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DE RUEHVEN #0225 2681623
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O 241623Z SEP 08
FM USMISSION USOSCE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5926
INFO RUCNCFE/CONVENTIONAL ARMED FORCES IN EUROPE PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUESDT/DTRA-OSES DARMSTADT GE PRIORITY
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RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J5-DDPMA-IN/CAC/DDPMA-E// PRIORITY
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C O N F I D E N T I A L USOSCE 000225 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR VCI/CCA, EUR/RPM, 
NSC FOR HAYES, JCS FOR J5/NORWOOD/CAMPBELL, 
OSD FOR ISA/PERENYI 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/17/2009 
TAGS: KCFE OSCE PARM PREL
SUBJECT: CFE/JCG: 23 SEPTEMBER MEETING IS AN ALL-ALLIED 
PERFORMANCE 
 
REF: USNATO 336 
 
Classified By: Chief Arms Control Delegate Hugh Neighbour, 
for reasons 1.4(b) and (d). 
 
¶1. (C)  Summary.  Interventions by Bulgaria, Spain and Italy 
calling out Russia for refusing inspections were the 
highlight the brief JCG held on September 23.  Germany, 
Turkey, the UK, Romania, Portugal, U.S., Czech Republic and 
France intervened in support.  Russia did not comment.  The 
JCG took the decision to cancel its next meeting scheduled 
for 30 September in view of Germany's Arms Control Seminar in 
Berlin.  However, there was no support in the JCG-T on 
further reducing the number of JCG meetings. End summary. 
 
¶2. (SBU)  As coordinated in the JCG-T, Bulgaria, Spain and 
Italy called Russia out with strong national statements for 
refusing their inspections.  Spain noted that, while they had 
not had high expectations, they had hoped Russia would accept 
an inspection to demonstrate their commitment to overcoming 
the current impasse.  All reaffirmed their commitment to CFE 
and called on Russia to return to full compliance. 
 
¶3. (SBU)  Germany, Turkey, the United Kingdom, Romania, 
Portugal, the U.S., the Czech Republic and France (the Quad 
plus Bulgaria, Spain and Italy's geographic neighbors) made 
interventions in support of the three national statements. 
Russia (Solomenko) did not reply to Allied interventions. 
(Note.  Ulyanov had told the U.S. (Neighbour) that he would 
not be present at the meeting. End note.) 
 
¶4. (SBU) Germany (Richter) restated its proposal from the 
last meeting to cancel the JCG scheduled for September 30th. 
Richter reminded States Parties that Germany's next Berlin 
Seminar is scheduled for the same day and that several 
delegations would be sending representatives.  No one opposed 
the proposal, so the next JCG will be held on October 7. 
 
¶5. (SBU)  In the JCG-T plus 4 the day before, Allies 
expressed little support for the U.S. view that fewer JCGs 
should be held.  Uncharacteristically, opposition did not 
coalesce around Germany.  Rather, Spain, Italy, Greece, 
Turkey and Luxembourg pushed back with Germany later adding 
to the dissenting opinion.  Arguments against a reduction of 
meetings varied from angst at sending a political signal, to 
doubt that the JCG would reach full consensus, to appeals for 
keeping all lines of communication open.  Not even Britain, 
Canada or the Czech Republic argued in favor of reducing 
JCGs. 
 
¶6. (C)  Comment.  Allied apprehension to reducing the number 
of JCG meetings before October 15 is not inconsistent with 
the more vocal national positions in opposition, but is much 
more dogged and pervasive among those Allies who seemed 
supportive at the 11 September HLTF (Reftel.)  Even the 
Romania delegation privately told us we would not succeed and 
should ease up noting the September 23 JCG lasted less than 
twenty minutes.  Absent multiple interventions on refused 
inspections, future meetings are likely to be even shorter 
and less substantive.  Although pushing Allies harder for a 
reduced schedule in the JCG-T will likely not gain traction, 
working to reduce the number of meetings on a case by case 
basis using "technical" justification as a criteria (e.g., 
when the JCG conflicts with other events such as the HLTF 
meeting in Romania) may still resonate in Vienna. 
FINLEY