. ¶2. (U) The 716th meeting of the Joint Consultative Group (JCG) was held on February 2, again under UK chairmanship (Cliff). The meeting was brief. Belarus (Krayushkin) made the only intervention for the record and noted the "lack of political will" surrounding the CFE impasse and argued that JCG should be the central forum for discussion and resolution of such issues. USDel did not respond to Belarus' comments, given that the U.S. position on formal CFE negotiations in the JCG is both clearly understood and has been oft-stated. -------------- Russia Takes the Long Road to Refuse Italy -------------- ¶3. (C) During the February 1 NATO-T, Italy (Landi) informed Allies that it had officially notified the Russian Federation of its intent to conduct a CFE inspection in Russia on 22 January but had received no customary refusal, indeed, no response at all. A few hours after raising the issue bilaterally on 2 February in Vienna, Italy received Russia's refusal. Meanwhile, Russia (Federyakov) separately told Italy (Negro and Landi) and USDel (Neighbour) that the RF was considering not replying to CFE notifications, i.e., that Russia might cease answering its CFE mail. Federyakov cautioned, however, that no decision had been made. ¶4. (C) The UK (Gare) noted on the margins that it planned to notify Russia of a CFE inspection on February 8. She mused that should Russia not response to a CFE notification within the required time, as in Italy's case, that should be interpreted as acceptance and a CFE inspection team should travel to Russia. -------------- Positive Reaction to Appointment of Amb. Nuland -------------- ¶5. (C) Several States Parties offered their views on the announcement of Ambassador Victoria Nuland as Special Envoy for CFE, which the U.S. noted at the 3 February FSC. The Russian Federation (Ulyanov) told USDel (Neighbour) that he had spoken with Russian negotiator Antonov and that they saw Nuland's appointment as "good news" and a symbol of U.S. seriousness on CFE. He noted that Russia was looking forward to working with the Ambassador. He reiterated the long-standing Russian position on fleshing on some of the details in Vienna in either a bilateral or multilateral format. Russia (Federyakov) followed up with USDel following the February 3 FSC and asked for clarification of Ambassador Nuland's "specific role" in CFE negotiations. USDel (Fallon) drew on press points to note that Ambassador Nuland would work under the U.S. Undersecretary for Arms Control and International Security to develop ideas to modernize conventional arms control in Europe. ¶6. (C) Meanwhile, Turkey, Slovenia and Latvia also noted Ambassador Nuland's appointment and noted their willingness to work cooperatively with her as her role evolves. Turkey specifically wanted to know if Ambassador Nuland is going to negotiate directly with Russia, whether she had a new plan of action, and how soon she was going to engage the Allies and Russia on a way forward with CFE. Moldova pointedly asked when she planned to consult with them. ¶7. (U) States Parties agreed to cancel the February 23 meeting of the JCG to accommodate the U.S.-sponsored seminar on conflict prevention on that morning. The Chair also tabled a motion from Greece to cancel the March 2 JCG as well to accommodate the Annual Implementation Assessment Meeting (AIAM). The next JCG meeting will be held on February 9, with Greece in the chair. FULLER