Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06TALLINN968
2006-10-24 12:14:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tallinn
Cable title:  

ESTONIA STANDS UP FOR GEORGIA

Tags:  PGOV PREL EU GG RS EN 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO8326
OO RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHTL #0968 2971214
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 241214Z OCT 06
FM AMEMBASSY TALLINN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9173
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW IMMEDIATE 2443
RUEHSI/AMEMBASSY TBILISI IMMEDIATE 0157
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS IMMEDIATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L TALLINN 000968 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/24/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL EU GG RS EN
SUBJECT: ESTONIA STANDS UP FOR GEORGIA


Classified By: DCM Jeff Goldstein for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L TALLINN 000968

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/24/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL EU GG RS EN
SUBJECT: ESTONIA STANDS UP FOR GEORGIA


Classified By: DCM Jeff Goldstein for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) According to Simmu Tiik, MFA Director General for
Russia, on October 20, during the dinner with EU leaders
in Finland, Estonian Prime Minister Andrus Ansip asked
President Putin if Russia could be a "trusted partner" to
supply energy to Europe "in light of its behavior in
Georgia." PM Ansip also questioned recent statements from
Moscow which allege that Georgia wants to escalate the
situation. Tikk said that while Putin's comments at the
dinner were for "general consumption", he made a point of
responding to Ansip, saying that "he knows the Government
of Georgia wants war and that if the EU wants to lower
the tension, it needs to speak with the Georgians and not
him."


2. (SBU) Foreign Minister Urmas Paet has also been vocal
on Georgia. On October 17 at the EU's Foreign Ministers'
Council, FM Paet said, "Russia must stop the blockade as
well as all kinds of activity with respect to Georgia
that incite tension including the repression of Georgians
in Russia." FM Paet also called on the EU to step up and
be ready to support Georgia financially if Russia
continued its crippling economic sanctions.


3. (SBU) On October 17, the Estonian Parliament
overwhelmingly passed a statement expressing support for
Georgia and condemning Russia's behavior. Andres Herkel,
a MP and member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, assured
us that Estonia takes its role as an advocate for Georgia
very seriously. He said, "We still remember when Estonia
was in a similar position ten to fifteen years ago and
needed any support it could get from its friends." The
near unanimous (one vote against) vote in favor of the
declaration demonstrates strong cross-party support. Ain
Seppik, another MP, acknowledged to us that he knows the
Parliament's statement will have limited impact on
resolving the situation, but said MPs felt it important
nonetheless "to show support and solidarity with the
Georgian people."
WOS