Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10USOSCE38
2010-02-12 10:08:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Mission USOSCE
Cable title:  

CFE/JCG: FEBRUARY 9 - A FRUSTRATED RUSSIA

Tags:  KCFE OSCE PARM PREL 
pdf how-to read a cable
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RUEHSR
DE RUEHVEN #0038/01 0431008
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 121008Z FEB 10
FM USMISSION USOSCE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6884
INFO RUCNOSC/ORG FOR SECURITY CO OP IN EUR COLLECTIVE
RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RHMFISS/CDRUSAREUR HEIDELBERG GE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUEASWA/DTRA ALEX WASHINGTON DC
RUESDT/DTRA-OSES DARMSTADT GE
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 1788
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

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