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ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 180619Z APR 08
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TO RUEHLJ/AMEMBASSY LJUBLJANA PRIORITY 0545
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INFO RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 0137
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RUEASWA/DTRA ALEX WASHINGTON DC//OSAO
RUESDT/DTRA-OSES DARMSTADT GE
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J5-DDPMA-E/DDPMA-IN/CAC//

C O N F I D E N T I A L USOSCE 000102 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR VCI/CCA, EUR/PRA, EUR/RPM, SCA/CEN 
JCS FOR COL NORWOOD 
OSD FOR ISA (PERENYI) 
NSC FOR DOWLEY 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/14/2009 
TAGS: PARM PREL OSCE
SUBJECT: OPEN SKIES TREATY: UK TO CEASE ACTIVE FLIGHTS DUE 
TO MOD BUDGET CUTS 
 
REF: MARVIN-VCI/CCA EMAIL 4/4/08 
 
Classified By: AC Chief Delegate Hugh Neighbour 
 
1.(C) Summary.  UK delegation reps in Vienna have informed 
the U.S. and many other delegations, including Russia, that 
it will no longer be able to participate in active Open Skies 
Treaty observation flights due to ongoing MOD budget cuts. 
This is a serious development by a leading Ally in the 
Treaty, and one which poses several policy-related questions 
for Washington,s consideration:  Would a bilateral approach 
appealing the decision mitigate the outcome?  Is the U.S. 
able to share some missions using the U.S. aircraft so the UK 
can continue to participate?  Does the U.S. want to bid on 
timeslots that the UK will forfeit by this decision?  Request 
Washington review and consideration for next steps in Vienna, 
and as appropriate, London.  Action requests in paras 4, 5, 
and 8.   End Summary. 
 
Why buy when you can rent? 
----------------------- 
 
¶2.    (SBU) This week, UK reps told USDel that MOD budgets 
were forcing a decision to forego any future active 
observation flights after the end of April.  The UK Open 
Skies aircraft (Andover) has reached its lifespan, and is too 
expensive to maintain.  No replacement aircraft is envisioned 
or fiscally feasible at this time.  However, this decision 
will apparently only net a savings of 400,000 British pounds 
(about USD 200,000).  Unfortunately, MOD appears unwilling to 
even consider leasing another aircraft, such as the Swedish 
Saab, which runs about $40K per mission ) which presumbly 
would be affordable several times per year.   Comment:  the 
UK aircraft, irrevently called by the Brits a "bucket of 
bolts flying in formation," has been on its last legs for 
years, so the lifespan issue is not a surprise.   Replacement 
costs are understandably high, but leasing other aircraft 
would appear to be feasible and relatively inexpensive.  End 
Comment. 
 
¶3.    (SBU) UK reps have stressed that the MOD decision is 
purely driven by financial constraints, and does not 
represent any policy decisions to withdraw support from the 
Treaty.  Nor is it in reaction to other arms control 
developments in Europe (e.g., current Russian suspension of 
the CFE Treaty.)  The UK will continue to accept observation 
flights from Treaty partners, and will participate in the 
OSCC in Vienna. 
 
Demarche to London? 
------------------ 
 
¶4. (C) Comment and Action request 1:  Even if the decision is 
purely a financial one, cessation of flights by a leading 
European Ally will nevertheless reflect poorly on the 
importance and viability of the Open Skies Treaty.  Other 
nations may well begin to wonder why they should continue to 
participate if it is not important to a country like the UK. 
The UK rep (MacLeod) said a demarche to London from 
Washington could help mitigate the decision, although she was 
uncertain whether even that would be sufficient to reverse it 
altogether.   We welcome Washington consideration of the UK 
suggestion for a demarche.  Please advise if Washington 
wishes to pursue that action.  End Comment and action 
request. 
 
Share with UK? 
------------- 
 
¶5. (C) Action request 2: As of May 2008, the UK will not 
conduct any of its remaining quota flights for 2008.  Per 
Reftel, USDel forwarded a request from the UK concerning an 
option to share its already scheduled timeslot for a mission 
to Russia in week 22 (May 26-30) if the U.S. could provide 
the aircraft.  If so, we believe it would be possible for the 
 
UK to send a few representatives along in order for it to use 
one of its remaining quotas.  We have asked the UK del to 
confirm this possibility and will update Washington 
accordingly.  We have not told the UK whether the U.S. could 
provide an aircraft.  Please provide guidance.  End action 
request. 
 
How to best use timeslots reserved by the UK 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
¶6.    (C) The UK decision will also result in other timeslots 
becoming available on the schedule.  The UK has reserved week 
33 (11-15 August) and week 43 (20-24 October).  The October 
week would have been a joint mission shared with Slovenia. 
Without the UK aircraft, Slovenia will be looking for a new 
partner with an aircraft if it hopes to execute this quota 
flight over Russia.  USDel believes Slovenia would welcome 
the chance to share a mission with us.   If it does not find 
a new partner it will not be able to exercise its quota over 
Russia. 
 
¶7.    (C) Comment:  This unfortunate UK development offers an 
opportunity for the U.S. to support a strong Ally during a 
difficult period, as well as a relatively new Ally 
(Slovenia).  It also offers the U.S. the chance to bid on 
several timeslots that would allow us to maximize our quota 
flights during optimal weather conditions.  Other States 
Parties may also be interested in these timeslots, so if we 
would like them we should make that known to others sooner 
rather than later.  There is also the possibility that if we 
do not attempt to use these timeslots, others may not step 
forward to do so, and the three UK quotas over Russia would 
not be utilized this year at all. 
 
¶8.    (C) Action Request 3:  Request Washington review the 
current planning calendar, U.S. aircraft availability, and 
mission planning priorities, in light of this development 
with an eye toward supporting our Allies, as well as 
maximizing U.S. mission opportunities.  Please advise on U.S. 
preferences so we can inform Allies in advance of the third 
quarter deconfliction meeting in early May.  End Action 
Request. 
FINLEY