Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06LONDON8097
2006-11-24 18:21:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy London
Cable title:
(C) OSCE MINISTERIAL: UK EXPECTS RUSSIAN
how-toVZCZCXRO8107 PP RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHLA RUEHMRE RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHLO #8097 3281821 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 241821Z NOV 06 ZDK FM AMEMBASSY LONDON TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0624 INFO RUCNOSC/ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY COOPERATION IN EUROPE PRIORITY RUEHCH/AMEMBASSY CHISINAU PRIORITY 0234 RUEHKV/AMEMBASSY KYIV PRIORITY 0003 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PRIORITY 2092 RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE PRIORITY 0616
C O N F I D E N T I A L LONDON 008097
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/RUS, EUR/UBI, EUR/UMB, EUR/CARC
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/24/2016
TAGS: PREL MARR RU UK GG MD UP
SUBJECT: (C) OSCE MINISTERIAL: UK EXPECTS RUSSIAN
RESISTANCE TO U.S. PROPOSALS ON FROZEN CONFLICTS
REF: STATE 190264
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires a.i. David T. Johnson; reasons 1.4(b)
C O N F I D E N T I A L LONDON 008097
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/RUS, EUR/UBI, EUR/UMB, EUR/CARC
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/24/2016
TAGS: PREL MARR RU UK GG MD UP
SUBJECT: (C) OSCE MINISTERIAL: UK EXPECTS RUSSIAN
RESISTANCE TO U.S. PROPOSALS ON FROZEN CONFLICTS
REF: STATE 190264
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires a.i. David T. Johnson; reasons 1.4(b)
1. (C) Charge met November 24 with Stephen Pattison,
International Security Director in the FCO, to discuss
prospects for taking a unified approach to the
Georgia/Moldova conflicts at the December 4-5 OSCE
ministerial meetings in Brussels (reftel). Mr. Pattison did
not expect the OSCE to reach agreement on a ministerial text
on those issues. He felt that the international community
cannot allow the "frozen conflicts" to remain frozen, but he
predicted the U.S. proposals would not pass muster with the
Russians, particularly with respect to inserting
international peacekeepers into places such as Ossetia.
Pattison noted also that Germany may be seeking compromise
language on CFE that would call for early ratification, but
he felt their formula was unacceptable since it would isolate
Moldova and Georgia and gut the CFE's host-nation consent
requirement. Pattison expressed concern about what Russia
might do if Kosovo were to be declared independent -- thus
establishing a precedent, in Russia's eyes, for independence
movements in places like Ossetia -- and then Georgia were to
trigger a crisis by doing something rash. He noted that
similar obstacles impeded the quest for a solution in
Transnistria, and that the position of Ukraine complicated
matters there as well.
2. (C) Pattison was supportive of current U.S. ideas on
confidence-building measures (CBM's),although he saw the key
issue for CBM's as the lack of trust on both sides with
respect to each other's alleged military buildup. Pattison
suggested a general statement on CBM's and some sort of
formula for military transparency, which would offer
something of substance to Russia and provide a means for the
presence of foreign military observers.
3. (C) Pattison noted that Minister for Europe Geoffrey Hoon
will attend the OSCE ministerials for only a matter of hours,
though he is seeking to have that extended. Hoon must return
to London for the Ministerial's final day to represent the
Foreign Office in the House of Commons.
Visit London's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/london/index. cfm
Tuttle
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/RUS, EUR/UBI, EUR/UMB, EUR/CARC
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/24/2016
TAGS: PREL MARR RU UK GG MD UP
SUBJECT: (C) OSCE MINISTERIAL: UK EXPECTS RUSSIAN
RESISTANCE TO U.S. PROPOSALS ON FROZEN CONFLICTS
REF: STATE 190264
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires a.i. David T. Johnson; reasons 1.4(b)
1. (C) Charge met November 24 with Stephen Pattison,
International Security Director in the FCO, to discuss
prospects for taking a unified approach to the
Georgia/Moldova conflicts at the December 4-5 OSCE
ministerial meetings in Brussels (reftel). Mr. Pattison did
not expect the OSCE to reach agreement on a ministerial text
on those issues. He felt that the international community
cannot allow the "frozen conflicts" to remain frozen, but he
predicted the U.S. proposals would not pass muster with the
Russians, particularly with respect to inserting
international peacekeepers into places such as Ossetia.
Pattison noted also that Germany may be seeking compromise
language on CFE that would call for early ratification, but
he felt their formula was unacceptable since it would isolate
Moldova and Georgia and gut the CFE's host-nation consent
requirement. Pattison expressed concern about what Russia
might do if Kosovo were to be declared independent -- thus
establishing a precedent, in Russia's eyes, for independence
movements in places like Ossetia -- and then Georgia were to
trigger a crisis by doing something rash. He noted that
similar obstacles impeded the quest for a solution in
Transnistria, and that the position of Ukraine complicated
matters there as well.
2. (C) Pattison was supportive of current U.S. ideas on
confidence-building measures (CBM's),although he saw the key
issue for CBM's as the lack of trust on both sides with
respect to each other's alleged military buildup. Pattison
suggested a general statement on CBM's and some sort of
formula for military transparency, which would offer
something of substance to Russia and provide a means for the
presence of foreign military observers.
3. (C) Pattison noted that Minister for Europe Geoffrey Hoon
will attend the OSCE ministerials for only a matter of hours,
though he is seeking to have that extended. Hoon must return
to London for the Ministerial's final day to represent the
Foreign Office in the House of Commons.
Visit London's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/london/index. cfm
Tuttle