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withdrawn, the Abkhaz told Antadze that they would start "war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