GEORGIA CONDEMNS UNOFFICIAL JPKF CHECKPOINTS IN

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TBILISI 001980

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV GG
SUBJECT: GEORGIA CONDEMNS UNOFFICIAL JPKF CHECKPOINTS IN
ABKHAZ ZOC



1. On August 3, Post received two diplomatic notes from
State Minister for Conflict Resolution, Davit Bakradze,
addressed to Special Representative of the Secretary General
(SRSG) Jean Arnault and United Nations Observer Mission to
Georgia (UNOMIG) Chief Military Observer General Niaz
Khattak. The two letters are identical except for an
additional paragraph in the Khattak letter noting the absence
JPKF violations from the July 18 report of the UN Secretary
General. Copies were sent to members of the Group of Friends
of the Secretary General.

Begin Text:

Dear Mr. Arnault,

I would like to bring to your attention another fact of gross
violation of mandate by the CIS PKF. On 25th July 2007, a
member of my staff was driving to the observation station Nr.
107 of the JPKF when he was stopped at the checkpoint, which
is arbitrarily set up a few kilometers away from the station.
The mentioned checkpoint turned out to be an observer point
Nr. 107a. Existence of such a station is not known to the
respective bodies of the Georgian state.

Such an approach of the JPKF is unacceptable for the Georgian
government. These actions - arbitrary establishment of
observation stations, disturbance of work of local
administration, ignorance toward legislation of the host
state and prevention of freedom of movement of local
population - are against the mandate of the JPKF and presents
yet another violation of the decisions adopted by summits of
the Heads of CIS countries. We are urging you to take all
necessary and immediate actions in order to abolish this
particular illegal observation point. Otherwise the
Government of Georgia reserves the right to apply appropriate
state legislation and will initiate actions to prevent
pickets and ensure freedom of movement for the citizens of
Georgia prevented by police forces.

Additionally, we are seeking for your response on the current
situation with regard to reverting the check points 310
(Khurcha) and 302 (Khudoni) of the CIS JPKF to the previous
existing regime. Despite several inquiries to your office,
we don't know your response. Besides, your decision
concerning the participation of your representative in the
process of solving disputable issues concerning deployment of
check-points of the JPKF is also unknown to us. Letters with
such request have already been sent to you on several
occasions (Nr. 4-6/416 from 16.07.2007; Nr. 4-6/419 from
16.07.2007; Nr. 4-6/404 from 09.07.2007; Nr. 4-6/415 from
16.07.2007; Nr. 4-6/416 from 16.07.2007; Nr. 4-6/419 from
16.07.2007; Nr. 4-6/448 from 23.07.2007; Nr. 4-6/449 from
23.07.2007).

We are urging you to take appropriate actions to deliver the
comprehensive information on the JPKF unlawful actions in
Abkhazia, Georgia to the Headquarters of the United Nations
in New York.

I use this opportunity to reiterate my respect and
appreciation of your mission.

Yours sincerely,

Davit Bakradze

End Text.


Begin Second Text:

Dear General,

I would like to bring to your attention another fact of gross
violation of mandate by the CIS PKF. On 25th July 2007, a
member of my staff was driving to the observation station Nr.
107 of the JPKF when he was stopped at the checkpoint, which
is arbitrarily set up a few kilometers away from the station.
The mentioned checkpoint turned out to be an observer point
Nr. 107a. Existence of such a station is not known to the
respective bodies of the Georgian state.

Such an approach of the JPKF is unacceptable for the Georgian
government. These actions - arbitrary establishment of
observation stations, disturbance of work of local
administration, ignorance toward legislation of the host
state and prevention of freedom of movement of local
population - are against the mandate of the JPKF and presents
yet another violation of the decisions adopted by summits of
the Heads of CIS countries. We are urging you to take all
necessary and immediate actions in order to abolish this

TBILISI 00001980 002 OF 002


particular illegal observation point. Otherwise the
Government of Georgia reserves the right to apply appropriate
state legislation and will initiate actions to prevent
pickets and ensure freedom of movement for the citizens of
Georgia prevented by police forces.

Additionally, we are seeking for your response on the current
situation with regard to reverting the check points 310
(Khurcha) and 302 (Khudoni) of the CIS JPKF to the previous
existing regime. Despite several inquiries to your office,
we don't know your response. Besides, your decision
concerning the participation of your representative in the
process of solving disputable issues concerning deployment of
check-points of the JPKF is also unknown to us. Letters with
such request have already been sent to you on several
occasions (Nr. 4-6/416 from 16.07.2007; Nr. 4-6/419 from
16.07.2007; Nr. 4-6/404 from 09.07.2007; Nr. 4-6/415 from
16.07.2007; Nr. 4-6/416 from 16.07.2007; Nr. 4-6/419 from
16.07.2007; Nr. 4-6/448 from 23.07.2007; Nr. 4-6/449 from
23.07.2007).

Unfortunately in the report (S/2007/439) of the Secretary
General of the United Nations from 18th July 2007 is not
included information on the gross violations of the
responsibilities of the JPKF personnel, though we advised you
of such violations in our letters sent to you (Nr. 4-6/386
from 29.03.2007; Nr. 4-6/399 from 09.07.2007; Nr. 4-6/404
from 09.07.2007; Nr. 4-6/415 from 16.07.2007; Nr. 4-6/416
from 16.07.2007; Nr. 4-6/419 from 16.07.2007; Nr. 4-6/448
from 23.07.2007; Nr. 4-6/449 from 23.07.2007).

We are urging you to take appropriate actions to deliver the
comprehensive information on the JPKF unlawful actions in
Abkhazia, Georgia to the Headquarters of the United Nations
in New York.

I use this opportunity to reiterate my respect and
appreciation for your mission.

Yours sincerely,

Davit Bakradze

End Text.


2. Comment: At present, there is general disagreement
between the sides and in the international community as to
what the proper procedure is for establishing checkpoints and
observation points in the Zone of Conflict. The United
Nations Observer Mission to Georgia (UNOMIG) has told us that
no formal mechanism exists between the sides. The Georgians,
on the other hand, strongly assert that the CIS PKF continue
to violate procedures already established for CIS
peacekeeping missions. This issue will likely continue to be
a source of contention until the sides can reach a formal
agreement. End comment.

PERRY