Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07MOSCOW5247
2007-11-02 06:00:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Moscow
Cable title:  

GOR REACTION TO THE GANARDZHIAS-MUKHURI INCIDENT

Tags:  PREL PGOV GG RS 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO6042
OO RUEHDBU
DE RUEHMO #5247 3060600
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 020600Z NOV 07
FM AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5001
INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHXD/MOSCOW POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L MOSCOW 005247 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/01/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV GG RS
SUBJECT: GOR REACTION TO THE GANARDZHIAS-MUKHURI INCIDENT

REF: TBILISI 2689

Classified By: Acting Political M/C Robert Patterson. Reasons 1.4 (B/D
).

C O N F I D E N T I A L MOSCOW 005247

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/01/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV GG RS
SUBJECT: GOR REACTION TO THE GANARDZHIAS-MUKHURI INCIDENT

REF: TBILISI 2689

Classified By: Acting Political M/C Robert Patterson. Reasons 1.4 (B/D
).


1. (C) Summary. As noted reftel, on October 30, CIS
peacekeepers were involved in a confrontation with Georgian
forces near the cease fire line in Abkhazia. In a November 1
statement, the MFA insisted that the CIS forces were within
their mandate and blamed Saakashvili for provoking a
confrontation. End summary.


2. (U) In its November 1 statement, the MFA stressed that:

-- the CIS Peacekeeping forces adhered to its mandate during
the October 30 standoff with the Georgian side in
Gnanrdzhias-Mukhuri.

-- The Georgian forces behaved provocatively.

--The behavior of the Georgian leadership engenders suspicion
that the GOG's action was calculated to divert Georgians'
attention from their simmering internal problems.


3. (C) MFA Regional Conflict Division Chief Aleksey
Dvinyanin told us on November 1 that the GOR is in the
process of verifying whether shots were fired at the CIS
helicopter from the camp, which was supposed to be unarmed.
He stressed that Saakashvili's appearance at the scene was
"unnecessary and unhelpful." Dvinyanin said he could not
imagine President Putin rushing out to the Russian Far East,
in a comparable situation, to catch trespassing Japanese
fishermen. What is urgently needed is a negotiation forum
for the conflict, which could keep the involved sides in
check and minimize the impact of small altercations before
they become thorny issues, Dvinyanin argued.
Burns