VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHVEN #0104/01 1090620
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 180620Z APR 08
FM USMISSION USOSCE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5663
INFO RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 0141
RUEKJCS/DIA WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RHMFIUU/HQ USAFE RAMSTEIN AB GE//POLAD/XPXC//
RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE//ECJ5-T/ECCS/ECPLAD//
RUEAHQA/HQ USAF WASHINGTON DC//XONP//
RUEASWA/DTRA ALEX WASHINGTON DC//OSAO
RUESDT/DTRA-OSES DARMSTADT GE
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J5-DDPMA-E/DDPMA-IN/CAC//

UNCLAS USOSCE 000104 
 
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: N/A 
TAGS: PARM PREL OSCE
SUBJECT: OPEN SKIES TREATY: APRIL 14 PLENARY - U.S. 
CHAIRMANSHIP TAKES OFF 
 
REF: STATE 6161 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary:  On April 14, the U.S. began its 
Chairmanship of the Open Skies Consultative Commission (OSCC) 
calling upon States to complete work on the digital video 
sensor decision.  The U.S. also kicked off discussion on 
potential commemoration activities for the 500th observation 
flight expected to occur this summer.  Romania announced it 
is prepared to certify its aircraft during week 38 (15-21 
September).  Turkey, the U.S. and several others spoke 
against a recent Russian notification seeking no mission 
activity in the last week of April due to lack of hotel 
space.  Russia subsequently agreed to allow Turkey to come a 
week later, thus hosting two missions simultaneously as a 
result.  Latvia protested Russian delays in issuing visas for 
its team members that prevented them from participating in a 
planned joint mission by Latvia and Germany during the week 
of March 31.  The UK informed delegations informally that it 
will no longer be able to conduct active missions due to 
budget cuts (see SEPTEL report).  The IWGRP met after the 
plenary to discuss new Russian food for thought and decision 
papers concerning procedures for alternate airfields.  The 
next plenary and IWGRP will be on May 5.  End Summary. 
 
U.S. OSCC Chair Commences 
------------------------------------ 
 
¶2. (SBU) On April 14, U.S. Chief Arms Control Delegate Hugh 
Neighbour opened the 46th session of the Open Skies 
Consultative Commission with a statement recalling the 16th 
anniversary since Treaty signature in March 1992.  He also 
called on States to complete work on the digital video sensor 
decision (Revision One to Decision 14) in the next few 
months.  His statement reminded States of the upcoming 500th 
observation flight, and a U.S. food for thought paper 
prepared for discussions on ways the OSCC can commemorate the 
occasion. (OSCC46.JOUR/142, Annex 1). 
 
¶3. (SBU) Romainia (Neculaescu) announced that with Germanys 
generous support, it is planning to certify its AN-30 
aircraft from September 15-21.  The aircraft is equipped with 
optical framing cameras (Leica Wild RC20). (OSCC.DEL/5/08) 
 
Russian holiday week 
---------------------- 
 
¶4. (SBU) Turkey (Begec) read a statement objecting to 
Russia,s recent notification requesting states refrain from 
conducting a mission from April 26-May 3 due to lack of hotel 
space.  He noted that the request is not compatible with the 
letter or spirit of the Treaty.  Turkey respects the practice 
of observing host country holidays to the extent possible and 
2008 was no exception.  Practical solutions have been found 
in the past to address these situations and Turkey is 
prepared to work on a bilateral solution. 
 
¶5. (SBU) The U.S.(Silberberg), also on behalf of Canada, the 
Czech Republic, Germany, Latvia, and Poland, made a similar 
statement objecting to the Russian request to refrain from 
conducting an observation flight during this week.  This 
statement expressed concern about setting an unhelpful 
precedent for the future, especially when the Treaty does not 
recognize lack of hotel space as a legitimate reason to avoid 
conducting a flight (OSCC.DEL/4/08).  Finland, the UK, and 
Sweden also expressed similar reservations in separate 
national statements and urged the parties involved to find a 
bilateral solution. 
 
¶6. (SBU) Russia (Kozlov) acknowledged the concerns about 
blocking off that particular week.  He said the unusual late 
timing of Orthodox Easter this year and it coinciding with 
the labor holidays result in a combined popular holiday week. 
 Russia does not anticipate this happening on a regular 
basis.  Russia is also willing to work with Turkey to find a 
bilateral solution. 
 
