VZCZCXRO4712
PP RUEHFL RUEHLA RUEHMRE RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHVEN #0268/01 3111407
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 061407Z NOV 08
FM USMISSION USOSCE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6021
INFO RUCNOSC/ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY IN EUROPE COLLECTIVE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 USOSCE 000268 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/05/2018 
TAGS: OSCE PGOV PREL
SUBJECT: HELSINKI MINISTERIAL THE FOCUS OF EUR PDAS RIES, 
VISIT TO THE OSCE 
 
Classified By: Ambassador J. Finley for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
Summary 
------- 
 
¶1.  (C) The OSCE Secretary General, the Chairman-in-Office, 
and several PermReps told visiting EUR PDAS Marcie Ries 
November 3-4 that the OSCE faced new challenges, and 
expressed frustration at the organization's inability to take 
action on key issues, including additional military 
monitoring officers for Georgia and extra-budgetary projects 
in Afghanistan.  With the Helsinki Ministerial approaching, 
current prospects for success were considered low, 
underscoring the importance of American leadership, including 
the participation of Secretary Rice.  Interlocutors also 
expressed concern about Russia's obstructionist role, noting 
Russia seemed intent on undermining fundamental OSCE 
commitments; their concerns appeared well founded, as Russian 
PermRep Azimov expressed Russia's interest in "refreshing" 
previously agreed documents and underscored Russia's desire 
to discuss the future of European security.  PDAS Ries 
acknowledged the OSCE faced challenges, but argued the 
organization provided a valuable forum for dialogue; its 
membership made it the only European security organization at 
which Russia and others had seats at the table as equals.  In 
an era when Russia likely would continue to assert its weight 
in a negative way, she stressed the importance of patient 
contacts and close coordination among the Quad, the EU, and 
NATO.  End Summary. 
 
OSCE Secretary General 
---------------------- 
 
¶2.  (C) OSCE Secretary General Marc Perrin de Brichambaut and 
PDAS Ries discussed Russian attitudes toward the OSCE and 
reviewed likely obstacles ahead of the December 4-5 Helsinki 
Ministerial, including how to handle Georgia.  The SG 
provided a brief read-out of his recent visit to Moscow, 
where he insisted Russia would be unable to avoid some 
Ministerial focus on Georgia.  The SG underlined the apparent 
Russian interest in revisiting certain principles of European 
security, while also noting French President Sarkozy's belief 
that any summit outcome should be anchored in existing OSCE 
structures and commitments.  He called Russian FM Lavrov "the 
great inventor of chaos" and said he felt Russia was prepared 
to question the basis of all OSCE institutions.  On the two 
U.S.-backed OSCE border assistance projects for Afghanistan 
effectively scuttled this year by the Russians, the SG 
suggested some Russian willingness to revisit them next year. 
 
CPC Director 
------------ 
 
¶3.  (SBU) Ambassador Herbert Salber, Director of the OSCE's 
Conflict Prevention Centre (CPC), outlined prospects for 
progress on several regional conflicts, noting prospects for 
genuine progress in Nagorno-Karabakh (to counterbalance a 
likely stalemate on OSCE activities in Georgia) appeared more 
likely than in Transnistria.  He also detailed the major work 
and accomplishments of a number of OSCE field missions, 
remarking that the Croatia Mission might be ready to close by 
the end of next year, and noting that police reform had 
stalled in Bosnia, while emphasizing that election monitoring 
capabilities remained crucial for Albania.  The key added 
value of the CPC, Salber said, was to provide OSCE 
participating States with impartial information about certain 
regions to enable a thorough and comprehensive debate and to 
support the work of the field missions. 
 
Broad Discussions on OSCE Advantages 
------------------------------------ 
 
¶4.  (SBU) In a meeting with the NATO Caucus, several EU 
PermReps commented that the OSCE still had a vital role to 
play on human rights, early warning, conflict prevention, and 
crisis management.  The quick response to the conflict in 
Georgia, in the middle of a European summer break, was 
evidence of this, they said.  UK PermRep Cliff said Georgia 
had given the OSCE a slightly higher profile, and added he 
thought participating States undervalued the work of the High 
Commissioner on National Minorities.  Several PermReps also 
asked how the OSCE should work with a resurgent Russia, 
adding that the OSCE's answer to that question would have a 
significant impact on its future success. 
 
