VZCZCXYZ0002
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHVEN #0259/01 3021523
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 281523Z OCT 08
FM USMISSION USOSCE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6001
INFO RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUEKJCS/DIA WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RUEAADN/DTRA DULLES WASHINGTON DC
RUESDT/DTRA-OSES DARMSTADT GE
RUEADWD/DA WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J5-DDIN/CAC

UNCLAS USOSCE 000259 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR VCI/CCA, EUR/PRA 
JCS FOR COL NORWOOD 
OSD FOR ISA PERENYI 
NSC FOR HAYES 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OSCE PARM PREL
SUBJECT: OPEN SKIES 27 OCTOBER: U.S. GETS 15TH MISSION 
 
¶1.  (SBU)  Summary:  At the 27 October Plenary, the Open 
Skies Consultative Commission (OSCC) adopted a decision to 
increase the U.S. number of active missions over Russia from 
14 to a record number of 15 for 2008.  The OSCC also adopted 
the Decision on the Distribution of Active Quotas for 
Observation Flights in 2009.  The Informal Working Group on 
Sensors (IWGS) will meet from 8-12 December.  The IWGS will 
focus on three decisions that are necessary for the 
certification and operation of modern digital aerial cameras. 
 The Chairman of the Informal Working Group on Rules and 
Procedures (IWGRP) reported that there was progress on the 
alternate airfields draft decision being led by Slovakia and 
that discussion had started on a revision of Decision Number 
One.  Romania and Italy summarized the recent successful 
certification events involving the Romania AN-30B aircraft 
and a sensor of the "POD" group. 
 
¶2.  (SBU)  At the IWGRP, which met following the Plenary, 
there was broad support for Slovakia's draft decision on 
alternate airfields.  However, Canada questioned the utility 
of the decision and voiced concern that it would infringe on 
the aircraft commander's ability to decide where best to land 
in an emergency.  End Summary. 
 
Active Quotas...Russia-4...USA-15...USA:  9 
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¶3.  (SBU)  Belarus (Pavlov) chaired the 47th Session of the 
OSCC.  In quick succession, the OSCC adopted the decision on 
"Revision Five to Decision No. 7/07 on the Distribution of 
Active Quotas for Observation Flights in the Year 2008" 
(OSCC.DEC/7/08) and Decision No. 8/08, "the Distribution of 
Active Quotas for Observation Flights in the Year 2009" 
(OSCC.DEC/8/08).  Decision 7/08 was sponsored by the U.S. and 
Romania.  The decision facilitates the sharing of an 
observation flight between Romania and the United States. 
Additionally, this decision raised the number of U.S. active 
missions over Russia from 14 to 15, a record.  Decision 8/08 
was a formal distribution of active quotas to all States 
Parties for 2009.  This was the result of the active quota 
distribution meeting held on 9-10 October. 
 
Sensors...Redistribution of Work 
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
 
¶4.  (SBU)  On behalf of the IWGS Chairman Scott Simmons, the 
U.S. (Neighbour) delivered the IWGS status report to the 
Plenary.  Neighbour announced that the next Informal Working 
Group on Sensors will meet from 8-12 December.  The focus of 
the December meeting will be on "Revision One to Decision 
14," "the new Digital Image Processing Decision," and 
"Revision Two to Decision 17."  Neighbour reported that the 
three decisions are necessary to create a complete program 
for the certification and operation of modern digital aerial 
cameras for the Treaty on Open Skies.  Neighbour told the 
Plenary that Scott Simmons was optimistic for a successful 
week in December.  (OSCC47.JOUR/147, Annex 1) 
 
Rules and Procedures...Chairman Over-confident? 
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
 
¶5.  (SBU)  Alexander Kozlov, Chairman of the Informal Working 
Group on Rules and Procedures, reported that the working 
group is preparing a draft decision on alternate airfields as 
well as a draft revision of Decision No. One.  Kozlov said 
that there was progress on the latest draft decision from 
Slovakia on alternate airfields (OSCC.RP/13/08/Rev.3).  He 
felt the latest version was acceptable and could be adopted 
at the next Plenary.  The Chairman informed the OSCC that the 
draft decision "Revision Five of Decision Number One" 
(OSCC.RP/17/08) should not be difficult to approve because it 
is an update of "Revision Four of Decision Number One" with 
the 150 Euros per diem rate that was approved last year as 
well as incorporating the current draft decision on alternate 
airfield.  Kozlov was also confident that "Revision Five of 
Decision Number One" would be ready for adoption at the 24 
November Plenary. 
 
Certification Event...Open Skies is "Alive and Well" 
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¶6.  (SBU)  Under the agenda item "Information on 
certification events," Romania (Matei) informed the Plenary 
of the recent successful Romanian certification events held 
from September 15-21.  Matei said 22 Treaty States Parties 
and Serbia participated in the certification.  Experts 
conducted ground and aerial examination of the AN-30B 
aircraft as well as Romania's Open Skies photographic 
laboratory.  She revealed that due to bad weather, flight 
testing had to be conducted in Greece on September 18.  Matei 
thanked Greece for its cooperation and assistance in allowing 
the certification flights to take place.  Matei stated that 
Romania now looks forward to fully exercising its rights 
under the Treaty on Open Skies. 
 
