VZCZCXRO5999
OO RUEHSK
DE RUEHVEN #0080/01 0910549
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 010549Z APR 09
FM USMISSION USOSCE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6309
INFO RUCNCFE/CONVENTIONAL ARMED FORCES IN EUROPE PRIORITY
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 1731
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUESDT/DTRA-OSES DARMSTADT GE PRIORITY
RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J5-DDPMA-IN/CAC/DDPMA-E// PRIORITY
RUEAHQA/HQ USAF WASHINGTON DC//XONP// PRIORITY
RUEADWD/DA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEASWA/DTRA ALEX WASHINGTON DC//OSAE PRIORITY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 USOSCE 000080 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR VCI/CCA, EUR/RPM, 
NSC FOR HAYES 
JCS FOR J5/COL NORWOOD 
OSD FOR ISA (PERENYI) 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KCFE OSCE PARM PREL
SUBJECT: CFE/JCG:  MARCH 31:  MORE PILING ON CRITICAL OF 
RUSSIA; GERMANY'S RICHTER'S PERSONAL OBSERVATIONS 
 
¶1.  (SBU)  Summary:  At the March 31 JCG plenary Germany 
(supported by 9 delegations, including the U.S.) criticized 
Russia's latest act of noncompliance with the CFE Treaty. 
There was agreement to cancel the April 28 JCG plenary due to 
the HLTF that day.  Germany's Colonel Wolfgang Richter, whose 
tour has ended in Vienna, offered personal observations on 
conventional arms control.  The United States has assumed the 
Chairmanship of the JCG and will remain Chair through the JCG 
on 12 May.  Canada, as Chair of the TOI Working Group, 
announced that it had circulated the draft 2009 Consolidated 
Matrix, which contains national CFE data, for review and 
comment by States Parties. Washington, see para 4.  End 
Summary. 
 
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Russia Criticized for Preventing Verification Measures 
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¶2.  (SBU)  The Joint Consultative Group (JCG) met on March 31 
under the Chairmanship of Germany (Richter).  Germany 
(Schweitzer) announced its disappointment (JCG.JOUR/692/Annex 
1) that on March 26 Russia refused a German request for a CFE 
inspection that would have begun today in Moscow.  This 
rejection, Schweitzer noted, continues Russia's practice of 
"preventing other States Parties from carrying out 
verification measures in accordance with the Treaty." 
Schweitzer stressed that Germany continues to implement the 
CFE Treaty despite Russia's unilateral suspension of the 
Treaty.  Schweitzer underscored that if the principles of the 
CFE regime were to be upheld, "unfettered cooperation" would 
be required by all States Parties.  He noted that the 
parallel actions package "appropriately responds to the 
concerns of the Russian Federation," but noted that "the 
ongoing dialogue needs to be assisted."  Recalling Germany's 
"specific constructive offer" that was tabled by Foreign 
Minister Steinmeier at Helsinki in December, Schweitzer said 
that Germany will shortly invite high-level reps to the June 
10 seminar in Berlin.  Germany's hope is that this initiative 
will breathe new life into disarmament and arms control in 
Europe. 
 
¶3.  (SBU)  The Netherlands, the UK, Romania, Portugal, the 
U.S., France, Italy, Turkey, and the Czech Republic supported 
the German statement calling attention to Russia's recent act 
of noncompliance.  The U.S. (Neighbour) pointed out the 
importance for all States Parties to observe all rights and 
obligations afforded them that arise out of the CFE Treaty 
(JCG.JOUR/692/Annex 2).  This includes the transmission of 
requests for inspection of Russian forces and the opportunity 
of raising within the JCG framework questions related to 
compliance with, or possible circumvention of, provisions of 
the CFE Treaty. 
 
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Canada Circulates Consolidated Matrix for Review 
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¶4.  (SBU)  Canada (Linteau) in its role as Chair of the TOI 
Working Group and Sub-Working on POET has circulated a draft 
Consolidated Matrix for 2009 (JCG.TOI/1/09) to all States 
Parties for their review.  Linteau requested that all States 
Parties review and confirm their national data as it appears 
in the draft matrix and forward any comments to Canada or 
Germany before April 30.  Washington, please advise USdel how 
to respond to the TOI Working Group Chair. 
 
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April 28 JCG Plenary Cancelled 
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¶5.  (SBU)  The Chair (Richter) had noted at the March 24 JCG 
that many NATO delegations were planning to be in Brussels on 
April 28 for the next HLTF meeting. Richter observed that for 
this reason, absent any objection, the April 28 JCG plenary 
would be cancelled.  There were no objections. 
 
