UN-CIS KODORI PATROL SCHEDULED, WHILE ABKHAZ TALK

C O N F I D E N T I A L TBILISI 002709 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR DAS BRYZA AND EUR/CARC E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/10/2016 TAGS: PGOV PREL GG SUBJECT: UN-CIS KODORI PATROL SCHEDULED, WHILE ABKHAZ TALK TOUGH ON UNOMIG MANDATE REF: TBILISI 2672 Classified By: Ambassador John F, Tefft for reasons 1.4(b) & (d). ¶1. (C) Georgian Deputy State Minister for Conflict Resolution Ruslan Abashidze told us October 9 that the main questions about the modalities of a UNOMIG monitoring patrol of the Upper Kodori Gorge with participation of CIS peacekeepers (reftel) had been resolved. He said an agreement was reached October 7 on the size of the CIS presence -- four officers in two cars -- and on their security: they would carry only personal firearms, not automatic weapons. Abashidze said the patrol was scheduled for October 12. He said the Georgians' agreement was for one patrol, with a second "under consideration" if the first went well. ¶2. (SBU) Abashidze also said State Minister for Conflict Resolution Merab Antadze had received a strong warning from the Abkhaz that if the upcoming decision in the UN on the renewal of UNOMIG's mandate was not acceptable to the Abkhaz, they would demand the withdrawal of Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs personnel from Kodori. If they were not withdrawn, the Abkhaz told Antadze that they would start "war preparations." TEFFT