Statements of the Chairman of the First Conference to Review the Operation of the
Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe and the Concluding Act of the Negotiation
on Personnel Strength:
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– Notwithstanding the rights of each State as stated in Article XIV of the Treaty, each State Party should attempt to avoid conducting inspections during the officially
recognized holidays of the other State Party.
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– With regard to the phrase “on the availability of financial resources" in the Statement
of the Representative of the Russian Federation as contained in Annex E of the Final
Document of the First Conference to Review the Operation of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe, it is understood that this phrase is without prejudice to other arms control obligations.
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– Temporary deployment and reallocation of quotas referred to in Section IV, paragraphs
2 and 3, of the Document contained in Annex A of this Final Document, will not be
used in the context of the Azerbaijan Republic.
Statement by the Delegation of the Russian Federation at the First Conference to Review
the Operation of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe
31 May 1996
“Unless the flexibilities listed in the agreement on the flank issue are given effect
by 31 May 1999, the Russian Federation reserves the right to use the other Treaty
flexibilities discussed but not referred to in the above agreement."
Statement by the Delegation of the Netherlands at the First Conference to Review the
Operation of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe
31 May 1996
“It is the view of the 16 members of the Atlantic Alliance that any future flexibility
must be consistent with the legal framework of the Treaty, as agreed by all 30 States Parties.
It is requested that this statement be attached to the Final Document."
Statement by the Delegation of Ukraine at the First Conference to Review the Operation
of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe
31 May 1996
“In connection with the decision of 31 May 1996 of the Conference to Review the Operation
of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe to adopt the “Document agreed among the States Parties to the Treaty on Conventional
Armed Forces in Europe of 19 November 1990", Ukraine gives its consent to that decision
on the understanding that, in implementing its provisions, the States Parties will
be guided by the following:
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1. The rights and obligations of the Russian Federation set forth in Section II, paragraphs
1 and 3, and Section V, paragraph 1, of the Document in relation to “the area described
in Article V, subparagraph 1(A), of the Treaty, as understood by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics at the time the Treaty
was signed" shall not extend to the territory of Ukraine, namely the Autonomous Republic
of the Crimea, and Nikolayev, Zaporozhye and Kherson oblasts.
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2. Section II, paragraphs 1 and 3, and Section IV, paragraph 2, of the Document shall
not apply to that portion of the Treaty-limited conventional armaments and equipment
of the Coastal Defence Forces and Naval Infantry of the Black Sea Fleet which, as
a result of their division between Ukraine and the Russian Federation, will be assigned
to the Russian Federation and be subject to withdrawal from the territory of Ukraine
within the agreed time-limits.
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3. The provisions of Section IV, paragraph 2, of the Document shall in no way restrict
the right and possibilities of Ukraine to deploy on a temporary basis, in accordance
with Article V, paragraph 1, of the Treaty, combat tanks, armoured combat vehicles and artillery within the “new" flank area.
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4. The provisions of Section IV, paragraph 3, of the Document shall in no way affect
the rights and obligations of Ukraine under the Agreement on the Principles and Procedures
for the Implementation of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe of 15
May 1992.
The delegation of Ukraine requests that this statement be distributed as an annex
to the Final Document of the Conference."
Statement by the Delegation of the Russian Federation at the First Conference to Review
the Operation of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe
31 May 1996
“In connection with the statement by Ukraine of 31 May 1996 regarding the Document
agreed among the States Parties to the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe, the Russian Federation takes the position that the said statement will in no way
impede the implementation of the aforementioned Document."
Statement by the Delegation of Turkey at the First Conference to Review the Operation
of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe
31 May 1996
“On the occasion of the adoption of the Final Document of the First Review Conference,
the Turkish Delegation registers the following understanding:
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1. The Document in question does not change in any way the legally binding character
of the CFE Treaty and its Associated Documents, or the obligations of individual States Parties to
the Treaty.
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2. Paragraphs 2 and 3 of Section IV of the Document may not be interpreted in a manner
which might prejudice the provision contained in Article IV, paragraph 5, of the CFE Treaty, or the principle of free consent enshrined in the OSCE documents on the use of such
rights.
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3. The “flexibilities" contained in the Treaty consist of those mentioned in the above paragraphs and may only be used in full respect
of the relevant Treaty provisions and on the basis of agreements concluded and implemented
with the free consent of the States Parties involved.
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4. While the Turkish Delegation accepts an examination of the DPSS provisions, it makes
it clear that it can accept eventual modifications only if they do not result in force
concentrations prejudicial to regional balances and provided that a similar examination
is carried out for the clarification of the question of “temporary deployments", in
particular with regard to their duration.
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5. In view of the continued relevance of the regional sub-limits even under changing
conditions, the Turkish Government will not enter into any negotiation prejudicial
to the principle of regional sub-limits, nor will it accept any force limits that
do not take due account of the size of its territory, population and the security
environment in adjacent regions not subject to Treaty limitations.
It is requested that this statement be attached to the Final Document."
Statement by the Delegation of Georgia at the First Conference to Review the Operation
of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe
31 May 1996
“The Georgian Delegation has considered paragraphs 2 and 3 of Section IV of the Document
agreed among the States Parties on the flank issue very carefully. We still have some
very serious concerns about the future implementation of their content. In this context
we would like to make the following statement:
Any agreement on temporary deployment of conventional armed forces on the territory
of Georgia or on the reallocation of equipment quotas established by the Tashkent
Agreement must be the result of free negotiation and must be taken with full respect
for the sovereignty of Georgia and for its Constitution. All Parties must implement
all the provisions of any such agreements in good faith and in accordance with the
provisions of the Treaty."
Statement by the Delegation of Moldova at the First Conference to Review the Operation
of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe
31 May 1996
“With reference to paragraph 7, Section II, of the Final Document, the Republic of
Moldova would like to make the following statement:
The early entry into force of the bilateral agreement on the withdrawal of Russian
Troops, signed between the Republic of Moldova and the Russian Federation on 21 October
1994, will contribute to full implementation of the Document agreed among the States
Parties to the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe.
With reference to paragraph 2, Section IV, of the Document agreed among the States
Parties to the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe contained in Annex A
of the Final Document, the Republic of Moldova would like to make the following interpretative
statement:
The Constitution of the Republic of Moldova has proclaimed the permanent neutrality
of the country, prohibiting the stationing of foreign troops on the territory of the
Republic. In view of these constitutional provisions, the Republic of Moldova cannot
allow even temporary deployment of conventional armaments belonging to other countries
on its territory.
The Delegation of Moldova would like to ask the Chairman to annex this statement to
the Final Document in translation into all official languages."