¶5.  (SBU) At a gathering of key PermReps, including the 
Chairmen-in-Office for 2008-2010, interlocutors emphasized 
that the OSCE provides a useful forum for dialogue, despite 
recent difficulties with Russia.  While the consensus-based 
decision-making mechanism at times limits action, Finnish 
PermRep Turunen remarked, the organization remains flexible, 
as demonstrated by its quick deployment of military 
 
USOSCE 00000268  002 OF 003 
 
SUBJECT: HELSINKI MINISTERIAL THE FOCUS OF EUR PDAS RIES, 
VISIT TO TH%u$Q:1HG=KQound, and declared they would counter 
any attempt by Russia to undermine basic commitments.  UK 
Deputy PermRep Cole questioned Russia's evident desire to 
weaken the organization, noting Russia should have some 
incentive to work within the body, as it saved Russia from 
political isolation and was the sole organization in which 
Russia had an equal voice in the business of the security of 
Europe.  He and others agreed they were unsure what Russia 
hoped to gain from President Medvedev's proposed new security 
architecture, and said they were unconvinced Russia had a 
clear goal in mind.  Still, the Swedish, Kazakh, Greek, and 
Dutch PermReps were eager for a debate on European security 
at Helsinki and warm to the proposal of a future summit. 
Turkey cautioned that summit preparations are complicated and 
all-consuming, and suggested all delegations needed to think 
through what they hoped to achieve with greater clarity 
before cavalierly setting up a summit.  All agreed the OSCE 
faces new challenges, and would have to respond with renewed 
energy. 
 
Chairman-in-Office Meeting 
-------------------------- 
 
¶6.  (SBU) In a November 4 meeting with the 
Chairman-in-Office, Finnish PermRep Turunen highlighted a 
draft Ministerial decision honoring the 60th anniversary of 
the Declaration of Human Rights, but admitted much about the 
Ministerial remained uncertain, as the Chairman-in-Office had 
yet to finalize its approach to a possible political 
declaration and expected Ministerial discussions on Georgia 
and broader European security issues.  Turunen mentioned "the 
future of security structures in Europe" had emerged as a 
possible theme for the Ministerial's December 4 working 
lunch; PDAS Ries objected to any implication the USG was open 
to re-thinking existing structures, and suggested avoiding 
any suggestion we were willing to rethink architecture. 
Turunen said he would consider it, noting security questions 
and Georgia (including the renewal of the mandate of the OSCE 
Mission to Georgia) likely would be key topics of discussion. 
 Turunen urged Secretary Rice to join the 24 other Foreign 
Ministers who had already confirmed their participation in 
the Helsinki Ministerial; many, he said, would stay for 
dinner December 4, although it would not be a working event. 
PDAS Ries promised to convey the Finns' desire for the 
Secretary's participation and encouraged the 
Chairman-in-Office to work closely with the United States, 
the EU, and others to prepare for the Ministerial. 
 
Russian PermRep 
--------------- 
 
¶7.  (SBU) In a subsequent meeting, Russian PermRep Azimov 
told PDAS Ries a political declaration remained Russia's 
"main priority" for the Ministerial ) and could perhaps 
clear the way for discussions on "modernizing" existing 
European security structures ) but said any reference to 
regional conflicts would make consensus difficult.  Azimov 
said he believed the Chairman-in-Office had prepared a draft 
declaration and expected Finnish Foreign Minister Stubb to 
discuss it during an upcoming trip to Moscow.  He added 
Russia remained optimistic about the chances of reaching 
consensus on regional statements on Moldova and 
Nagorno-Karabakh if new developments made them worthwhile, 
and said Russia remained committed to finding peaceful 
resolutions to the conflicts. According to Azimov, Russia had 
repeatedly told Moldovan and Transnistrian officials that 
Georgia and Kosovo were not precedents; Russia would not 
support secessionist movements and would seek a solution 
respecting Moldova's territorial integrity. 
 
¶8.  (SBU) Turning to Georgia, Azimov claimed South Ossetian 
authorities were willing to discuss their relationship with 
the OSCE and had expressed interest in an OSCE office in 
Tskhinvali; he added authorities were also willing to discuss 
access to South Ossetia for the eight original OSCE monitors. 
 Azimov acknowledged discussions on the mandate of the OSCE 
Mission to Georgia would be difficult, and withheld 
speculation on possible solutions.  On security issues, 
Azimov said Russia had an interest in "refreshing" previously 
agreed documents, including the Helsinki Final Act. 
According to Azimov, existing commitments had failed in 
Kosovo, South Ossetia, and Abhkazia, where territorial 
integrity had given way to self-determination.  PDAS Ries 
responded by expressing strong support for the OSCE and its 
founding principles, noting the need for states to meet 
existing obligations, and arguing existing institutions 
remained sound; she suggested it was certain States' failure 
to work within existing organizations that created problems. 
She told Azimov she hoped Russia would exhibit flexibility in 
discussions on the political declaration and other issues, 
 
USOSCE 00000268  003 OF 003 
 
 
including the Afghanistan package and the mandate of the OSCE 
Mission to Georgia, and encouraged Russia to adopt a 
constructive approach to negotiations. 
 
¶9.  (U) PDAS Ries has cleared this cable. 
SCOTT