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.

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Russia Takes the Long Road to Refuse Italy
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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.

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Positive Reaction to Appointment of Amb. Nuland
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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