US embassy cable - 05MINSK1359

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MINSK 001359 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PARM, PGOV, MASS, OSCE, NATO, BO 
SUBJECT: Belarus Reneges on SA/LW Destruction; De-mining on Track 
 
1. (SBU) Summary: Minsk previously asked the OSCE for help securing 
stockpiles of excess Small Arms and Light Weapons (SA/LW), and in 
their destruction.  Several OSCE missions, following the UK's lead, 
were ready to contribute.  Now, however, Minsk has withdrawn its 
offer to destroy excess SA/LW, and is only asking the OSCE to pay 
to store these weapons.  The GOB also will not destroy any MANPADS. 
Belarus' MFA claims this change was due to a lack of interest on 
the part of donors, a charge the British Embassy refutes.  The MFA 
also stated it has sufficient support to destroy its entire 
stockpile of excess land mines.  End summary. 
 
 
GOB Reneges on Destruction 
-------------------------- 
 
2. (SBU) On October 26, British charge Greg Quinn briefed Poloff on 
recent developments on two proposed OSCE projects to secure 
Belarusian SA/LW stockpiles and to destroy excess SA/LW.  The 
British Embassy is the main POC in Minsk for both programs. 
Several assessment visits have already been conducted for these 
projects, and in March the GOB destroyed 14 MANPADS as a 
demonstration of its intent to move forward on these projects. 
However, Quinn said in mid-October the British OSCE delegation in 
Vienna asked the Belarusian delegation what the GOB would 
contribute to these two projects to show their seriousness: whether 
the GOB would pay to destroy excess ammunition, finally commit to 
destroying MANPADS, or providing any other aid in kind.  Quinn said 
the Belarusian delegation replied that no MANPADS were to be 
destroyed, and that the OSCE had misheard Minsk's request.  Minsk 
does not want any SA/LW destroyed, it just wants OSCE help in 
securing the excess SA/LW it has.  Quinn affirmed the UK's strong 
preference is to destroy excess SA/LW, including MANPADS, not just 
pay to secure it. 
 
 
GOB Spins the Explanation 
------------------------- 
 
3. (SBU) Poloff met with Aleksandr Khainousky, Deputy Head of the 
International Security and Arms Control Department at the MFA, on 
October 31 to receive an update on the SA/LW projects and on 
Belarus' de-mining needs.  Khainousky said the GOB requested help 
in July 2003 with two projects, SA/LW stockpile security and 
destruction of surplus SA/LW.  Improving stockpile security would 
cost around three million Euros, and destruction of excess SA/LW 
would cost around USD 800,000. 
 
4. (SBU) Khainousky stressed the GOB wanted to destroy its excess 
SA/LW, but the three or four UK-led assessment missions had all 
stressed stockpile security only.  After two years no donors 
appeared willing to destroy excess SA/LW, so Minsk dropped that 
project.  Khainousky said Belarus has no excess MANPADS to destroy, 
but decided to destroy 30, including the 14 destroyed in March, as 
a gesture of goodwill.  He said a few OSCE delegations had agreed 
to provide some funding for stockpile security, but they will only 
fund 20 percent of the project.  Belarus' OSCE delegation plans to 
create a "Friends of Belarus" group, similar to the previous 
Friends of Tajikistan, to attract donors for SA/LW destruction. 
[Note: Poloff subsequently shared this GOB view with Quinn, who 
called it, "fanciful spin."] 
 
 
De-Mining Looks Good 
-------------------- 
 
5. (SBU) Khainousky also addressed Belarusian requests for support 
to destroy surplus anti-personnel land mines.  Belarus has roughly 
300,000 non-PFM land mines.  Minsk is working with the NATO 
Maintenance and Supply Agency (NAMSA), with funding from Canada, 
Lithuania and others, to destroy these mines.  He said NAMSA 
approved this project in late October.  Belarus also has over three 
and a half million PFM-1 and PFM-1S land mines, which are much 
harder to destroy as they release toxic gases when exploded. 
Khainousky said the European Commission has agreed to provide EURO 
3 million to destroy this entire PFM stockpile, and the EC will 
issue a tender in November for their destruction.  Khainousky said 
no more assistance is needed on land mines. 
 
 
Minsk Disappointed in the U.S. 
------------------------------ 
 
 
MINSK 00001359  002 OF 002 
 
 
6. (SBU) Khainousky stated the MFA was disappointed the U.S. 
delegation to the UN's First Committee called for a vote on 
Belarus' recent WMD resolution (which passed 150 to 1, with only 
the U.S. voting against).  He said this resolution is approved by 
consensus every three years, and that Minsk hopes the U.S. would 
allow it to be passed by consensus procedure when it is before the 
UNGA. 
 
7. (SBU) Comment: Despite the MFA's spin, it appears Minsk has 
changed its mind on the destruction of excess SA/LW.  This follows 
a previous reversal when the Belarusian OSCE delegation originally 
said Minsk would destroy MANPAD stockpiles, but later changed its 
story after the UK offered to provide industrial shears for the 
destruction.  The British, at least, seem reluctant to pay for 
continued storage of excess SA/LW after destruction has been taken 
off the table. 
 
KROL