CFE/JCG: FEBRUARY 9 - A FRUSTRATED RUSSIA

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 USOSCE 000038 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KCFE OSCE PARM PREL SUBJECT: CFE/JCG: FEBRUARY 9 - A FRUSTRATED RUSSIA REITERATES CASE, ALLIES REBUT ¶1. (SBU) Summary. At the Joint Consultative Group (JCG) meeting on February 9, Italy and the UK notified two new Russian CFE inspection rejections followed by statements of support by 13 Allies. A piqued Russia reiterated its stance. Allies held their ground against Russia's claims, rejected Russia's "a la carte" approach to CFE, and called for Russia to resume compliance. End summary. --- Allies Report Latest Russian Noncompliance, Russia Responds --- ¶2. (SBU) Italy (Landi) and the UK (Gare) reported Russian rejection of their respective notifications to conduct CFE inspections. Italy delivered a robust intervention (JCG.JOUR/717, Annex 1),noting with concern Russia's one week delay in transmitting its notification of rejection. Italy scolded Russia that it would behoove them to "refrain from such actions with could complicate" efforts to restore the CFE regime. ¶3. (SBU) As has become custom and as suggested by the U.S. (Neighbour) at the NATO-T meeting the day before, thirteen States Parties intervened in support of the statements made by Italy and the UK -- France, Germany, Portugal, Georgia, USA, Romania, Netherlands, Denmark, Czech Republic, Turkey, Canada, Norway, and Spain. ¶4. (U) A frustrated Russia (Solomenko) made a lengthy intervention in response to the caravan of support for Italy and the UK. Solomenko reviewed Russia's national stance on CFE and the various historical circumstances which led to Russian suspension. Russia noted that the JCG "had not taken the slightest step forward since 2007" and that the CFE regime was "no longer viable." Instead, Russia argued that talks should immediately commence in the JCG on adapted CFE and in the meantime states parties should refrain from notifying inspections and reporting subsequent rejections in the JCG "out of political courtesy." --- Allies Rebut --- ¶5. (SBU) The UK, U.S., Italy, and Turkey (Begec) rebutted Russia's intervention. The U.S. (Neighbour) rejected Russia's contentions and noted numerous efforts to engage Russia and address Russia's stated concerns. He observed that States Parties have a duty to implement the Treaty and that includes notifying inspections, and, per Article XVI para 2 of the Treaty, to bring to the JCG "questions relating to compliance with provisions of the Treaty." Rather than re-open debates from two years ago, Neighbour urged Russia to join with other SPs to focus on a way forward in 2010 and intensify efforts to preserve the benefits of the landmark CFE regime. ¶6. (SBU) The UK (Gare) stated that Russian law does not apply to other nations and as such the UK would continue to exercise their legal right under CFE to notify inspections and report noncompliance to the JCG. Italy (Negro) argued that Russia took a hypocritical, "a la carte" approach to CFE whereby they decried certain treaty provisions (e.g. notifying inspections or reporting noncompliance to the JCG) while at the same time they called for the full implementation of what Russia sees as other aspects of the treaty (e.g., commencement of talks on adapted CFE in the JCG.) Turkey (Begec) stated, inter alia, that it did not recognize Russia's "suspension" as permitted by the Treaty and that it had deposited a note to that effect with the depositary. ¶7. (U) Under any other business, the U.S. (Neighbour) noted the appointment of Ambassador Victoria Nuland as Special Envoy for Conventional Armed Forces in Europe. The Chair also cancelled the March 2 meeting of the JCG due to a schedule conflict with the Annual Implementation Assessment Meeting (AIAM) scheduled for March 2-3. ¶8. (U) The next meeting of the JCG will be on Tuesday, February 16, under Greek chairmanship. After that, there USOSCE 00000038 002 OF 002 will be no meetings of the JCG until March 9. FULLER