USOSCE 00000080  002 OF 003 
 
 
 
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Col. Richter (Germany) Personal Views on Arms Control 
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¶6. (SBU) Colonel Wolfgang Richter offered personal 
observations on conventional arms control, stressing they 
were not reflective of Germany's national position.  Richter 
recalled that the JCG as the only permanent forum of the 30 
States Parties legally enshrined in the Treaty was meant to 
contribute to the common security in Europe on the basis of 
mutual respect, understanding, cooperation, and trust.  He 
noted personal disappointment that the frank and open 
dialogue characteristic of the JCG in the '90s and as recent 
as last year during structured and focused dialogue had 
vanished.  He noted that the "frequently used term 'the other 
side'" showed a return to the bloc positions which have 
turned to stone. 
 
¶7.  (SBU)  Richter claimed that the deplorable situation of 
the JCG reflects the overall state of affairs of the current 
security dialogue in Europe.  He was convinced of the 
necessity of an arms control regime which entails numerical 
and geographical limitations of major weapons systems, but 
believed that such a regime would keep its relevance only if 
through constant adaptation to the changing security 
environment.  Richter's "short historical recollection" was 
meant to show the "absurd situation into which we have 
maneuvered ourselves."  He listed some contradictions which 
recently have become evident: 
 
-- on high levels we call for dialogue while we reject 
dialogue in relevant bodies; 
 
-- on high levels we call for flexibility, but are unable to 
find compromises on the ground and, instead, formulate 
so-called "rdlines" which we deem not negotiable; 
 
-- we call for unconditional respect for principles of 
territorial intgrity, non-use of force and peaceful 
resolution of conflicts, accuse each other of violating them, 
while at the same time taking unilateral decisions to define 
exceptions to these rules; 
 
-- we accuse each other of undermining the CFE regime while 
either suspending its operations or blocking the entry into 
force of its adaptation agreement, something we agreed was 
needed 10 years ago; 
 
-- all Parties reject bloc-to-bloc approaches buta group of 
States speaks with one bloc-voice while one State demands a 
bloc-ceiling for this group; and, 
 
-- a group of States rejects the idea of bloc-based balance 
of forces, but in political reality it is unable to overcome 
the bloc-approach, which is only attainable by bringing a/CFE 
into force; instead this group of States calls on one State 
to return to old CFE with its bloc-based balance of forces. 
 
¶8.  (SBU)  Richter said that discussion was needed on how the 
Treat should reflect changes in the political landscape 
since Europe is a different place than it was 10 years ago. 
He cautioned that using arms control agreements as a leverage 
to enforce political solutions to unresolved conflicts can 
undermine their survival.  He noted that what is called 
"sub-regional" conflict by some might be the very question of 
survival for others.  For this reason arms control measures 
must contribute to early warning and conflict prevention.  He 
suggested that flank limitations be reconsidered in lieu of 
new approaches that would contribute to sub-regional 
stability through mutual self-restriction of military 
equipment in the vicinity of borderlines. 
 
¶9.  (SBU)  Richter closed on a positive note.  Common 
interest to preserve cooperative security and stability in 
 
USOSCE 00000080  003 OF 003 
 
 
Europe should allow us to overcome the current impasse by not 
striving for maximalist positions:  "Like our predecessors in 
the late '80s we should go back to the old wisdom that 
politics is the art of the possible and that the best is the 
enemy of the good."  Compromises are necessary:  "It lies in 
the nature of compromises not to make one party particularly 
happy, but to distribute the unhappiness equally among all 
participants."  Raising his eyes in the direction of the 
U.S., Richter noted that a return to a sober approach could 
be heard loud and clear from across the Atlantic.  He was 
optimistic that a unique historical chance to move forward 
lied in the upcoming months. 
 
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JCG-T Considers Monthly Chairs 
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¶10.  (SBU)  During the JCG-T plus 4, which met prior to the 
plenary, Germany (Richter) proposed that JCG-T chairs rotate 
monthly as does the NATO Caucus now instead of every week. 
Luxembourg (Pilot) and the U.S. (Neighbour) offered 
provisional support and suggested delegations consider pros 
and cons of this approach. 
 
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Next JCG Chaired by U.S. 
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¶11.  (U)  The next JCG Plenary will be on May 5 under the 
Chairmanship of the U.S.  The next JCG-T will be on May 4, 
chaired by Canada. 
SCOTT