GUIDANCE: GEORGIA CONSULTATIONS, APRIL 10

UNCLAS STATE 046510 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: UNSC GE PREL SUBJECT: GUIDANCE: GEORGIA CONSULTATIONS, APRIL 10 ¶1. (U) USUN is authorized to draw from the points in para 2 below during Georgia consultations scheduled April 10. ¶2. (SBU) Begin points. -- The United States supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia. We welcome the Secretary General,s report and appreciate continued efforts by UNOMIG and the Special Representative of the Secretary General to enhance stability and security in Georgia's Abkhazia region and to facilitate dialogue between the Georgian and Abkhaz sides in pursuit of a peaceful resolution of the conflict within Georgia's internationally-recognized borders. -- As the Group of Friends emphasized in the last Geneva-format meeting with the sides, we believe a comprehensive political solution can be achieved through dialogue and that the situation on the ground in the areas of security, refugee and IDP returns, and rehabilitation and development can and must be improved. -- We urge the Georgians and Abkhaz to take concrete steps in line with the Friends, "Proposals for Confidence Building Measures" that were presented to the sides in Geneva. Included among those proposals is a high-level meeting between President Saakashvili and Abkhaz separatist leader Bagapsh, without preconditions. Also included among those proposals is a recommendation to sign a package of documents on the non-use of violence and the return of refugees and IDPs. We underscore the importance of establishing conditions that will allow refugees and IDPs to return to all of Abkhazia. We would welcome efforts to restore economic and commercial ties between the residents of Abkhazia and the rest of Georgia. -- We were gravely concerned by the attack on Georgian-controlled villages and the Georgian administration in the upper Kodori valley on March 11 and 12, and we condemn such violence. This recent attack underscores the need for progress on efforts to resolve the conflict. -- We have done good work together in the Group of Friends to develop CBMs; we support the efforts of UNOMIG and the SRSG to implement these measures in coming weeks and months to change the situation on the ground in Georgia,s Abkhazia region for the better. -- We look forward to the conclusions of the investigation by the Joint Fact-Finding Group led by UNOMIG, and we underscore the need for all parties to refrain from breaches of the cease-fire and to maintain their commitment to the peaceful resolution of the conflict. -- We applaud the Government of Georgia's measured response to this regrettable incident. -- We will continue strong support for the efforts of the Special Representative to implement practical steps to improve confidence. We note the success that has been achieved thus far, as described in this report, and we wish the Special Representative continued success in your efforts. Working with the other Friends of the Secretary General for Georgia, we will continue to offer our support for a process that we hope will lead to a peaceful resolution of the conflict in Georgia,s Abkhazia region within Georgia's internationally recognized borders. End points. RICE