¶7. (SBU) Comment:  Turkey had been scheduled to use this 
 
timeslot according to the second quarter deconfliction 
process.  Turkey informed us that Russia offered to host them 
the following week, which means it would be hosting two 
missions simultaneously.  Under the Treaty, a state is not 
obligated to host more than one mission at a time, but it 
appears Russia is willing to make an exception in order to 
accommodate this situation, something within their 
prerogative.   USDel believes it was important to raise the 
issue at the plenary, and we thank Washington for the quick 
response to the proposed statement.  We believe this 
situation has been adequately addressed, and a suitable 
solution found.  We see no need for further action.  End 
Comment. 
 
Latvia ) Russia too slow with visas 
-------------------------------- 
 
¶8.    (SBU) Latvia (Nilsons) made a statement expressing 
concerns that Russian delays in issuing visas for its team 
members prevented them from participating on its planned 
observation flights with Germany the week of March 31. 
(OSCC46/JOUR/142, Annex 4).  Unfortunately, Germany proceeded 
with the mission without its Latvian partners, and their 
visas were only received on April 3, after the mission was 
underway. 
 
¶9. (SBU) Russia apologized for the delay in issuing the 
visas, claiming an unfortunate technical hitch in the visa 
processing due to turnover of personnel in its consular 
section in Riga.  He said the personnel were not aware that 
the list of Latvian reps had already been approved in Moscow. 
 He offered that in future Latvia may want to issue 
diplomatic visas to its team members since under an agreement 
between Russia and the European Union, EU reps with 
diplomatic passports do not require visas. 
 
Sensor Group ) "best guess" on digital 
------------------------------------ 
 
¶10. (SBU) USDel (Silberberg) provided an update from the 
Chair of the Informal Working Group on Sensors (IWGS)(U.S. 
Scott Simmons) on preparation of a "best guess" version of 
the digital video sensor decision (OSCC.SEN/5/08).  In 
response to a request received from the German delegation for 
reaching a consensus decision prior to the summer recess, the 
Chair provided a new version of the video decision produced 
following the March IWGS meeting.  The new version was 
distributed as OSCC.SEN/4/08, with a request for electronic 
coordination by the end of April with a goal of adoption at 
the May plenary. 
 
¶11. (SBU) On the margins, in a trilateral meeting with Russia 
and Germany, Germany informed us it agrees with the "best 
guess" version.  Kozlov expressed doubts that the decision 
could be adopted in May and declined to speculate how long 
review in Moscow could take.  He sent the new text to Moscow 
for review, where it needs to be reviewed by eight agencies. 
Kozlov said it may be necessary to have further technical 
discussions and the text changes one of Russia,s 
"principled" positions, e.g., on data collection increasing 
from 9 to 12 data points.  Germany wisely noted that the art 
of compromise sometimes involves finding a new "principled" 
position.  USDel pointed out that 12 represented a reduced 
number from what most states were looking for. 
 
¶12. (SBU) Comment: USDel understands Germany and Russia have 
a bilateral arrangement to conduct sensor testing in the 
fall.  The "best guess" version is intended to offer a viable 
way forward for consensus that will allow all states 
--including the U.S.-- to move forward on this subject. 
Request the IWGS Chair provide an update on the status of 
consultations on this version prior to the May 5 plenary. 
End comment. 
 
500th Commemoration brainstorming 
--------------------------------- 
 
¶13. (SBU) During the plenary, the USDel introduced a food for 
thought paper on potential activities for OSCC commemoration 
of the 500th observation flight (OSCC.DEL/3/08).  On April 
15, we held an informal discussion with twenty delegations 
which generated broad support for a number of press-related 
activities in July in Vienna.  Delegations support the 
concept of highlighting the Open Skies success story, 
especially as a good news story in light of other European 
security issues.  Public diplomacy officers advised by AC 
offices in USDel will work with OSCE Secretariat Press and 
Public Information Services to further prepare materials for 
this occasion. 
 
