OSCE: FEBRUARY 17--FSC SALW AND VIENNA DOCUMENT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 USOSCE 000057 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR VCI/CCA, VCI/NRRC, EUR/RPM, EUR/PRA, EUR/CARC, SCA/CEN, SCA/RA, PM/WRA, ISN/CPI NSC FOR SHERWOOD-RANDALL, HAYDEN, MCFAUL, HOVENIER, NILSSON, FRIEDT OSD FOR ISA (WALLENDER, KEHL) JCS, EUCOM, USAREUR AND CENTCOM: FOR J-5 E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OSCE PARM PREL KCFE RS XG SUBJECT: OSCE: FEBRUARY 17--FSC SALW AND VIENNA DOCUMENT REDUX REF: USOSCE 0039 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: The FSC received presentations on Montenegro's demilitarization program from Deputy Defense Minister Rifet Kovacs and on the Wassenaar Arrangement from Chief of Secretariat Sune Danielsson. Kovacs received a mild rebuke from Denmark for Montenegro's lapses in keeping donors current. Working Group A discussed at length the UK and Danish proposals on improving the Vienna Document (VD99),and at a special informal meeting held on February 18, fielded, inter alia, a French suggestion to combine the two proposals into a single document and decision. Russia harshly assessed the Austrian proposal for a reference guide for the Code of Conduct Questionnaire. End Summary. Security Dialogue (part one): Montenegro Demilitarization -------------- -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Under the rubric of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) discussions continuing from the previous FSC session, Deputy Minister of Defense Colonel Kovacs, "in the framework of Montenegro's commitment to join the EU and NATO," briefed on its SALW demilitarization program. Among his perfunctory descriptions of the program, Kovacs' presentation made some emphasis on the conversion of scrap metal from heavy weapons as an income generator as an environmentally friendly way to strengthen Montenegro's "tourism potential." He noted there were challenges, much of which were related to lack of infrastructure, steep training curbs, and insufficient resources to be more effective in the demilitarization program. The regional coordinator for UNDP working in Montenegro made an unscheduled appearance at the FSC, sharing observations on the "solid partnership" between the Montenegrin Ministry of Defense, OSCE and UNDP. He also put the SALW program into the context of improving Montenegro's regional development and tourism. Nonetheless he identified stockpile management as the most difficult and complex of the issues confronting Montenegro. ¶3. (SBU) Kovacs in response to a U.S. inquiry noted Montenegro had learned much in trying to solve SALW destruction program design problems and overcome obstacles 
that arose from the lack of equipment for the destruction of SALW. He did not address Montenegro's efforts in the context of Dayton Article IV commitments though he was prompted to do so. (Note: USDEL informed the Montenegrin delegation the day before the plenary about answering the Article IV inquiry. End note.) Spain (as EU President) made some perfunctory remarks. Denmark (Petersen) was critical of Montenegro's apparent lapses in meeting donors' reporting deadlines for the 250K Euros Copenhagen had contributed to the SALW demilitarization program. Denmark pointed out that the elimination of toxic chemicals portion of the program was completed over a year ago, but Copenhagen was still waiting for the financial report. (Note: Kovacs also did not address the issue of timeliness in reporting as raised by Denmark. End note.) Security Dialogue (part two): Wassenaar Arrangements -------------- -------------- ¶4. (SBU) The Chief of the Secretariat for the Wassenaar Arrangements, Sune Danielsson, noted that he last spoke to the FSC in February 2008. Following his presentation (and in response to a few inquiries),he advocated continuing close contact between the OSCE Conflict Prevention Center (CPC) and Wassenaar Arrangement Secretariats, adding that although he was not authorized to raise the issue, it was "about time" for the OSCE to speak to the Wassenaar Arrangement. Turkey USOSCE 00000057 002 OF 003 (Begec),Hungary (Molnar),Spain (for the EU),Ireland (O'Leary),Sweden (Byren),and the U.S. (Neighbour) made various statements supporting the utility of the Wassenaar Arrangement. ¶5. (SBU) Under Any Other Business: Germany (Genrich) reported that a German-sponsored Union of South American Nations contingent would attend the February 24 FSC Plenary and meet with the CPC as part of a study program on managing regional and political conflicts and on ways to enhance CSBMs. The group is also interested in the Code of Conduct, Dayton implementation and Arms Control issues. The Greek FSC Chair (Marinaki) welcomed the visit to the FSC by Australia's Foreign Minister Stephen Smith. Working Group "A": Focus on UK and Denmark VD99 Proposals -------------- -------------- ¶6. (SBU) The Danish and British proposals for "strengthening" Vienna