Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07MOSCOW5430
2007-11-16 15:52:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Moscow
Cable title:
MFA ISSUES TOUGH STATEMENT AGAINST SAAKASHVILI
how-toVZCZCXRO8491 PP RUEHDBU DE RUEHMO #5430 3201552 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 161552Z NOV 07 FM AMEMBASSY MOSCOW TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5314 INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L MOSCOW 005430
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/15/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV GG RS
SUBJECT: MFA ISSUES TOUGH STATEMENT AGAINST SAAKASHVILI
REF: MOSCOW 5371
Classified By: A/DCM Alice G. Wells for reasons 1.4 (b,d).
1, (U) The MFA issued a strongly worded and lengthy
statement on November 15 criticizing President Saakashvili
for holding allegedly undemocratic elections, calling them a
"open farce," and for using Russia as a scapegoat for
political gain. Specifically, the MFA accused Saakashvili of
commencing the campaign season under a state of emergency,
maintaining restrictions on independent media, harassing
opposition figures, preventing opposition candidates from
mounting effective campaign by holding the elections only
several weeks away and in the middle of holiday season
(allowing for vote "falsification"),and maintaining an
atmosphere of "Russophobia" in the campaign season.
2. (U) The statement continued that Saakashvili has used
"tales" of airspace violation and missile launches, and most
recently, reports of three Russian spies stirring mass
demonstrations in Tbilisi and of Russian troop and equipment
build-up in Abkhazia to create a "virtual" enemy. The
statement noted that the UN Mission in Tbilisi did not find
any evidence of an increase in Russian troops or arms in the
region. The MFA statement concluded that Russia would "under
no circumstances" interfere in Georgian internal affairs by
sending emissaries to Tbilisi for "several-hour
conversations" with political leaders (a dig at DAS Matthew
Bryza's trip) and praised the "rational thinking" of the
Georgian people.
3. (C) On November 16, MFA Fourth CIS Department Deputy
Director Dmitry Tarabrin told us that UN Head of Mission in
Tbilisi Arnault recently convened the Friends of Belarus to
verbally convey the results of their investigation of the
GOG's claims about increased Russian activity in Omchamir,
Abkhazia. Tarabrin said the GOR was not surprised by the
favorable finding, but hoped that the assessment from such a
"reputable organization" as the UN Mission would put the
issue to rest.
4. (C) Tarabrin reaffirmed Russia's willingness to meet with
Georgian officials, noting the possibility of a meeting
between FM Lavrov and FM Bezuashvili on the margins of the
upcoming OSCE Ministerial and a high-level Friends of Georgia
meeting in the middle of December, but stressed that Georgia
must be willing to engage in substantive and constructive
discussions with Russia (reftel).
BURNS
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/15/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV GG RS
SUBJECT: MFA ISSUES TOUGH STATEMENT AGAINST SAAKASHVILI
REF: MOSCOW 5371
Classified By: A/DCM Alice G. Wells for reasons 1.4 (b,d).
1, (U) The MFA issued a strongly worded and lengthy
statement on November 15 criticizing President Saakashvili
for holding allegedly undemocratic elections, calling them a
"open farce," and for using Russia as a scapegoat for
political gain. Specifically, the MFA accused Saakashvili of
commencing the campaign season under a state of emergency,
maintaining restrictions on independent media, harassing
opposition figures, preventing opposition candidates from
mounting effective campaign by holding the elections only
several weeks away and in the middle of holiday season
(allowing for vote "falsification"),and maintaining an
atmosphere of "Russophobia" in the campaign season.
2. (U) The statement continued that Saakashvili has used
"tales" of airspace violation and missile launches, and most
recently, reports of three Russian spies stirring mass
demonstrations in Tbilisi and of Russian troop and equipment
build-up in Abkhazia to create a "virtual" enemy. The
statement noted that the UN Mission in Tbilisi did not find
any evidence of an increase in Russian troops or arms in the
region. The MFA statement concluded that Russia would "under
no circumstances" interfere in Georgian internal affairs by
sending emissaries to Tbilisi for "several-hour
conversations" with political leaders (a dig at DAS Matthew
Bryza's trip) and praised the "rational thinking" of the
Georgian people.
3. (C) On November 16, MFA Fourth CIS Department Deputy
Director Dmitry Tarabrin told us that UN Head of Mission in
Tbilisi Arnault recently convened the Friends of Belarus to
verbally convey the results of their investigation of the
GOG's claims about increased Russian activity in Omchamir,
Abkhazia. Tarabrin said the GOR was not surprised by the
favorable finding, but hoped that the assessment from such a
"reputable organization" as the UN Mission would put the
issue to rest.
4. (C) Tarabrin reaffirmed Russia's willingness to meet with
Georgian officials, noting the possibility of a meeting
between FM Lavrov and FM Bezuashvili on the margins of the
upcoming OSCE Ministerial and a high-level Friends of Georgia
meeting in the middle of December, but stressed that Georgia
must be willing to engage in substantive and constructive
discussions with Russia (reftel).
BURNS