Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06MOSCOW9015
2006-08-18 14:23:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Moscow
Cable title:
SOUTH OSSETIA: AN "AMUSING" MEETING GETS NOWHERE
how-toVZCZCXRO4495 OO RUEHDBU DE RUEHMO #9015 2301423 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 181423Z AUG 06 FM AMEMBASSY MOSCOW TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0749 INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHXD/MOSCOW POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L MOSCOW 009015
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/18/2016
TAGS: PREL MARR OSCE GG RS
SUBJECT: SOUTH OSSETIA: AN "AMUSING" MEETING GETS NOWHERE
Classified By: PolMinCouns Alice Wells. Reason 1.4 (b, d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L MOSCOW 009015
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/18/2016
TAGS: PREL MARR OSCE GG RS
SUBJECT: SOUTH OSSETIA: AN "AMUSING" MEETING GETS NOWHERE
Classified By: PolMinCouns Alice Wells. Reason 1.4 (b, d)
1. (C) The Joint Control Commission to negotiate a settlement
in the South Ossetia conflict met in Moscow August 17-18 and
produced no results. The meeting's main accomplishment was
to continue over the full two days without breaking up in
acrimony. Georgian DCM Shugarov told us August 18, while the
meeting was still in progress, that this was due to the
"calmer," "less emotional" style of new Georgian Minister for
Conflict Resolution Merab Antadze.
2. (C) The South Ossetian side, Shugarov said, wanted to move
on the JCC's previous decision to name a working group to
unite the Georgian and Ossetian proposals for a peace plan.
The Georgian side rejected this on grounds that the format of
the JCC itself needed to be widened before undertaking any
other work. The Russians and Ossetians defended the current
format (the JCC includes representatives of Georgia, South
Ossetia, North Ossetia and Russia),saying that it had "not
exhausted its potential," as Russian DFM Karasin put when he
opened the meeting.
3. (C) Russian JCC negotiator Yuriy Popov told us the two
days' proceedings were "amusing," but gave no grounds for
optimism. The Georgians -- "your partners," he called them
-- "intend to bury the existing format," even if it means
stopping any work on a peace plan that both sides can agree
to use as the basis for negotiations. "Even the OSCE and EU
were puzzled," Popov added.
4. (C) Comment: Judging by Shugarov's tone, the Georgian
Embassy in Moscow was equally puzzled by the new Georgian
linkage. Meanwhile, the Russians clearly believe the U.S.
put its "partners" the Georgians up to holding a peace plan
hostage to reform of the JCC. At the same time, the Russians
probably do find the Georgian position "amusing," as it stops
all progress while making the Georgians look recalcitrant --
a perfect outcome, from their point of view.
RUSSELL
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/18/2016
TAGS: PREL MARR OSCE GG RS
SUBJECT: SOUTH OSSETIA: AN "AMUSING" MEETING GETS NOWHERE
Classified By: PolMinCouns Alice Wells. Reason 1.4 (b, d)
1. (C) The Joint Control Commission to negotiate a settlement
in the South Ossetia conflict met in Moscow August 17-18 and
produced no results. The meeting's main accomplishment was
to continue over the full two days without breaking up in
acrimony. Georgian DCM Shugarov told us August 18, while the
meeting was still in progress, that this was due to the
"calmer," "less emotional" style of new Georgian Minister for
Conflict Resolution Merab Antadze.
2. (C) The South Ossetian side, Shugarov said, wanted to move
on the JCC's previous decision to name a working group to
unite the Georgian and Ossetian proposals for a peace plan.
The Georgian side rejected this on grounds that the format of
the JCC itself needed to be widened before undertaking any
other work. The Russians and Ossetians defended the current
format (the JCC includes representatives of Georgia, South
Ossetia, North Ossetia and Russia),saying that it had "not
exhausted its potential," as Russian DFM Karasin put when he
opened the meeting.
3. (C) Russian JCC negotiator Yuriy Popov told us the two
days' proceedings were "amusing," but gave no grounds for
optimism. The Georgians -- "your partners," he called them
-- "intend to bury the existing format," even if it means
stopping any work on a peace plan that both sides can agree
to use as the basis for negotiations. "Even the OSCE and EU
were puzzled," Popov added.
4. (C) Comment: Judging by Shugarov's tone, the Georgian
Embassy in Moscow was equally puzzled by the new Georgian
linkage. Meanwhile, the Russians clearly believe the U.S.
put its "partners" the Georgians up to holding a peace plan
hostage to reform of the JCC. At the same time, the Russians
probably do find the Georgian position "amusing," as it stops
all progress while making the Georgians look recalcitrant --
a perfect outcome, from their point of view.
RUSSELL