ROSE GOTTEMOELLER MAKES REMARKS ON U.S.-RUSSIA RELATIONS

FROM:  U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, RUSSIA 
Remarks at the NATO-Russia Council Ambassadorial Annotated Agenda
Remarks
Rose Gottemoeller
Acting Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security 
Washington, DC
July 24, 2013

I want to thank our Russian colleagues, Deputy Defense Minister Antonov and Colonel General Postnikov, for their briefings. The United States supports continued exchange of information between NATO and Russia on our respective upcoming exercises this fall.

I am pleased to join a discussion of what the United States considers to be the “bread and butter” of the NATO-Russia Council (NRC) – reciprocal sharing of information on military postures, doctrines, and activities as a basis for working together in the NRC to increase predictability and mutual confidence on security measures. The basic goal of greater information sharing is to dispel misunderstanding or suspicion, and thereby provide reassurance about intentions and build predictability.

As we all confirmed at Lisbon, the United States remains committed to working through the NRC to achieve between NATO Allies and Russia "a true strategic and modernized partnership based on the principles of reciprocal confidence, transparency, and predictability, with the aim of contributing to the creation of a common space of peace, security, and stability in the Euro-Atlantic area."

The East-West security standoff of Cold War Europe is decades behind us. We now live in a world where we face, together, threats from outside Europe. The challenges to our mutual security are many, diverse, often transnational in nature, and astonishingly unpredictable.

This paradigm shift in threats – from Cold War tensions between states in Europe to dealing collaboratively with today’s global threats, only some of which derive from national actors – means we also need to shift our thinking on how we address mutual predictability, and more broadly, European security and stability.

Vienna Document and Open Skies

We should continue to use arms control agreements and negotiated Confidence- and Security-Building Measures (CSBM) – such as those contained in the Vienna Document – to build predictability and mutual confidence. Among all the friends in this room, I am glad to renew my government’s call to revitalize such work on conventional and nuclear forces. A decade ago we had more predictability in Europe than we have today. That’s the wrong direction, and we need to change it.

Existing regimes provide a critical foundation for predictability in Europe, which is why the United States cannot agree that the Conventional Armed Forces in Europe Treaty (CFE) is dead. We believe we should work to preserve, strengthen, and modernize the European conventional arms control regime, consistent with our core principles and concerns. We also support efforts to update and enrich the Vienna Document to make it relevant to today’s post-Cold War military structures. And, we want to ensure the Open Skies regime continues to function effectively. All of these regimes work together to enhance mutual predictability, confidence, and security in Europe.

NRC Transparency – Defense Plans, Exercises

Our dialogue in the NRC on military posture, doctrines, and activities should be complementary to work done on the arms control side.

As providers of security, NATO and Russia have unique assets and resources. Ours is a special club and the responsibilities are great. We should strive, together, for high achievements in the NRC.

From the inception of the NATO-Russia partnership, achieving a level of openness about our military intentions has been an essential priority, one that has been reaffirmed repeatedly in the years since.

The members of the NATO-Russia Council can and must do more to fulfill that goal. The resources we have available to spend on deterrence and defense are limited. This is ever more clear in these days of economic uncertainty.

If we have high confidence in each other’s plans and intentions we can focus scarce euros, dollars, and rubles on the real threats that undermine security for our people and for all members of the Trans-Atlantic community today, in the 21st century. We can work together in confidence to address common threats. We can join resources and achieve more together than we could separately. That’s our vision.

It is not enough to simply say we want more confidence and predictability in Europe. We must take actual, practical steps, in the NRC and in other fora. All of us should actively engage in efforts to update the Vienna Document. Lowering notification thresholds, for example, would be a significant step forward in updating this key document to reflect modern military and budgetary realities.

We need to do better in NRC processes. The United States understands the value of military exercises. We appreciate Russia’s readiness to provide more information about exercises. However, Russia has in the last two weeks conducted military activities that press reports characterize as unprecedented in size. The United States appreciated Russia’s notification of the recent large-scale exercise in the Eastern Military District, but we received that notification only as the activity commenced. We received word of the large aviation exercise in the Western Military District only through press reports. It would have sent a positive signal if Russia had briefed its NRC partners on these activities, before we read about them in the press.