IWGRP ) Russia keeps the group engaged 
--------------------------------------- 
 
¶14. (SBU) Following the plenary, Russian Chair (Kozlov) of 
the Informal Working Group on Rules and Procedures (IWGRP) 
held a meeting to introduce three papers provided by Russia 
prior to the recess.  The first paper is a Russian 
food-for-thought on how best to provide for alternate 
airfields for flights to and from the point of entry/exit 
(OSCC.RP/3/08).  The food for thought is accompanied by two 
draft decisions (OSCC.RP/1/08 and OSCC.RP/2/08).  As a 
starting point, the Chair began discussion on the draft 
decision for designation of alternate airfields (RP/2). 
Delegations which spoke provided preliminary reactions, and 
most are awaiting further guidance from capitals. 
 
¶15. (SBU) Canada supports the initiative, and suggests that 
ideally designated alternate airfields have IFR capability 
with instrument landing system (ILS).  Also information on 
non-Jeppeson alternative airfields needs to be provided in 
advance.  France sees the proposals as helpful in terms of 
bolstering flight safety, but questioned the language in para 
2 about providing data no late than 30 days before the 
changes take effect ) why not sooner?  Russia says the 30 
day language is intended to reflect the average cycle for 
preparations prior to a mission.  Finland,s initial reaction 
is positive, but wants to know if you land at an alternate en 
route to the POE due to bad weather, can the mission proceed 
from the alternate?  Russia said this was not feasible due to 
the distances between alternates and the POE ) escort teams 
would not be able to begin the mission from an alternate. 
 
¶16. (SBU) UK also has a positive first impression and will 
study the feasibility of identifying such airfields in the 
UK.  Greece wants to ensure that designation of alternate 
airfields does not interfere with the decision-making 
authority of the pilot-in-command to choose an airfield 
during emergencies.  The Czech Republic expressed similar 
concerns and had the most lengthy of all the remarks.  It has 
doubts about all the procedures in the food for thought and 
believes most of this can be done within existing procedures. 
 Czechs recall that air traffic control and ICAO govern the 
safety of flight with respect to emergency landings.  Smaller 
countries have a limited number of airfields that can service 
all the Open Skies aircraft.  It would not want to have to 
undertake infrastructure and financial burdens to have an 
airfield for all aircraft.  It is unsure whether the 
potential for emergency landings justify the potential work 
involved with the decisions. 
 
¶17. (SBU) USDel said the papers were comprehensive in nature 
and well-prepared.  It appears that some procedures are 
similar to those of certain bilateral efforts, and we are 
awaiting further comments from Washington.   After the 
meeting, USDel asked Russia how these papers fit with the 
U.S.-Russian bilateral arrangement.  Kozlov said the papers 
are meant to be complementary and would not supersede our 
bilateral understandings.  He provided us with a preview copy 
of the Russian version of the exchange of letters per our 
August 2007 bilateral discussions (emailed to VCI/CCA on 
April 16).  Upon approval from Moscow, he will provide this 
letter under a note verbale from the Russian delegation in 
Vienna.  He expects that the U.S. will make a mirror copy and 
return a similar letter with a note verbal from the U.S. 
 
delegation in Vienna. 
 
¶18. (SBU) Comment:  USDel believes that Russia has 
essentially tried to capture the procedures agreed to 
bilaterally with the U.S. on this subject.  Having reviewed 
both the RP papers and the bilateral exchange, Mission 
believes the efforts indeed are complimentary.  We welcome 
further review and guidance from Washington on finalizing the 
bilateral arrangement, as well as any specific comments on 
the two draft decisions prior to May 5.  End Comment. 
 
¶19. (U) AOB: 
 
--Russia, Turkey, Italy, Germany, and Sweden provided 
information of observation flights that took place since the 
March OSCC meeting; 
 
--Slovakia drew attention to a recent notification providing 
information on a change of airfield to Malachy effective as 
of May 8; 
 
--Russia provided a notification with aeronautical 
information on Pushkin and Siversky airfields per 
OS/RB/08/1028/F26/O as of April 2.  See OSCC.NOT/1/08 for 
details; 
 
--the next OSCC plenary and IWGRP meetings will be on Monday, 
May 5. 
 
 
 
 
FINLEY