VZCZCXRO0617
PP RUEHAST RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHLA RUEHMRE RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSK RUEHSL
RUEHSR
DE RUEHVEN #0288/01 3521640
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 181640Z DEC 09
FM USMISSION USOSCE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6785
INFO RUCNOSC/ORG FOR SECURITY CO OP IN EUR COLLECTIVE
RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUEKJCS/DIA WASHDC
RUEKJCS/DOD WASHDC
RUEASWA/DTRA ALEX WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/JCS WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 USOSCE 000288 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR VCI/CCA, EUR/RPM, EUR/PRA 
JCS FOR J-5 
OSD FOR ISA (KEHL, WALLENDER) 
NSC FOR FRIEDT 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PARM PREL KCFE OSCE
SUBJECT: OPEN SKIES: SEPTEMBER - DECEMBER 2009 END OF ROUND 
 
REF: A. STATE 95050 
     ¶B. USOSCE 204 
     ¶C. USOSCE 226 
     ¶D. USOSCE 268 
     ¶E. USOSCE 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary:  The fall session of the Open Skies 
Consultative Commission (OSCC) saw adoption of the quota 
distribution decision for 2010, further preparations for the 
second Review Conference, and more progress on the draft 
decision for digital sensors.  OSCC business continues to be 
positive and collaborative.  The OSCC adopted five Decisions. 
 All U.S. goals (reftel) were met or exceeded.  Key issues 
for the winter include development of the agenda for the 
Review Conference, and achieving progress on the digital 
sensor decision.  The OSCC plenary winter schedule has 
meetings on January 25, February 22, and March 22.  End 
Summary. 
 
 
------------------ 
Second Review Conference June 2010 
------------------- 
 
 
¶2. (SBU) In the fall, USDel continued work toward preparation 
of the Treaty-mandated second Review Conference (RC).  The 
OSCC adopted two decisions as proposed by the U.S.: OSCC.DEC 
5/09 on the Rules and Procedures for the RC, and 
OSCC.DEC/6/09 establishing and Informal Working Group on 
Planning the Review Conference (IWGPRC). 
 
 
¶3. (SBU) USDel hosted two meetings of the newly formed IWGPRC 
to begin discussions on the RC agenda and Final Document. 
USDel introduced the concept of including other security 
issues under discussion in the OSCE, including climate 
change, energy, and critical infrastructure protection, with 
Open Skies missions.  USDel continued to consult broadly with 
delegations on preparation of the RC, including goals and 
objectives for RC desired outcomes.  Allies and Russia alike 
welcomed these initial food for thought discussions, and 
agreed that the RC should be future-oriented.  States have 
grasped the importance of coordination on transition to 
digital sensors, and the need to plan for that transition. 
 
 
------------------- 
Progress on Sensor Decision 
------------------ 
 
 
¶4. (SBU) The Informal Working Group on Sensors (IWGS) held 
two key events this fall.  First a workshop in October to 
review the best method for analyzing target images.  The 
results of this workshop bore fruit in the full IWGS meeting 
in December, where consensus was reach on using one of the 
four proposed rules.  The December meeting also reached 
agreement on the number of data points (10) required for 
calculation of minimum height.  The mandate of the IWGS will 
need to be extended in January so the group can meet as 
planned the week of February 15.  Mission recommends we seek 
an extension of OSCC.DEC/1/09, pending distribution of a 
draft decision that covers multiple OSCC modalities. 
 
 
------------- 
Quotas for 2010 Agreed 
---------------- 
 
 
¶5. (SBU) In October, the U.S. participated in the annual 
distribution of active quotas meeting.  The OSCC adopted the 
2010 distribution as OSCC.DEC/8/09.  The U.S. received the 
quotas requested - 14 over Russia/Belarus, and 1 over 
Ukraine.  The U.S. will share at least seven of these flights 
with partners.  The U.S. also successfully chaired the 2010 
calendar deconfliction meeting for states conducting missions 
 
USOSCE 00000288  002 OF 002 
 
 
in Russia and Ukraine. 
 
 
--------------- 
Other OSCC Activity: 
--------------- 
 
 
¶6. (SBU) In addition, 
 
--In October, the OSCC adopted a revision to the annual 
distribution of quotas for 2009 to take account of a new 
sharing arrangement between the U.S. and Romania 
(OSCC.DEC/7/09); 
 
--The UK, Georgia, and Russia reported on the successful 
conduct to two reciprocal flights organized by the UK.  These 
flights were hailed as a CSBM contribution between Russia and 
Georgia; 
 
--The OSCC Chair prepared a Letter to the OSCE Ministers on 
the activity of the OSCC in 2009 (MC.GAL/2/09/Rev 2), as well 
as a draft paragraph on the Open Skies Treaty for the 
proposed Ministerial Declaration (MC.GAL/3/09/Rev 1). 
 
--the OSCC adopted the scale of distribution of expenses for 
the OSCC (OSCC.DEC/9/09); 
 
--Russia raised invoice issues with Eurocontrol and asked the 
OSCC Chair to notify them of the Treaty exemption for air 
traffic control fees; 
 
--USDel consulted on proposed changes to notification formats 
8 and 19 provided by Hungary; 
 
--OSCC delegations welcomed a USDel recommendation to draft a 
decision to streamline OSCC working modalities and working 
group information. 
 
 
-------------- 
Winter Session Issues 
------------- 
 
 
¶7. (SBU) There are three main areas of focus for the upcoming 
Open Skies session which convenes on January 25, under 
Canadian chairmanship: 
 
      --further work in preparing the RC; 
 
      --finalizing the digital sensor decisions; and 
 
      --organizing the OSCC working modalities. 
 
 
FULLER