O 221223Z NOV 08
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S E C R E T GENEVA 001014 
 
 
DEPT FOR T, VCI AND EUR/PRA 
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E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/17/2018 
TAGS: KACT PARM START JCIC INF US RS UP BO KZ
 
SUBJECT: JCIC-XXXIII:  (U) BELARUSIAN CLOSING STATEMENT, 
NOVEMBER 21, 2008 
 
Classified By:  Jerry A. Taylor, United States Representative 
to the Joint Compliance and Inspection Commission. 
Reasons:  1.5(b) and (d). 
 
¶1.  (U) This is JCIC-XXXIII-026. 
 
¶2.  (U) At Paragraph 3 below is the official translation of 
the Belarusian Statement that was deliverd at the Closing 
Plenary Meeting of the Thirty-third Session of the START 
Treaty's Joint Compliance and Inspection Commission (JCIC), 
held at the U.S. Mission on November 21, 2008. 
 
¶3. (S) Begin text: 
 
                       Official Translation 
 
Statement 
 by the Delegation of the Republic of Belarus 
 at the Closing Plenary Meeting of the 33rd Session 
 of the Joint Compliance and Inspection Commission 
 
Geneva                                      November 21, 2008 
 
      Esteemed Mr. Chairman, 
 
      Esteemed Representatives and members of the delegations 
of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Russian Federation, the 
United States of America, and Ukraine. 
 
      Today we are concluding JCIC-XXXIII and would like to 
note in this regard the productive work and active 
participation of all the Parties during this session, which 
promoted progress in a number of areas. 
 
      In particular, we can note certain progress toward 
removing concern over the Minuteman III reentry vehicle.  The 
legal framework of an agreement was outlined, which, in the 
event the Treaty expires, would provide a procedure for 
terminating continuous monitoring at Votkinsk, as well as a 
procedure for removing the relevant U.S. property.  This 
issue affects Belarusian interests due to the planned transit 
of this property across Belarusian territory.  Overall, we 
are satisfied with the work done at the expert level and are 
prepared to continue developing a legal basis during the 
intersessional period.  During this session information was 
presented by the Ukrainian side and preliminarily discussed 
regarding its intention to move types of ICBMs that have been 
completely eliminated to date into the category of former 
types of ICBMs.  During the intersessional period the 
Belarusian side will determine its position on this issue. 
 
      We express the hope that in the intersessional period a 
substantive dialogue will continue, with the aim of removing 
the remaining concerns related to implementing Treaty 
provisions. 
 
      Mr. Chairman, 
 
      During this session we also considered one other 
important question--the future of the START Treaty.  Not only 
did the Parties fulfill the requirement of paragraph 2 of 
Article XVII of the Treaty, but they also voiced their 
concerns on this issue.  We are convinced that it is 
important not to allow a legal vacuum to be created in 
strategic offensive arms control after December 2009.  Our 
view is that in the coming year we must decide what path we 
will take:  either we decide to extend the Treaty or we work 
out a new accord on strategic offensive arms. 
 
 
      We think that in considering the question of working 
out a new Treaty it is important to take into account the 
main elements on which the START Treaty is based:  reduction 
of strategic offensive arms; a system of control and 
verification; and security guarantees to non-nuclear states 
that acceded to the START Treaty through the Lisbon Protocol. 
 
      Esteemed Mr. Chairman, 
 
      In conclusion, I would like to express my appreciation 
to all the Delegations for their cooperation and to thank 
individually the interpreters and translators for their 
contribution to the work of the Commission. 
 
      We wish all a safe return home and productive work in 
the intersessional period. 
 
End text. 
 
¶4.  (U) Taylor sends. 
TICHENOR 
 
 
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