VZCZCXRO7915
PP RUEHAST RUEHFL RUEHLA RUEHMRE RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHVEN #0178/01 1980619
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 160619Z JUL 08
FM USMISSION USOSCE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5822
INFO RUCNOSC/ORG FOR SECURITY CO OP IN COLLECTIVE
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 SECTION 01 OF 03 USOSCE 000178 
 
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: LIFT OFF!  500 FLIGHT COMMEMORATION 
PLENARY AND BALLOON RELEASE 
 
REF: STATE 73228 
 
¶1. (U) Summary.  On July 14, the Open Skies Consultative 
Commission (OSCC) held a special plenary session to 
commemorate the conduct of 500 observation flights since the 
Treaty entered into force in January 2002.  The U.S. 
initiative received strong support from all delegations, and 
the 500 balloon release garnered positive press coverage. 
The Finnish Ambassador, speaking on behalf of the OSCE 
Chairman-in-Office, remarked on the historical linkage 
between this event under U.S. Chairmanship and former 
President Bush,s proposal initiating the Treaty in May 1989. 
 Many U.S. reps received accolades from other delegations 
regarding U.S. leadership of the event.  The U.S. initiative 
was particularly welcomed as a sign of commitment to European 
arms control and security.  While this was the final plenary 
under U.S. Chairmanship of the OSCC for the spring/summer 
session, we will remain in the Chair until Belarus assumes 
the Chair for the next plenary on September 22.  End summary. 
 
500 Observation Flights ) Well Done! 
 
¶2. (U) On July 14, the U.S.-hosted the final OSCC plenary for 
the summer with a special meeting designed to commemorate the 
success of the 500 observation flights conducted as of this 
summer since entry into force of the Treaty in January 2002 
(OSCC.INF/18/08).  As of July 10, 488 flights have been 
announced.  The 500th flight should occur within three weeks 
time. See the updated "flight tracker" at OSCC.DEL/7/08/Rev 
¶2.  The meeting was open to the press and photographers. 
 
¶3. (U) The U.S. Chair, Chief Arms Control Delegate Hugh 
Neighbour opened the meeting with a short statement 
highlighting this collective accomplishment.  In particular 
he noted the flights have more than proven the concept of 
openness and transparency envisioned by former President Bush 
when he launched the initiative for Open Skies in May 1989. 
 
¶4. (U) The U.S. also emphasized the efforts of all the 
individuals responsible for accomplishing these missions. 
The heads of verification agencies from Germany (Mertens), 
Russia (Hudoklinov) and the U.S. (Ronnie Faircloth, Defense 
Threat Reduction Agency) were present and recognized on 
behalf of all the mission teams.  The U.S. presented a framed 
poster for permanent display in the Hofburg of the "500th 
Commemoration" graphic designed by USAF rep Eric Scholl from 
the Open Skies Media Processing Facility at Wright-Patterson, 
AFB.  The U.S. also recognized the importance of the work 
provided by the various offices within the OSCE Secretariat. 
 
¶5. (U) The panel of speakers for the special plenary included 
the current German Ambassador to the OSCE, Axel Berg, former 
Hungarian Ambassador Marton Krazsnai, and long-time Russian 
delegation expert General Alexander Peresypkin.  (See 
statements in Journal.)  Germany mentioned its plans for a 
seminar in October to discuss future aircraft options, 
following on to the sensor discussions held in May 2007. 
Krazsnai suggested further review of options for regional 
conflict prevention resulting from environmental causes such 
as water shortages in Central Asia.  Russia applauded the 
success so far, but believes the Treaty,s potential is far 
from fully utilized.  Peresypkin said additional quotas could 
be flown, further accession of new members, and flights in 
response to requests of other organizations remain possible 
areas for development. 
 
6.(U) Several States Parties spoke after the panel, led by 
the Finnish Ambassador on behalf of the OSCE 
Chairman-in-Office.  Finland saw it as fitting that the U.S. 
was able to organize the event during its chairmanship, 
especially since the Treaty had been an initiative of former 
President Bush in 1989.  Finland stressed the importance of 
transition to a digital world in order to keep the Treaty 
relevant.  The Ambassadors of the UK and Greece spoke in 
support of the event and urged that additional states 
consider accession.  Representatives from Italy and Romania 
emphasized the importance of the Treaty for European security 
 
USOSCE 00000178  002 OF 003 
 
 
and continued confidence-building.  Cyprus reiterated its 
readiness to join the Treaty. 
 
