SUMMIT TIDBITS: PUTIN WITH SAAKASHVILI AND VORININ

C O N F I D E N T I A L MOSCOW 002860

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/14/2017
TAGS: PREL PBTS MARR GG MD RS
SUBJECT: SUMMIT TIDBITS: PUTIN WITH SAAKASHVILI AND VORININ

REF: STATE 79597

Classified By: Ambassador William J. Burns. Reason: 1.4 (b, d)

Summary
--------------


1. (C) Russian MFA and Security Council readouts of President
Putin's meetings with Presidents Saakashvili of Georgia and
Voronin of Moldova at the Commonwealth of Independent States
Summit stressed their constructive and friendly atmosphere.
Concrete results were not noted, however. The MFA has been
given carte blanche to negotiate relaxation of Russian
sanctions on Georgia. End Summary.

Georgia
--------------


2. (C) Both MFA and Security Council told us the June 9
Putin-Saakashvili meeting was "constructive." DFM Karasin
highlighted for the Ambassador Putin's reaffirmation of
support for Georgia's territorial integrity, adding that the
principle must be applied "consistently" (i.e., in Serbia).
Karasin said the GOR is looking at ways to ease sanctions
against Georgia, but stressed there is no timetable for doing
so.


3. (C) MFA 4th CIS Deputy Director Tarabrin added that Putin
has given the MFA carte blanche to negotiate relaxation of
the sanctions. He said steps in that direction will still
need Putin's personal approval, but implied that Putin would
bless any agreement reached between FMs Lavrov and
Beshuashvili. Normalization will be slow, according to
Security Council official Andrey Kuzin. Tarabrin gave an
example of the pace to be expected: the Verkhniy
Lars/Kazbegi border crossing, closed by the Russians last
July for "repairs," will reopen only in the fourth quarter of

2008.


4. (C) Kuzin stressed that normalization can only come with
serious negotiations, and that means compromise on both
sides, not just "smiles and pleasant table-talk." We pointed
out that it is the Russian side that has taken concrete
actions against Georgia -- sanctions, border closures, etc.
-- while the Georgian behavior to which Russia objects has
been rhetoric. "Words are deeds," Kuzin replied. "The
tonality Georgia uses is the problem."


5. (C) Kuzin, who was in the Russian needs assessment
delegation to South Ossetia last month, faulted the Georgians
for the recent flare-up over interruption of the flow of
water to Tskhinvali. "The Georgian farmers may tap into the
pipes every year," he said, "but now the Georgians have
trumpeted their new administration in their enclaves; that
administration needs to keep order." Kuzin regretted that
Minister for Conflict Resolution Antadze had not accompanied
the Georgian delegation to Tskhinvali. Russia will continue
to fund humanitarian assistance, he said, and will continue
to invite Georgian participation in its missions.

Moldova
--------------


6. (C) Kuzin said the Putin-Voronin meeting was very brief,
and could not be construed as a "negotiation." We outlined
for him the contents of the Burns-Karasin letter on
internationalizing the Transnistria PKF (reftel). Kuzin had
heard of the letter, but had not seen it. Kuzin asked why
one would need to change the PKF, since it has succeeded at
its task. We pointed out that a PKF in accordance with the
Istanbul Commitments can be of great benefit. Kuzin said
this issue is now bound up with the "refusal" by new members
of NATO -- those who have joined since 1999 -- to accede to
CFE. Kuzin ended the discussion on Moldova by urging the
U.S. to talk directly with the Tiraspol authorities as we
frequently talk to those in Sukhumi, Tskhinvali and
Stepanakert.
BURNS