Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07MINSK808
2007-09-21 11:06:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Minsk
how-toVZCZCXRO4244 PP RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHSK #0808/01 2641106 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 211106Z SEP 07 FM AMEMBASSY MINSK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6505 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE RUEHVENUSMISSION USOSCE 1675 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORT RAF MOLESWORTH UK
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MINSK 000808
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 1298: DECL: 09/21/2017
TAGS: PREL BO GG
SUBJECT: GEORGIA ON LUKASHENKO'S MIND
REF: A. 06 MINSK 261
B. 06 MINSK 224
C. MINSK 678
D. 06 MINSK 574
E. 06 MINSK 1234
Classiied By: Ambassador Karen Stewart for reason 1.4 (d.
Summary
-------
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MINSK 000808
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 1298: DECL: 09/21/2017
TAGS: PREL BO GG
SUBJECT: GEORGIA ON LUKASHENKO'S MIND
REF: A. 06 MINSK 261
B. 06 MINSK 224
C. MINSK 678
D. 06 MINSK 574
E. 06 MINSK 1234
Classiied By: Ambassador Karen Stewart for reason 1.4 (d.
Summary
--------------
1. (C) During a visit by Georgia's Minister of Defense to
Minsk, Lukashenko said he wanted to make relations between
the two countries "better than during the Soviet Union."
While Georgian officials mostly focused on trade in public
statements, the GOB most likely sought to signal independence
from Russia and the possibility of closer relations with GUAM
countries in general. Personal financial interests of those
in Lukashenko's inner circle as a motivation for the meeting
cannot be excluded. Whatever the primary motive, Lukashenko
again demonstrated the willingness to expand economic
relations with any country willing to ignore, if only
temporarily, Belarus' abysmal human rights record. End
summary.
Wish I was Back in the USSR - Belarusian-Georgian Relations
-------------- --------------
2. (U) On September 17, Georgia's Minister of the Interior,
Vano Merabishvili, met with Belarusian President Aleksandr
Lukashenko and Minister of the Interior Vladimir Naumov in
Minsk. Lukashenko told Merabisvili that "we are set on
establishing good relations with Georgia and making them
better than during the Soviet Union." The Belarusian MFA
reported on September 19 that David Kotaria, Georgia's
Charge, was staying in Minsk to find a location to reopen the
Georgian Embassy. The public rapprochement flies in the face
of outlandish accusations from Belarusian authorities during
and after the 2006 presidential election campaign that
Georgian officials supported coup attempts in Minsk (refs A
and B).
Take Me to Your Batka's Farm Goods
--------------
3. (U) Public comments from Merabishvili touched upon the
need to improve trade relations. The head of Georgia's
delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of
Europe, Giga Bokeria, confirmed to Belarusian independent
media that Georgia sought to import Belarusian agricultural
goods. He added that "we support the right of the Belarusian
people to elect their government freely." He noted, however,
that Tbilisi would back Belarus in face of aggression from
Russia. (Comment: We do not know what the Belarusians said
in response to this, but we know the GOB is not averse to
poking the occasional stick in Moscow's eye. End comment.)
Agriculture not the Primary Concern for Lukashenko
-------------- --------------
4. (C) Vyacheslav Poznyak, Director of the Wider Europe
Project, identified three possible motives for Lukashenko to
welcome renewed good relations with Georgia. First, the move
could represent a symbolic gesture to demonstrate Belarus'
independence and lack of adherence to Russia's political
views. Second, in the wake of Belarus' increased cooperation
with Azerbaijan, GUAM could have some interest for Minsk
(Note: MVD officers from GUAM countries came to Minsk to
study at the Belarusian MVD's Anti-TIP Academy on July 31
(ref C). End note.) Finally, he did not discount economic
interests, although Poznyak believed that the private
business interests of Lukashenko or his entourage would more
likely explain the desire for closer ties. (Note: Minsk
never responded to calls from Moscow in 2006 to ban lucrative
imports of Georgian wine and bottled water (ref D),both of
which are widely available here. End note.)