Document 99 (VD99) were the main focus of discussion in Working Group "A," but little ground was made beyond an airing of delegations' various opinions. The UK (Gare) revealed it was working with Denmark to make their respective proposals (FSC.DEL/13/10 and FSC.DEL/9/10) more compatible. The UK announced it would co-sponsor the Danish paper; Denmark reciprocated co-sponsoring the UK paper along with The Netherlands. Slovakia (Wlachovsky) added its support for the Danish proposal and the suggested German amendment to include proposed language changes to VD99 within the "VD-plus" process "in order to avoid reopening political discussions" when the Danish-proposed VD Review Meeting would convene. Slovakia also expressed support for the Swedish opinion for immediate validity of VD-plus additions vice the proposed one-month approval mechanism. Finally, Slovakia argued for convening VD Review Meetings at intervals of "five years or less" perhaps immediately following the AIAM, suggesting the meeting would not only review the VD-plus folder but also issued a declaration. ¶7. (SBU) Russia (Ulyanov) supported most of the Slovak position (again referring to the German-suggested addition as "interesting"),but believed there could be instances where a preparatory phase would be necessary for additions to VD99 that would be better to manage on a case-by-case basis but not preclude consideration of a more substantial update for VD99. Ulyanov did note a more frequent review cycle could be warranted provided there was sufficient material to consider. The Greek Chair noted Conference Services circulated the index of decisions adopted by the FSC under SEC.GAL/1/10/Rev.1, and re-circulated the Index of FSC Chairman's Statement adopted since VD99 (SEC.GAL/46/08). The 2/18 VD Informal Working Group's discussion -------------- -- ¶8. (SBU) (Note: The UK and Denmark convened a heavily-attended informal working group on February 18, to discuss in more detail their two draft proposals. France's suggestion to merge the two documents failed as the UK, Denmark, Germany and Russia made strong arguments against mixing the short-term substance of the UK proposal with the long-term procedures proposed by the Danish draft. Spain (Anson) and France (Simonet) initiated an exchange of views on how the VD-plus mechanism would work for verification centers because it was yet unclear whether "decisions" in the VD-plus folder could in fact be more pertinent than still applicable or related references within the actual Vienna Document without risking the integrity of VD99. The UK (Gare) replied that the Danish proposal simply put into a USOSCE 00000057 003 OF 003 neat folder what the heads of verification already must deal with, and therefore would simplify the protocols. Austria (Eischer) suggested that the FSC could get a quick win on updating VD99, by simply incorporating FSC Chairman's Statements first (thus creating a VD 2010),before tackling specific chapters that could get bogged down by intensive negotiations. In contrast with the Danish paper which was deemed by Russia as "close to final," Ulyanov challenged the UK's choice of Chapters V and IX in its draft decision suggesting is lacked flexibility and relevance. He, however, did not table any suggestions to the UK text. (Comment: On the margins Ulyanov told us the Russian MOD had yet to weigh-in on his guidance from MFA. End Comment.) End note.) Back to Working Group "A": Russia attacks Austria's FFT -------------- -------------- ¶9. (SBU) After noting the Austrian Food-for-thought paper (FSC.DEL/14/10) for developing a reference list to assist in the completion of the Code of Conduct Questionnaire was consistent with the Ministerial Decision 16/09, Russia (Geyvandov) proceeded to attack various elements in the draft without offering alternative language or concepts. Calling the Austrian paper "flawed," Geyvandov criticized in excruciating detail inaccuracies in the draft starting from the first paragraph and proceeding through to the operational paragraphs and the indicative list of references. Denmark (Petersen) and Germany (Risse) defended the Austrian paper as a helpful, purely voluntary guide. Austria (Eischer) pointed out that some detail had been omitted for purposes of brevity, and that Austria was still open to concrete suggestions and co-sponsors. Any Other Business -------------- ¶10. (SBU) The CPC (Ischi) announced the circulation of: -- Revised Annual CPC Survey on CSBM Information Exchanged in 2009 (FSC.GAL/3/10/Rev.1); -- Summary Report on Recent Trends in the Implementation of VD99 and Other Measures (FSC.GAL/19/10/Corr.1); Progress Report on the Elimination of the First Batch of Melange, Cycle I in Ukraine (FSC.GAL/23/10) -- redistribution of the Survey of Suggestions (FSC.AIAM/36/09) and the Third Heads of Verification Centers Meeting Report (FSC.GAL/4/10). ¶11. (SBU) The next Meetings of the FSC Plenary and Working Groups are set for February 24. FULLER