VZCZCXRO0480
PP RUEHAST RUEHFL RUEHLA RUEHMRE RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSK RUEHSR
DE RUEHVEN #0014/01 0330648
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 020648Z FEB 09
FM USMISSION USOSCE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6171
INFO RUCNOSC/ORG FOR SECURITY CO OP IN EUR COLLECTIVE
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUEKJCS/DIA WASHDC
RUEASWA/DTRA ALEX WASHINGTON DC
RUESDT/DTRA-OSES DARMSTADT GE
RUEKJCS/JCS WASHDC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 USOSCE 000014 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR VCI/CCA, EUR/RPM, EUR/PRA 
JCS FOR J-5 
OSD FOR ISA (PERENYI) 
NSC FOR HAYES 
EUCOM FOR J-5 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PARM PREL KCFE OSCE
SUBJECT: OPEN SKIES: JANUARY 26 PLENARY AND IWGRP 
 
REF: STATE 4932 
 
¶1.  (SBU) Summary.  The Open Skies Consultative Commission 
(OSCC) Chairman,s Statement on allowable video sensors was 
not adopted at its 26 January plenary because the Russian 
delegation lacked its final instructions from Moscow to join 
consensus.  The Russians expect a green light for approval in 
time for the February plenary.  All other States Parties are 
ready to agree now.  The draft Decision to prolong the 
Informal Working Group on Sensors was also delayed, pending 
agreement on the Chairman,s Statement on sensors.  It will 
also be on the February agenda.  USDel made a unilateral 
statement objecting to Russia,s ongoing policy of flight 
restrictions in the Moscow area.  Meanwhile, USDel obtained 
Russian agreement to several last-minute U.S. edits to the 
draft Decision to revise the OSCC Decision on Costs. 
Washington guidance requested so we can join consensus on new 
version incorporating U.S. edits at Informal Working Group on 
Rules and Procedures (IWGRP) meeting planned for 9 February. 
End Summary. 
 
Sensor items pending February 
-------------------- 
 
¶2. (SBU) On January 26, Belgium (Kenes) opened the 2009 
winter session of the Open Skies Consultative Commission. 
Russia (Kozlov) informed delegations that it did not yet have 
instructions to join consensus on the Chairman,s Statement 
(OSCC.DEL/19/08/Rev 1) as Moscow had two weeks of holidays in 
January.  Kozlov expects to receive approval to join 
consensus within one-two weeks, and did not suggest any kind 
of technical problems with the text itself.  The Chairman,s 
Statement will remain on the agenda of the February plenary. 
The Chair clarified that all other delegations are ready to 
join consensus. 
 
¶3. (SBU) Adoption of the draft Decision to extend the mandate 
of the Informal Working Group on Sensors (IWGS) was also 
postponed, partly because the text refers to the (presumed 
adopted) Chairman,s Statement.  Also because France made a 
last minute text suggestion to the last sentence which we 
believed weakened the text.  Thus, the U.S. (Neighbour) 
proposed deletion of the last sentence of the third tic.  We 
understand this is acceptable to the French and all others. 
As a result, the Chair issued a revised text and will also 
place it on the February agenda for adoption. 
(OSCC.DD/1/09/Rev 1, 26 January) 
 
¶4. (SBU) Comment:  The UK del (MacLeod) wants to ensure that 
the OSCC retains oversight of the progress of the IWGS, and 
will likely make some short remarks to that effect at the 
February meeting.  USDel reminded her that the U.S. had made 
such statements to the OSCC in previous years 
(OSCC.45.JOUR/139, January 21, 2008), and welcomed other 
delegations involvement in seeking progress.  End comment. 
 
Cost Decision update one step closer 
-------------- 
 
¶5. (U) At the Informal Working Group on Rules and Procedures 
(IWGRP) meeting following the plenary, the U.S. (Marvin) 
introduced the most recent U.S. edits received on the 
remaining draft decision on the agenda.  U.S. edits were 
distributed prior to the meeting as OSCC.RP/2/09 and provide 
additional suggestions for paragraphs 13 and 16 of Revision 
Five to Decision Number One (OSCC.RP/17/08/Rev 3/Corr 5). 
 
¶6. (SBU) USDel (Marvin) met bilaterally with Russia after the 
meeting to discuss the changes, and several were accepted by 
the Russian delegation, including the clarifying language on 
reasons that determine which party is responsible for costs 
of cancelled hotel rooms.  Some of U.S. edits raised concerns 
about future accountability or did not meet the substantive 
goal of the text.  Russia has issued a new version 
incorporating U.S.-Russia agreed edits to all delegations in 
preparation for the next IWGRP meeting on February 9 
 
USOSCE 00000014  002 OF 002 
 
 
(OSCC.RP/17/08/Rev 3/Corr 6).  USDel believes objectives in 
the guidance have been met. 
 
¶7.  (U) Washington guidance requested to join consensus on 
OSCC.RP/17/08/Rev 3/Corr 6 at the IWGRP meeting on 9 February. 
 
Moscow airspace restrictions raised 
--------------- 
 
¶8. (SBU) Under the other remaining agenda item on hazardous 
airspace, the U.S. (Marvin) made a brief statement recounting 
our concerns with the ongoing Russian policy of imposing a 
3,600 meter minimum flight level on flights through the 
Moscow area.  USDel expressed concern that States Parties 
should be able to conduct flights at the lower altitudes 
agreed during sensor certification.  (OSCC.RP/3/09) 
 
¶9. (SBU) Per reftel, USDel sought coordination with Romania 
to make the statement in the plenary, but Romania (Mattei) 
informed us that her country,s experts had reservations with 
doing so since its team had agreed to the Russian limitations 
during our shared flight.  USDel believes the goal reftel of 
keeping the issue alive on the agenda has been met, and will 
continue to urge Allies to address this compliance issue 
during upcoming missions.  Request Washington advise USDel of 
any U.S. mission activity in 2009 that encounter this Russian 
restriction again. 
 
Old WEU Quota Info Memo 
------------- 
 
¶10. (U) Per reftel, USDel prepared and disseminated an 
information memorandum for selected Allies concerning the old 
WEU Declaration and associated statements. (see Neighbour 
email 1/27)  USDel will introduce the issue at an informal 
meeting on February 4. 
 
¶11. (SBU) AOB: 
 
--Canada remarked on the positive results of its rescheduled 
observation flight that took place in December 2008.  Despite 
limited daylight operating hours, low clouds and aircraft 
icing issues, it was able to complete the mission 
successfully. 
 
--Once again, Turkey (Begec) reminded delegations of its 
statement made on February 24, 2005 regarding the content of 
the monthly OSCC agendas.  This is its way of noting 
objection to the pending application of Cyprus to join the 
Treaty. 
 
--The remaining two plenary meetings during Belgium,s OSCC 
chairmanship will be on February 23 and March 23. 
SCOTT