MFA REITERATES TO VISITING OSCE SPECIAL ENVOY GOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L MOSCOW 004163

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/23/2017
TAGS: PREL MOPS PBTS PINS UNSC GG RS
SUBJECT: MFA REITERATES TO VISITING OSCE SPECIAL ENVOY GOR
POSITION ON MISSILE LAUNCH IN GEORGIA

REF: MOSCOW 4111

Classified By: Classified by Political M/C Alice G. Wells. Reasons 1.4
(a,b,d)


1. (C) Summary: According to MFA and Spanish diplomats, OSCE
CiO Zuzul used his August 22-23 visit to stress the need to
reduce Georgian-Russian tensions, without focusing on
identifying the guilty party in the August 6 missile
incident. The GOR accorded Zuzul a mid-level MFA hearing,
expressed disquiet over his appointment process, and fixed
blame for the attack on GOG officials intent on taking
Abkhazia and South Ossetia by force. Zuzul reportedly will
counsel Spanish FM and OSCE CiO Moratinos, who meets with
Lavrov August 30, to focus on how to avoid such incidents in
the future. End Summary.

GOR Downplays Zuzul Visit
--------------


2. (C) Spanish embassy diplomats, who accompanied Zuzul to
his August 23 meeting with MFA Fourth CIS Department Acting
Director Dmitriy Tarabrin, told us that Zuzul had expected a
higher level meeting in the MFA. However, they reported that
the atmosphere was friendly, noting that Zuzul's message to
Tarabrin was that the OSCE was only interested in helping to
defuse the situation and lower tensions. Zuzul stressed that
he was not interested in finding the guilty party.

MFA Reiterates Russia's Arguments to Zuzul
--------------


3. (C) In an August 24 meeting, MFA Georgia Section Chief
Vyacheslav Kunakov gave us a similar readout of Zuzul's
message. Kunakov said Zuzul told Tarabrin that the August 6
incident "reverberated" throughout the international
community and the OSCE was obligated to help find an "exit"
for both sides. Before responding to Zuzul's comments,
Kunakov said Tarabrin expressed Russia's deep concern over
the OSCE's "unusual" appointment process for Zuzul. Tarabrin
argued that according to a 2004 OSCE Council of Ministers
document, member states should be consulted before the CiO
appoints a special envoy. Tarabrin acknowledged that the
document stipulates that consultations should occur only if
time allows, but Russia maintains that there was sufficient
time for all member states, including Russia, to be
consulted. However, Tarabrin stressed that "in the interest
of good will," Russia received Zuzul in his capacity as OSCE
Special Envoy and remains committed to finding a peaceful and
quick resolution. Tarabrin cited as proof DFM Karasin's
August 30 meeting with Georgian State Minister Bakradze and
Georgian DFM Mandzhazidze in Moscow. Zuzul conceded that his
appointment process was a bit irregular and was appreciative
of Russia's cooperation.


4. (C) Tarabrin reiterated the Russian version of the
incident - namely, that Georgia orchestrated the missile
launch in an effort to undermine the dialogue between the two
countries on South Ossetia (reftel). Tarabrin stressed that
Russia has not claimed that the entire Georgian government
was involved in the incident; a few influential officials
acting on their own could have easily carried out the missile
launch. Kunakov said that Tarabrin "reminded" Zuzul that
"some Georgians" are intent on exacerbating tensions between
Georgian and Russia. Tarabrin underscored for Zuzul the
"likelihood" that Georgia was building up its case for a
"violent solution" to the conflicts in South Ossetia and
Abkhazia. Tarabrin urged Zuzul to view the August 6 incident
as "inseparably linked to the general situation in South
Ossetia."

GOR Warns Against Assigning Blame
--------------


5. (C) Kunakov agreed with the Spanish characterization that
the conversation between Tarabrin and Zuzul was frank and
friendly. However, Tarabrin pressed Zuzul to urge the OSCE
and key member states, including the U.S., to refrain from
taking positions and making statements that only "stimulate
Tbilisi's mood." Spanish DCM Manuel de la Camera said Zuzul
would counsel Spanish FM and OSCE CiO Moratinos, who will
meet FM Lavrov in Moscow on August 30 in part to discuss the
missile incident, to focus the OSCE's attention on how to
avoid such incidents in the future.

Melville