VZCZCXRO9861
PP RUEHSK RUEHSL
DE RUEHC #4441/01 0151803
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 151757Z JAN 10
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE PRIORITY 6962
INFO RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 6776
RHMFISS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
CONVENTIONAL ARMED FORCES IN EUROPE COLLECTIVE PRIORITY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 STATE 004441 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OSCE PARM PREL KCFE
SUBJECT: CFE: JCG OPENING OF SESSION GUIDANCE AND 
STATEMENT FOR JANUARY 19, 2010 
 
REF: (A) 09 USOSCE 285: CFE/JCG: END-OF-ROUND, FALL 2008 
(B) 09 STATE 92639: CFE: JCG FALL 2009 OPENING OF 
SESSION GUIDANCE AND STATEMENT, (C) 09 STATE 4933: CFE: 
JCG OPENING OF SESSION GUIDANCE AND STATEMENT FOR 
JANUARY 20, 2009, (D) 08 STATE 12563: CFE/JCG: 
CONTRIBUTING TO NATO'S CFE GAME PLAN 
 
 
¶1. (SBU) Russia's ongoing suspension of its CFE Treaty 
implementation since December 12, 2007 will set the tone 
for the opening session of the Joint Consultative Group 
(JCG) in 2010.  Russia will likely continue to press for 
discussion of elements of its May 2009 Aide Memoire in 
the JCG and NATO-Russia Council, and to seek to gain 
traction in whatever forum Russia can for defining 
"substantial combat forces" and conditions for accession 
of new CFE States Parties.  We also expect Russia to 
continue to reject criticism of its own non-compliance 
by accusing NATO CFE States Parties of violations based 
on Russia's unilateral interpretation of the existence 
of aggregate collective ceilings rather than the 
legitimate limits specified in the CFE Treaty and actual 
national holdings, in particular in the flank region. 
 
¶2. (SBU) In 2010, we anticipate that the High Level Task 
Force will remain the primary venue for coordinating 
NATO policy on CFE and that the U.S. will engage Russia, 
as well as key Allies, at more senior levels on the way 
ahead for solving the political and treaty issues at the 
core of the CFE impasse.  As bilateral consultations 
with Russia on CFE continue, Washington is interested in 
maintaining a unified Alliance voice in support of our 
efforts, and in cultivating an environment in the JCG 
that reinforces the NATO-endorsed positions regarding 
these negotiations.  The JCG should continue to serve as 
the key venue for addressing CFE compliance and 
implementation issues, including those compliance 
failures associated with Russia's "suspension," in 
addition to those associated with other CFE States 
Parties (as detailed in the most recent Condition 5 
Report). 
 
¶3. (SBU) The U.S. Arms Control Delegation in Vienna 
should continue to follow standing guidance (per reftels 
B and C and outlined below) while making interventions 
in accordance with U.S. policy, as required.  U.S. del 
should continue to encourage Allied CFE States to use 
the JCG to establish a clear record of ongoing Russian 
noncompliance while calling on Russia to return to full 
implementation.  In doing so, the delegation should seek 
to: 
 
-- actively raise (in the JCG and/or bilaterally as 
appropriate) and report on instances of noncompliance 
with CFE Treaty obligations by Russia and other States 
Parties (i.e. raise bilaterally with Azerbaijan its 
continued overages in holdings of tanks and artillery, 
and report on any response); 
 
-- emphasize the benefits of the CFE regime and the 
importance of all States Parties implementing the CFE 
Treaty fully; 
 
-- stress the continued interest of the U.S. and its 
Allies in creating the conditions that will result in 
the ratification and subsequent entry into force of the 
adapted CFE Treaty; 
 
-- resist efforts by Russia and possibly others to use 
the JCG to discuss and/or negotiate elements of the 
Parallel Actions Package, thereby complicating efforts 
to resolve the CFE impasse, which we expect to take 
place at more senior levels this year; 
 
-- ask questions about Russia's military posture per ref 
D, in plenary and bilaterally as appropriate. Encourage 
Russia to provide more details, in the spirit of 
transparency, on the results of the ongoing 
restructuring of its Armed Forces, and on Russian forces 
in the flank region.  Ask for clarification about 
current and planned activity by Russian military forces 
reported in press, namely any anticipated to take place 
 
STATE 00004441  002 OF 003 
 
 
near other CFE States Parties; 
 
-- refute claims by Russia that NATO States Parties are 
in violation of CFE limits, avoid being drawn into any 
technical debate on treaty numbers, and redirect 
discussion toward forward-looking and productive efforts 
that will lead to entry into force of the adapted 
Treaty; and, 
 
-- approach Georgian del bilaterally to follow-up on 
inconsistencies between Georgia's official hardcopy and 
electronic versions of its CFE data provided to States 
Parties on 15 December 2009, valid as of 1 January 2010. 
A U.S. data expert has asked Georgia's representative at 
the January 11-12 DMEG in Brussels to investigate 
inconsistencies that surfaced during a detailed review 
of Georgia's CFE military information.  Washington will 
provide U.S. del specifics on the discrepancies, results 
of the data expert discussion, and any pending action as 
details become available. 
 
¶4. (SBU) The following statement is provided for 
delivery at the JCG Opening of Session Plenary on 19 
January 2010.  U.S. Representative may provide advance 
copies to NATO Allies in the NATO-T and to others as 
appropriate. 
 
Begin Text ----------- 
 
Mr. Chairman, 
 
A new year and a new decade present a fresh opportunity 
to focus our efforts in this forum, and elsewhere, to 
overcome the challenges facing the Treaty on 
Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE). 
 
The United States would like to reassure all in this 
room of our continued commitment to the CFE Treaty and 
our resolve to work cooperatively with all parties to 
create the conditions that would allow the Adapted CFE 
Treaty to enter into force. 
 
We regret the Russian Federation's continued refusal to 
implement the Treaty since December 2007.  We continue 
to believe that Russia's non-implementationposes a 
serious risk to a regime of significant value to the 
security of Europe. We look forward to working closely 
with Russia and our Treaty partners in 2010 to resolve 
the continued CFE impasse so that this important and 
significant treaty can be preserved along with its 
essential role in European security. 
 
 
Today,  we look to 2010 with renewed hope.We continue to 
believe that the future of CFE and the principles which 
it embodies depend on the compliance and cooperation of 
all CFE Parties.  At present, twenty-nine States Parties 
continue to participate faithfully in inspections and 
information exchanges, to the mutual security benefit of 
all.  At the same time, Russia's suspension of 
inspections and information exchanges under the treaty 
is widening a significant gap in predictability and 
transparency.  We urge Russia to return to compliance 
and reverse this situation.  If Russia does not, it 
could make it difficult to provide information to Russia 
in the future as stated in paragraph 13 of the December 
2009 statement by Foreign Ministers of the North 
Atlantic Council. 
 
The United States of America, again, calls on the 
Russian Federation to meet its CFE Treaty obligations 
fully, and in so doing, return to Europe the 
predictability and transparency that continues to erode. 
Full compliance of all parties will significantly 
contribute to the security and stability of Europe. 
 
A decision by Russia to return to full compliance would 
set a productive tone as we intensify our efforts during 
2010 to preserve the benefits of the landmark CFE 
regime.  Just as important, it would demonstrate 
commitment to the principles that bring us to this forum 
and to cooperative approaches to security that reinforce 
trust and build confidence. 
 
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 
 
We ask that this statement be appended to the Journal of 
 
STATE 00004441  003 OF 003 
 
 
the Day. 
 
End Text ------------- 
CLINTON