Comment: Diversification Means Not Leaving the West Behind
-------------- --------------
5. (C) Minsk's multi-vectored foreign policy focuses first
and foremost on building relations with anti-Western
countries (ref E). At the same time, the GOB also seems
content to build relationships with U.S. partners, such as
India and now Georgia, that show a willingness to pursue a
relationship based predominantly on economic and/or security
concerns. It is only natural that Georgia eventually end its
status as the only former Soviet state without a diplomatic
presence in Minsk, especially as the GOB asserts its
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 1298: DECL: 09/21/2017
TAGS: PREL BO GG
SUBJECT: GEORGIA ON LUKASHENKO'S MIND
REF: A. 06 MINSK 261
B. 06 MINSK 224
C. MINSK 678
D. 06 MINSK 574
E. 06 MINSK 1234
Classiied By: Ambassador Karen Stewart for reason 1.4 (d.
Summary
--------------
1. (C) During a visit by Georgia's Minister of Defense to
Minsk, Lukashenko said he wanted to make relations between
the two countries "better than during the Soviet Union."
While Georgian officials mostly focused on trade in public
statements, the GOB most likely sought to signal independence
from Russia and the possibility of closer relations with GUAM
countries in general. Personal financial interests of those
in Lukashenko's inner circle as a motivation for the meeting
cannot be excluded. Whatever the primary motive, Lukashenko
again demonstrated the willingness to expand economic
relations with any country willing to ignore, if only
temporarily, Belarus' abysmal human rights record. End
summary.
Wish I was Back in the USSR - Belarusian-Georgian Relations
-------------- --------------
2. (U) On September 17, Georgia's Minister of the Interior,
Vano Merabishvili, met with Belarusian President Aleksandr
Lukashenko and Minister of the Interior Vladimir Naumov in
Minsk. Lukashenko told Merabisvili that "we are set on
establishing good relations with Georgia and making them
better than during the Soviet Union." The Belarusian MFA
reported on September 19 that David Kotaria, Georgia's
Charge, was staying in Minsk to find a location to reopen the
Georgian Embassy. The public rapprochement flies in the face
of outlandish accusations from Belarusian authorities during
and after the 2006 presidential election campaign that
Georgian officials supported coup attempts in Minsk (refs A
and B).
Take Me to Your Batka's Farm Goods
--------------
3. (U) Public comments from Merabishvili touched upon the
need to improve trade relations. The head of Georgia's
delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of
Europe, Giga Bokeria, confirmed to Belarusian independent
media that Georgia sought to import Belarusian agricultural
goods. He added that "we support the right of the Belarusian
people to elect their government freely." He noted, however,
that Tbilisi would back Belarus in face of aggression from
Russia. (Comment: We do not know what the Belarusians said
in response to this, but we know the GOB is not averse to
poking the occasional stick in Moscow's eye. End comment.)
Agriculture not the Primary Concern for Lukashenko
-------------- --------------
4. (C) Vyacheslav Poznyak, Director of the Wider Europe
Project, identified three possible motives for Lukashenko to
welcome renewed good relations with Georgia. First, the move
could represent a symbolic gesture to demonstrate Belarus'
independence and lack of adherence to Russia's political
views. Second, in the wake of Belarus' increased cooperation
with Azerbaijan, GUAM could have some interest for Minsk
(Note: MVD officers from GUAM countries came to Minsk to
study at the Belarusian MVD's Anti-TIP Academy on July 31
(ref C). End note.) Finally, he did not discount economic
interests, although Poznyak believed that the private
business interests of Lukashenko or his entourage would more
likely explain the desire for closer ties. (Note: Minsk
never responded to calls from Moscow in 2006 to ban lucrative
imports of Georgian wine and bottled water (ref D),both of
which are widely available here. End note.)
Comment: Diversification Means Not Leaving the West Behind
-------------- --------------
5. (C) Minsk's multi-vectored foreign policy focuses first
and foremost on building relations with anti-Western
countries (ref E). At the same time, the GOB also seems
content to build relationships with U.S. partners, such as
India and now Georgia, that show a willingness to pursue a
relationship based predominantly on economic and/or security
concerns. It is only natural that Georgia eventually end its
status as the only former Soviet state without a diplomatic
presence in Minsk, especially as the GOB asserts its