7.(U) Immediately following the special plenary, over 200 
OSCC delegates gathered on the front steps of the Hofburg 
Palace and released 500 balloons as a symbolic gesture 
accompanying the 500 successful observation flights.  U.S. 
and other delegates were interviewed during this press event, 
and several positive articles were posted by July 15. 
Television and print media coverage included CNN 
International, German (ZDF) and Austrian (ORF) channels, AFP, 
and Jane,s Defense Weekly is expected. 
 
8.(U) Comment:  Delegation representatives conveyed 
overwhelmingly positive remarks to several U.S. reps 
following the event.  Many believed it was an important 
opportunity to demonstrate the benefits of a Treaty that is 
working well, despite other setbacks in the European 
conventional arms control area and on-going tensions in the 
Georgia/Russia relationship.  Even Russian rep Ulyanov 
praised the U.S. for its leadership and organizational 
skills.  All seemed genuinely delighted to be able to 
participate in this inclusive "good news" event initiated by 
the U.S.  USDel greatly appreciates the team effort by all 
U.S. reps involved in organizing the event.  End Comment. 
 
Business meeting: 
 
9.(U) During the standard business meeting held just prior to 
the commemoration plenary, and closed to the press as is 
standard practice, the OSCC adopted two Decisions 
(OSCC.INF/16/08): 
--Decision 4/08 ) The OSCC Scales of Distribution for 2008 
and 2009; and 
--Decision 5/08 ) Revision Three to Decision 7/07 on the 
Distribution of Active Quotas for Observation Flights in the 
Year 2008 (which allows the U.S. two additional sharing 
flights, one each with Latvia and the UK.) 
 
10.(U) The UK made a clarification statement regarding its 
future intentions for participation under the Treaty.  The UK 
continues to value the Open Skies Treaty, and remains 
committed toward its implementation.  It will continue to 
receive all passive quotas (inbound missions).  However, 
there is no longer a budget for its Andover aircraft, so it 
will no longer to conduct missions on its own aircraft. 
However, it hopes to conduct three missions in 2009 in 
cooperation with other partners/aircraft.  (See Journal for 
full statement). 
 
11.(SBU) Comment:  In early May the UK informed OSCC 
delegations informally that it would no longer be able to fly 
its Andover aircraft, and would likely cease all active 
missions.  Following a demarche from the U.S., and an offer 
from the U.S. to share a flight on our aircraft in August, 
the UK revised its original intentions such that it will be 
able to continue flying with partners.  On the margins, USDel 
emphasized to UK reps that we view this as a positive 
development, not only for the UK, but for the message it 
sends to other States Parties as well.  End comment. 
 
¶12. (U) Certification Plans; Quota Distribution Prep; Sensor 
update: 
 
--Romania and Norway announced further information on plans 
for an aircraft certification event for September 15-21 in 
Bucharest.  This will be a joint certification event 
including the Pod Group C-130 with new sensor configurations. 
 The event will be supported by Germany as well.  Technical 
data packages with pre-certification data were distributed to 
all delegations.  U.S. rep Scholl (OSMPF, Wright-Patterson 
AFB) will hand carry the data to USA for review.  (See 
Journal). 
 
--Sensor Working Group Update:  USDel provided a report from 
the U.S. Chair of the Informal Working Group on Sensors 
(IWGS).  A recent proposal for changes to the draft for 
 
USOSCE 00000178  003 OF 003 
 
 
Revision One of Decision 14 and Decision 17 were received 
from one delegation (Russia) and have been posted on the IWGS 
website for review by the group.  Comments on the proposals 
are due August 1. (OSCC.SEN/7/08). 
 
--Germany announced that information was distributed in 
preparation for the October 9-10 annual quota distribution 
discussions (OSCC.INF/19/08). 
 
FINLEY