We agree that we need to seriously examine how we can increase both information sharing and practical cooperation in the NATO-Russia Council Defence Transparency, Strategy, and Reform Working Group (DTSR). The Common Space of Trust (COST) paper was an effort to do that and we agree that we certainly should incorporate useful ideas from it into the DTSR work program for 2014. However, at the same time, we must ensure that we do not lower the level of ambition on which we have previously agreed. As part of this effort, we should continue, day to day, to do good work to increase transparency. We encourage all NRC members to provide national updates on military activities – including future activities – in regular DTSR meetings, as envisioned by the current agreed work program.

Nuclear Arms Control

The United States and NATO allies have also made clear our interest in working with Russia to make progress on nuclear arms control and the overall strategic stability agenda.

Bilaterally, the United States and Russia have moved forward with the ongoing, successful implementation of the New START Treaty.

Consistent with his Prague vision, President Obama indicated in his July Berlin speech his intention to seek additional reductions in strategic nuclear arsenals in conjunction with Russia, based on his determination that we can ensure the security of the United States and our allies and partners and maintain a strong and credible strategic deterrent while safely pursuing up to a one-third reduction in deployed strategic nuclear weapons from the level established in the New START Treaty.

Also in his Berlin speech, the President announced his intent to work closely with our NATO Allies to seek “bold reductions” with Russia in non-strategic nuclear weapons in Europe. The United States looks forward to exploring possible paths forward in the months to come.

Missile Defense

The United States remains committed to missile defense cooperation with Russia, which would enhance the security of NATO and Russia. We firmly believe that transparency on missile defense could contribute to building mutual trust between NATO and Russia as well as alleviate Russian concerns about the intent of NATO missile defense. The United States has provided -- and will continue to provide -- Russia with information on our missile defense plans. As the United States and Russia continue to discuss possibilities for bilateral cooperation, we would also like to move forward on practical missile defense cooperation in the NATO-Russia Council, building on the successful theater defense missile exercise in March 2012.

NATO’s Arms Control, Disarmament, and Nonproliferation Working Group

The NATO Russia Council’s working group on Arms Control, Disarmament, and Nonproliferation is another forum where we have been able to engage in a constructive dialogue on issues of mutual interest. On items like the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty PrepCom and border security, we have had useful discussion that allows us to increase openness, exchange views, and identify common challenges and solutions. We welcomed agreement on a robust Work Program for 2013, we hope to build on that success for the 2014 program, and we encourage all NRC members to engage actively in these discussions.

We are never going to agree on everything, but we still can work together to make a difference on issues of mutual concern, and thereby build trust and cooperation that will allow us together to transform the security community.

In conclusion, I want to thank our Russian colleagues again for their presentations.

U.S.-INDIA JOINT FACT SHEET ON INTERNATIONAL SECURITY

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE

U.S.-India Joint Fact Sheet: International Security
Media Note
Office of the Spokesperson
Washington, DC
June 24, 2013 　

Defense cooperation is an important aspect of U.S.-India bilateral collaboration. The defense relationship encompasses military-to-military dialogues, exercises, defense sales, professional military education exchanges, and practical cooperation. Both sides plan to continue pursuit of defense cooperation to mutual benefit. Both sides reiterated that the defense establishments of both countries should remain engaged through the process of dialogues, regular staff talks, reciprocal high level visits, and other exchange.

The bilateral defense trade has also been expanding. In this regard, the induction of the C-130J and C-17 aircraft into the Indian Air Force and of the P-8I maritime patrol aircraft into the Indian Navy is an important milestone. Both sides concur on the need to go beyond buyer-seller relations and on the opportunities for wider defense trade and industry collaboration in areas of mutual interest. Both sides are engaging in a number of ways and through diverse forms of dialogue and exchanges to progress defense cooperation.

The United States and India continue to strengthen bilateral cooperation to counterterrorist groups – including through annual Counterterrorism Joint Working Group meetings and the Homeland Security Dialogue, which last met in May 2013. Such discussions have facilitated close coordination in areas such as cyber security including, critical infrastructure protection, global supply chain security, countering counterfeit currency and illicit financial flows; mega city policing as well as cooperation in capacity building. The two countries have also cooperated on the investigation and prosecution of the perpetrators of the 2008 Mumbai attacks, and continue to work together to fight terrorism, organized crime and threats to the internal security of both countries.

