VZCZCXRO8641
PP RUEHAST RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHLA RUEHMRE RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSK RUEHSR
DE RUEHVEN #0128/01 1400631
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 200631Z MAY 09
FM USMISSION USOSCE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6389
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/CJCS WASHDC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 USOSCE 000128 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR VCI/CCA, EUR/RPM, EUR/PRA 
JCS FOR J-5 
OSD FOR ISA (PERENYI) 
NSC FOR NILSSON, HAYDEN 
EUCOM FOR J-5 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PARM PREL KCFE OSCE
SUBJECT: OPEN SKIES:MAY 18 PLENARY - RUSSIA REGRETS SEIZURE 
OF LITHUANIA FILM 
 
(SBU) Summary:  In the Open Skies plenary on May 17, 
Lithuania noted the seizure of mission film by Moscow airport 
security personnel.  In response, Russia said its authorities 
had "gone too far" and promised to do all it could to 
mitigate the incident.  In a brief intervention, the U.S. 
underlined the importance of full compliance with the Treaty 
and expressed confidence that Russia and Lithuania would work 
out the issue on a bilateral basis.  After the meeting, both 
parties expressed appreciation for the U.S. statement. 
Additionally, the dates June 7-9, 2010 in Vienna under U.S. 
Chairmanship were proposed for the Second Review Conference 
on the Open Skies Treaty.  End Summary. 
 
-------------------------------------------- 
Lithuania Reports Russian Seizure of Images 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
(U) The second plenary session of the 49th Session of the 
Open Skies Consultative Commission (OSCC) met on May 17 under 
the chair of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Davidovic).  Lithuania 
(Ziugzda) briefed the OSCC on Russian seizure of Open Skies 
images following a May 7 joint Russia-Belarus flight mission 
over Lithuania.  He explained that on May 13, Lithuanian Open 
Skies inspectors monitored processing of the film from the 
mission at Russia's Kubinka film processing center and, per 
the treaty, obtained duplicates of the processed film. 
 
(U) On May 14, while exiting the country via Sheremetjevo 
Airport in Moscow in the company of representatives from the 
Russian Nuclear Risk Reduction Center (RNRRC), the Lithuanian 
inspectors were detained, questioned, and searched by Russian 
airport security services.  The Lithuanian representatives 
were compelled to surrender the mission film on the basis 
that the film "lacked documents authorizing its export" prior 
to boarding their flight. 
 
(U) Ziugzda stated that the seizure of the film constituted a 
violation of the Treaty on Open Skies, per Article XII, 
Section II, paragraph 1 and Article IX, Section II, paragraph 
6 and requested its return in due haste.  He also noted that 
it will be impossible to establish the veracity of the 
imaging upon its return. 
 
------------------------------- 
Russia Admits it Went "Too Far" 
------------------------------- 
 
(SBU) Russia (Kozlov) expressed regret for the 
misunderstanding and affirmed that security at Moscow 
International Airport had indeed "gone too far" in seizing 
the film.  He promised that Russia would pass the film to the 
Lithuanian embassy at Lithuania's convenience.  Kozlov also 
noted that the Treaty in fact did not stipulate the method or 
timeline for the delivery of film duplicates and indicated 
that it might be helpful for the OSCC to consider a Draft 
Decision to clarify these procedures. 
 
(SBU) The U.S. (Neighbour) briefly noted the need for all 
States Parties to fully follow the letter and spirit of the 
Treaty and expressed U.S. confidence that the issue would be 
swiftly resolved on a bilateral basis.  After the meeting, 
both Lithuania (Kalibatas) and Russia (Kozlov) expressed 
their appreciation for the U.S. intervention and assistance. 
 
--------------------------------------------- 
Dates Proposed for the 2010 Review Conference 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
(U) The Chair (Davidovic) noted the distribution of a Draft 
Decision for the Second Review Conference on the 
Implementation of the Treaty on Open Skies (OSCC.DD/4/09). 
This proposes to convene the conference on June 7-9, 2010. 
As chair of the Review Conference, the U.S. (Neighbour) 
explained that the dates for the conference were proposed 
with an eye toward a number of OSCE and other key diplomatic 
 
USOSCE 00000128  002 OF 002 
 
 
events, such as the 2010 NPT Review Conference prepcom in 
Vienna.  Assuming consensus, the June 15 OSCC plenary will 
adopt the decision fixing the June 2010 dates.  The U.S. also 
said it continued to welcome input from States Parties 
planning the Open Skies Review Conference. 
 
---------------------------------------- 
Meeting on Distribution of Active Quotas 
---------------------------------------- 
 
(U) Germany (Ratzlaff) noted that the negotiation meeting for 
distribution of active quotas for the upcoming year was 
scheduled for October 8-9, 2009 in Vienna.  Ratzloff 
indicated that Germany would forward detailed information on 
quota negotiations prior to the OSCE summer recess. 
VanDreal