¶7.  (SBU) Italian senior military advisor (Landi), speaking 
on behalf of the POD group, thanked all States Parties, and 
in particular Romania and Greece, for their participation in 
the certification event (Note: the POD group also certified 
one of their sensor configurations at the Romania 
certification event.  End note).  Landi commented that the 
certification event displays the Treaty's spirit of 
cooperation by all States Parties.  He opined that the Treaty 
is "alive and well." 
 
Treaty Implementation...The Way It Is Supposed to Be 
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
 
¶8.  (SBU)  Turkey and Russia reported the various active and 
passive observation flights they have participated in since 
the last Plenary.  Both delegations reported that flights 
were conducted in accordance with the provisions of the 
Treaty and in the spirit of mutual understanding and 
cooperation.  Russia (Kozlov) put special emphasis on the 
recent US/IT observation flight (6-10 October) that flew 
"across" Russian territory.  Kozlov told the Plenary that the 
logistical issues of landing and/or refueling at Khabarovsk, 
Ulan Ude, Novosibirsk, and Kubinka were conducted very 
smoothly. 
 
JCG in Vienna or OS in Berlin? 
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¶9.  (SBU)  Germany (Ratzlaff) informed the Plenary of the 
upcoming Berlin Seminars on Conventional Arms Control, 
Seminar on Aspects of Open Skies Platforms (OSS.INF/23/08). 
Ratzlaff invited all to attend the November 13-14 meeting and 
reiterated that the focus of the discussion will be future 
Open Skies aircraft. 
 
Any Other Business 
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¶10.  (SBU)  Belarus (Pavlov), in its capacity as OSCC 
Chairman, informed delegations that it will conduct an 
informal plenary meeting on November 10 to discuss the OSCC 
Chairman's letter to the Ministerial Council.  Although 
consensus on the letter is not a requirement, Pavlov hoped to 
discuss the content of the letter and get it ready for 
adoption at the November 24 Plenary. 
 
Decisions...Not Ready For Primetime 
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
 
¶11.  (SBU)  The Informal Working Group on Rules and 
Procedures, under Russian Chairmanship, met immediately 
following the Plenary.  The focus of the discussion was on 
Slovakia's latest draft decision on alternate airfields 
(OSCC.RP/13/08/Rev.3) and the new draft decision "Revision 
Five of Decision Number One" (OSCC.RP/17/08).  Canada 
(Linteau) initiated the discussion on alternate airfields by 
voicing its objection to the draft decision.  Linteau said 
Canadian experts thought the decision/procedure was 
cumbersome and complicated.  He said Canada's position was 
due to its belief that the aircraft captain had the ultimate 
authority to designate an alternate airfield, that flight 
safety was paramount, and that States Parties should provide 
all available data on suitable alternate airfield to 
facilitate a safe observation flight.  Canada feared that 
this decision could limit the options currently available to 
an aircraft captain during an emergency.  Citing recent 
Canadian flexibility to allow a Russian Open Skies aircraft 
to land at a non-designated alternate airfield in Gander, 
Newfoundland, Linteau asked the working group to reconsider 
the idea of a decision to designate alternate airfields 
(OSCC.RP/19/08). 
 
¶12.  (SBU)  France, Russia, and the U.S. indicated they had 
additional changes to submit for consideration by Slovakia. 
Romania and Belarus were awaiting instructions from their 
capitals on the current draft.  Germany agreed with the 
current version, but would need time to reconsider its 
support with any changes from other delegations.  The working 
group chair asked all delegations to send additional comments 
to Slovakia for discussion at the next meeting. 
 
¶13.  (SBU)  The IWGRP Chairman (Kozlov) opened the discussion 
on "Revision Five of Decision Number One" decision with a 
proposed change to the last paragraph of Section V.2.  Kozlov 
said that several delegations had informed him that the text 
was confusing.  As a result he proposed deleting the last 
sentence in the paragraph and replacing it with "In the event 
of a deviation from the flight plan for reasons within the 
control of the observing Party, these additional costs shall 
be paid by the observing Party."  USDEL (Duong), per guidance 
email from VCI/CCA/Marvin on 24 October, offered another 
version to the working group.  Duong suggested that the last 
sentence of the paragraph be deleted and replaced with "any 
additional costs of accommodation and meals resulting from 
deviations from the flight plan of the observation flight for 
reasons other than those in accordance with Article VIII, 
Section II, paragraphs 5(a), 5(b) or 5(c) shall be paid by 
the observing Party."  Kozlov promised to incorporate the 
U.S. suggestion in the next draft.  On the margin, Canada and 
the U.K. commented that the U.S. version was much more 
agreeable. 
 
¶14.  (SBU)  The IWGRP Chairman urged all delegations to get 
their inputs on the two decisions to Slovakia and the Russian 
Federation as soon as possible.  Kozlov hoped to finalize the 
draft decisions at the next working group meeting in order 
for the decisions to be adopted at the November 24 Plenary. 
 
Next Meeting 
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¶15.  (U)  The next OSCC Plenary will be on November 24. 
There will be an informal OSCC Plenary meeting on November 
¶10.  The next Informal Working Group on Rules and Procedures 
will be on November 10. 
FINLEY