VZCZCXRO1132
PP RUEHAST RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHLA RUEHMRE RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSK RUEHSR
DE RUEHVEN #0045/01 0551434
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 241434Z FEB 09
FM USMISSION USOSCE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6236
INFO RUCNOSC/ORG FOR SECURITY CO OP IN EUR COLLECTIVE
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUEKJCS/DIA WASHDC
RUEASWA/DTRA ALEX WASHINGTON DC
RUESDT/DTRA-OSES DARMSTADT GE
RUEKJCS/JCS WASHDC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 USOSCE 000045 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR VCI/CCA, EUR/RPM, EUR/PRA 
JCS FOR J-5 
OSD FOR ISA (PERENYI) 
NSC FOR HAYES 
EUCOM FOR J-5 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PARM PREL KCFE OSCE
SUBJECT: OPEN SKIES: FEBRUARY 23 PLENARY AND IWGRP - 
MOVING FORWARD ON DIGITAL SENSORS 
 
¶1.  (SBU) Summary. The Open Skies Consultative Commission 
adopted the "Chairperson's Statement on Specifications for 
Allowed Video Sensors," and the "Prolonging the Work of the 
Informal Working Group on Sensors into the Year 2009" 
decision.  The U.S., the UK, Germany, Sweden, Turkey, and 
Belgium voiced support for the two documents and highlighted 
the importance and urgency of the transition to digital 
sensors.  In the Informal Working Group on Rules and 
Procedures there was agreement to send the most recent 
version of "Revision Five of Decision Number One" to the 
March 23 Plenary for adoption.  Washington please see 
paragraphs 6 and 8.  End Summary. 
 
GIANT STEP FOR DIGITAL SENSORS 
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¶2.  (SBU)  The Open Skies Consultative Commission (OSCC) met 
on February 23 under the Chairmanship of Belgium (Kenes). 
USDEL (Duong) delivered the status report from the Chairman 
of the Informal Working Group on Sensors (Simmons,IWGS).  In 
the report, Simmons summarized the importance of the 
Chairman's Statement that was up for adoption.  He informed 
the Plenary that the specifications in the statement will 
become the core of the new Revision One to Decision 14 and 
that, with this adoption, the IWGS will move forward to 
complete the other sections of the decision.  Simmons' top 
three priorities for the IWGS in 2009 included: Revision One 
to Decision 14; Digital Image Processing Decision; and 
Revision Two to Decision 17.  Simmons also informed the 
Plenary of the passing of Professor Wieslaw Debski of Poland. 
 Debski had been a productive member of the IWGS and his 
expertise and experienced will be greatly missed 
(OSCC.SEN/1/09). 
 
¶3.  (SBU)  In quick succession the Plenary adopted the 
"Chairperson's Statement on Specifications for Allowed Video 
Sensors" (OSCC.DEL/19/08/Rev.1) and the "Prolonging the Work 
of the Informal Working Group on Sensors into the Year 2009" 
decision (OSCC.DEC/1/09).  USDEL (Duong) voiced support for 
the statement and decision.  Duong noted the importance of 
the Chairman's Statement was that it will allow States 
Parties to begin the long process of digital sensors 
procurement.  He also emphasized the importance of reaching 
agreement on the draft Decision for Revision One to Decision 
14 and urged States Parties to work for its adoption as soon 
as possible (OSCC.DEL/1/09/Corr.1). 
 
¶4.  (SBU)  The UK (Macleod) welcomed the progress made by the 
IWGS.  Macleod noted the increasing need for advances in the 
IWGS to allow for the necessary modernization of sensors and 
platforms.  She called on all States Parties to work 
expeditiously on the remaining decision and for the OSCC to 
keep the work of the IWGS under review in order to support 
its efforts and to help the Open Skies community find a 
practical way forward.  Germany, Sweden, Turkey, and Belgium 
voiced their support for the U.S. statement and/or the UK's 
intervention. 
 