The United States and India plan to soon hold another round of whole-of-government Cybersecurity Consultations chaired by their respective national security councils to coordinate positions on cross-cutting cyber-security issues that impact international and economic security. The Consultations consider overall bilateral cooperation on cyber-security, cyber-security best practices, supply-chain security, and norms of responsible state behavior in cyberspace. In addition, the State Department and the Ministry of External Affairs chaired the first successful meeting of a cyber experts’ Strategic Cyber Policy Dialogue focused on cyber policy issues such as norms of responsible state behavior in cyberspace, internet freedom, internet governance, and cybercrime cooperation. Robust operational cooperation continues between India’s Computer Emergency Response Team and the U.S. Computer Emergency Readiness Team.

The United States and India are cooperating to facilitate missions to recover the remains of U.S. service members from World War II.

UN EXPERTS ISSUE REPORT ON INTERNATIONAL CYBER SECURITY

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Statement on Consensus Achieved by the UN Group of Governmental Experts On Cyber Issues

Press Statement
Jen Psaki
Spokesperson, Office of the Spokesperson
Washington, DC
June 7, 2013

The United States welcomes the issuance of a landmark consensus report from this week’s meeting of the UN Group of Governmental Experts on Developments in the Field of Information and Telecommunications in the Context of International Security.

Through these discussions, the United States sought to achieve common understanding on cyber issues of critical national and international significance, particularly: the need to promote international stability, transparency and confidence in cyberspace; that existing international law should guide state behavior with regard to the use of cyberspace; and how the international community can help build the cybersecurity capacity of less-developed states. Our delegation leaves New York confident that comprehensive consensus report issued by the Group makes substantial progress on all these issues.

The Group agreed that confidence building measures, such as high-level communication and timely information sharing, can enhance trust and assurance among states and help reduce the risk of conflict by increasing predictability and reducing misperception. The Group agreed on the vital importance of capacity building to enhance global cooperation in securing cyberspace. The Group reaffirmed the importance of an open and accessible cyberspace, as it enables economic and social development. And, the Group agreed that the combination of all these efforts support a more secure cyberspace.

Furthermore, the Group affirmed that international law, especially the UN Charter, applies in cyberspace.

All UN member states share a common commitment to the pursuit of peace. We are all parties to the UN Charter, which seeks to prevent war of all kinds. We also subscribe to the Geneva Conventions and the Law of Armed Conflict, which are aimed at minimizing civilian suffering when armed conflict occurs. These norms are a cornerstone of international relations and are particularly important for cyberspace, where state-on-state activities are becoming more prevalent.

The United States is pleased to join consensus to affirm the applicability of international law to cyberspace. With that clear affirmation, this consensus report sends a strong signal: states must act in cyberspace under the established international rules and principles that have guided their actions for decades – in peacetime and during conflict.

The United States looks forward to future dialogue on these issues with the international community.

STATEMENT ON ARMS TRADE TREATY IN PLENARY

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
U.S. Statement on the Arms Trade Treaty in Plenary
Remarks
Thomas Countryman
Assistant Secretary, Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation
Arms Trade Treaty Conference
New York City
March 25, 2013
Thank you, Mr. President. For years now, the United States has sought to achieve an Arms Trade Treaty that is strong, meaningful, and implementable -- a treaty on which the United States could join consensus, a treaty the U.S. government could sign, and ultimately recommend to our Senate for ratification. Thanks to you, Mr. President and your exceptional team, that goal is in sight and the U.S. will spare no effort to achieve it.

To give you examples of how hard we have worked with you and other delegations, let me mention Article 6, which was just mentioned by our friend from Norway. Last week, we endorsed a suggestion by Japan, which we saw as a sound basis for negotiation, and which led to a discussion among the U.S. and many others that has made real progress towards addressing an important issue. We will, of course, take this latest proposal by Norway into consideration. Article 6 and 7 together are the heart of the treaty, a barrier against the misuse of conventional arms.

We have worked toward a compromise on Article 5.2 but none has been found. In the end, we cannot accept language that is contrary to the plain meaning of the treaty.

My delegation came to this final UN conference prepared to work, as the General Assembly decided, on the basis of the July 26 text, a text that had its flaws but was the result of real, politically balanced compromise, a text that would both be meaningful and attract the widest possible consensus. At that time, 90 countries said they could accept that text. Since that time, your March 22 text is stronger, clearer, and more implementable. I would hope all those who could accept the July text could accept this stronger one.

