V. Conclusions

Chapter:

11. Conventional arms control

Source:

SIPRI Yearbook 2010

Author(s):

Zdzislaw Lachowski

The prospects for advances in European arms control appeared better in 2009 than in preceding years, even though the CFE Treaty regime remained in limbo. As part of the Corfu process, the significance of arms control for European security was reacknowledged by all OSCE participating states. These states expressed strong political will for change. At the Athens Ministerial Council they reaffirmed their desire to overcome the long-standing deadlock in the main regimes—the CFE Treaty and the Vienna Document on CSBMs—and perhaps integrate or link them more closely to other security-related endeavours in the OSCE area. Solutions will require innovation and determination as well as the ability to compromise. In relation to broader security, Russia insists on convening a Euro-Atlantic summit with the aim of crowning it with a European security treaty. The Western states demonstrated caution and restraint, making their consent contingent on the adequacy of the substance and scope of an eventual agreement. The current US Administration has embarked on a thorough review of the US arms control agenda, and in February 2010 a Special Envoy for Conventional Armed Forces in Europe was appointed to start consultations with NATO, European partners and Russia on the future of the CFE regime.