2009 OPEN SKIES IMPLEMENTATION - OFF TO A GOOD START 
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¶5.  (SBU)  Russia and Turkey reported on the successful 
Russian observation flight over Turkey that took place on 
February 16-20.  The mission was conducted in the spirit of 
mutual understanding and cooperation. 
 
COST DECISION TO NEXT PLENARY FOR ADOPTION 
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¶6.  (SBU)  Immediately following the OSCC Plenary, the 
Informal Working Group on Rules and Procedures (IWGRP) met 
and discussed the latest version of "Revision Five of 
Decision Number One" (OSCC.RP/17/08/Rev.3/Corr.7).  The IWGRP 
Chairman (Kozlov) had incorporated Turkey's textual 
suggestions from the January meeting into paragraphs 13 and 
 
USOSCE 00000045  002 OF 002 
 
 
16 of the draft decision and was seeking comments from 
delegations.  Germany, Sweden, and Turkey voiced their 
support for the current version.  The IWGRP agreed to send 
the draft decision to the Plenary for adoption at the March 
23 OSCC meeting.  USDEL believes the latest draft decision 
satisfies all of Washington's interests.  Unless otherwise 
directed, USDEL will join consensus on this version of 
"Revision Five of Decision Number One" at the next OSCC 
Plenary. 
 
¶7.  (SBU)  With the work completed on the draft decision 
"Revision Five of Decision Number One," and due to the lack 
of any other urgent and substantive topic on the working 
group's agenda, the IWGRP Chairman placed the IWGRP on 
"standby."  Kozlov will reconvene the working group as 
necessary. 
 
BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA NOT READY FOR OSCC? 
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¶8.  (SBU)  On the margins of the meetings on February 23, 
USDEL (Duong) met with Axel Kenes (Belgium, OSCC Chairman) to 
discuss the next OSCC session.  Kenes informed USDEL that he 
had difficulties coordinating with the Bosnia-Herzegovina 
(BiH) Delegation on the hand-off of the OSCC Chairmanship as 
BiH is due to chair the next OSCC session in April.  Kenes 
believes that BiH is either not ready or not willing to take 
on the chairmanship and that, although undesirable, it may be 
necessary to ask Bulgaria to lead the next OSCC session. 
Duong  said that it was important for each delegation to take 
on their responsibility and that all efforts should be made 
to urge Bosnia-Herzegovina to take on this important duty. 
Kenes agreed and said that he would continue to engage the 
BiH Delegation and keep USDEL informed of future 
developments.  USDEL will continue to push for 
Bosnia-Herzegovina to assume their duty, but would like 
additional guidance from Washington on this matter. Can we 
support Bulgaria assuming the Chairmanship in place of 
Bosnia-Herzegovina?  It may be necessary for Washington to 
demarche Sarajevo on this matter. 
 
¶9.  (SBU)  On February 4, USDEL held an informal meeting with 
the Western European Union (WEU) Group of States Parties 
under the Treaty to discuss the 1995 declaration and 
associated statements.  Per the Winter/Spring 2009 Guidance, 
USDEL provided a memo outlining the issue and copies of the 
1995 statements to the relevant parties in an effort to raise 
awareness of the terms of the old agreement.  Greece 
clarified that a legal review was done on the status of the 
WEU with respect to Open Skies in 2000, and they agreed that 
the 1995 declaration would continue for the purposes of the 
Open Skies Treaty.  This subject did not transfer to the 
wider European Union, and remains with the original WEU 
members only.  Some of the delegations affected by the 
agreement during the last two years (Germany, UK, France, 
Spain, Italy, Portugal, and Belgium) said the matter was 
being reviewed in capitals but the initial reactions 
considered the declaration still in force and supported 
continued implementation of the declaration as written. 
Several thought it would be difficult to withdraw or change 
the terms of the declaration and did not want to send a 
negative signal about a treaty that is working well.  USDEL 
assured delegations that our goal of information sharing on 
the subject has been met, and asked to be informed if the WEU 
states decide to change their policy after further review. 
 
¶10.  (U)  The next OSCC Plenary will be on March 23 under the 
Chairmanship of Belgium. 
SCOTT