Let me remind you that this is not an arms control treaty, not a disarmament treaty -- it is a trade treaty regulating a legitimate activity. Allow me to comment on its two primary purposes. A minimum requirement for national action is to regulate, in a fashion that will curb abuses against humanity and common sense, what is, nonetheless, a very legitimate international activity: the transfer of conventional arms to enhance, rather than undermine, peace and security -- this is the heart of the regulation provisions. This text contains strong language on these points that would bring the world closer to the standard of the United States and other major exporters. On the second major goal, combating diversion, we are prepared to work on meaningful language either in a separate article or in clauses throughout the text. Some diversion occurs between exporter and importer. More diversion occurs after receipt by the importer. To address all aspects of diversion, we are ready to work on meaningful language that expands international cooperation but recognize it must have language that respects domestic jurisdictions over domestic criminal activity.

Let’s be honest with each other; we are barely 48 hours away from a final text. It is much too late to try to reopen some of the hard-fought compromises that were achieved last July -- or to push the treaty into something new. The U.S., like other delegations, has been constructive and leaned forward as much as we could, but trying to stretch that attitude into new topics at this point in time simply risks the rubber band snapping back and leaving us with a far less useful result than we already have seen. So I would urge my colleagues to keep their focus on the object we share: ensuring that we produce and agree on, at the end of the week, an instrument that will optimize -- not maximize, but optimize -- the prospects for completing the full process of making an effective Arms Trade Treaty a working and living instrument.

DOD SAYS AFGHAN FORCES ARE SHOWING PROGRESS

FROM:  AMERICAN FORCES PRESS SERVICE
Afghan Forces Show Progress, DOD Officials Tell House Committee
By Jim Garamone
WASHINGTON, June 21, 2012 - The Afghan national security forces are making tremendous strides and look to be ready to assume security control of the country on schedule, Defense officials told the House Armed Services Committee June 20.
David S. Sedney, deputy assistant secretary of defense for Afghanistan, Pakistan and Central Asia, said the Afghans remain on track to assume the lead for security nationwide by the end of 2014.

There are immediate payoffs, he said. One is the last U.S. surge troops – some 23,000 service members – will withdraw from the country by the end of September. "That is all made possible by the improvements in the Afghan national security forces," he said.
After the surge troops leave Afghanistan, the remaining American and coalition forces will work to transition security to Afghan forces.

"The key to the success is the increasing capability and confidence of the Afghan security forces and of the Afghan people in those security forces," he said. "The Afghan national army and Afghan national police are both on schedule to meet their goal for size by or before October this year."

Afghan security forces now participate in over 90 percent of all operations in the country and lead more than 40 percent of the missions. Sedney quoted Marine Corps Gen. John Allen, the NATO commander in Afghanistan, who said the Afghans "are better than we thought they were to be, and importantly, they're better than they thought that they could be."

Sedney said Afghan forces already provide security for more than 50 percent of the Afghan population. That will climb to 75 percent when more areas come under Afghan control in the months ahead. The latest group of areas to transition to Afghan control contain contested areas, and there is some tough fighting going on, he added.
"This fighting season ... will be the most significant challenge for the Afghan security forces, as they are more in the lead than ever before," he said. "However, the time for this test is now,¬ when we and our coalition partners have the forces in theater to ensure their success."

Army Maj. Gen. Stephen Townsend, the director of the Joint Staff's Pakistan/Afghanistan Coordination Cell, gave more detail about the growth and training of Afghan security forces, and said NATO's International Security Assistance Force remains focused on building an Afghan national security force of 352,000.

"That becomes a mechanism for defeating the insurgency," Townsend said.
The security forces continue to meet or exceed this year's recruiting objectives, "with the army and the air force expected to meet their combined goal of 195,000 by the end of this summer, and the police reaching their goal of 157,000 by October," he said.

The security forces have problems with literacy and with shortages of non-commissioned officers, and efforts are underway to solve. The NATO training mission and the Afghan ministries provide literacy programs to approximately 90,000 soldiers and police each day. "This is going to make the ANSF one of the most literate elements of Afghan society," the general said.

Attrition – from failure, sickness and desertion – continues to be an issue, the general said, and this continues to hamper long-term development. "The security ministries continue to implement policies to combat attrition, and they're working," Townsend said. "Attrition is going down for the last several months."

Shortages of NCOs hamper training and operations as well, but this takes time. "The (Afghan National Security Forces) are taking the lead in training their own forces, and they're implementing instructor cadre training programs," he said. "These Afghan instructors are providing more basic and advanced skills training at Afghan-led training centers every day."

The NATO command has rated 67 percent of the army units and 62 percent of the police units in the top two categories of operational effectiveness, Townsend said.