Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07TBILISI2389
2007-09-21 09:45:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tbilisi
Cable title:  

ABKHAZ CONTINUE TO BLOCK UN MISSION TO ASSESS

Tags:  PREL PGOV GG 
pdf how-to read a cable
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PP RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHSI #2389/01 2640945
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 210945Z SEP 07
FM AMEMBASSY TBILISI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7686
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TBILISI 002389 

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DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/CARC

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/21/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV GG
SUBJECT: ABKHAZ CONTINUE TO BLOCK UN MISSION TO ASSESS
MONITORING IN KODORI, WHILE CHECHEN FIGHTERS JOIN PKF

REF: A. TBILISI 2305


B. TBILISI 2043

C. TBILISI 2170

Classified By: CDA Mark X. Perry, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TBILISI 002389

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/CARC

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/21/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV GG
SUBJECT: ABKHAZ CONTINUE TO BLOCK UN MISSION TO ASSESS
MONITORING IN KODORI, WHILE CHECHEN FIGHTERS JOIN PKF

REF: A. TBILISI 2305


B. TBILISI 2043

C. TBILISI 2170

Classified By: CDA Mark X. Perry, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) Summary: On September 18, the Ambassador attended a
Tbilisi meeting of the Group of Friends of the Secretary
General, minus Russia, for a discussion of the situation in
Abkhazia ahead of a planned Group of Friends meeting in
Berlin on September 19. Special Representative of the
Secretary General (SRSG) Jean Arnault told the Friends that

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Abkhaz de-facto president Sergei Bagapsh continues to deny
access to a UN technical team seeking to assess deployment of
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and artillery radar in the
Upper Kodori gorge (ref.A). All of the Friends agreed that
it was essential to tell the Russians and Abkhaz that it was
unacceptable to block the United Nations Observer Mission to
Georgia (UNOMIG) recommendations to enhance UNOMIG capability
in Upper Kodori. Arnault also said that UNOMIG has confirmed
the presence of experienced Chechen fighters as part of the
CIS peacekeeping force as has been previously alleged by the
Georgian government. Arnault expressed rising concern as the
time for a decision on Kosovo independence approaches. He
said he would raise with the Friends in Berlin the
possibility of urging the Georgians to make concrete
proposals to the Abkhaz on what "fullest autonomy" within
Georgia would mean. End Summary.

Bagapsh again denies access to UN team
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2. (C) Arnault told the Friends that Bagapsh has denied for
a second time access to Abkhazia for a UN technical team to
assess deployment of UAVs and artillery radar in the Kodori
gorge. Both measures were recommended by UNOMIG following
the March 11 incident in Kodori to monitor airspace in the
Georgian-controlled valley. Arnault said that Bagapsh's
refusal was troubling because both de-facto foreign minister
Sergei Shamba and the Abkhaz MOD had recommended allowing the
team in. He said Bagapsh's refusal implies that Bagapsh and
the Russians do not want UNOMIG in Kodori. All of the
Friends agreed that it was essential to tell both the
Russians and the Abkhaz that it was unacceptable to block the
UNOMIG recommendations to enhance UNOMIG capability in the
Kodori gorge. German Ambassador Flor said she thought the
Western Friends should send a broader message on Abkhazia to
the Russians, as conflict seemed to be looming by the end of
the year. All agreed. The French Ambassador said that he
had heard the talking points prepared for French FM
Kouchner's September 18 meeting with Russian FM Lavrov in
Moscow warned that France would consider recognizing Chechen
independence if Russia recognizes Abkhaz independence. The
French Ambassador said he did not know if Kouchner had
actually used that talking point.

UNOMIG confirms Chechen fighters among CIS PKF
-------------- -


3. (C) Arnault told the Friends that UNOMIG has confirmed
the presence of experienced Chechen fighters among the ranks
of the CIS peacekeepers. (Note: Chechen support is believed
to be an important factor in the Abkhaz victory in the
1992-93 war against Georgia.) UNOMIG's finding validates
earlier Georgian allegations that Chechen fighters are
involved in the the CIS PKF. UNOMIG military commander
General Khattak had discounted these allegations when they
were first made by the GOG.

Arnault to urge Georgians to offer Abkhaz concrete proposals
-------------- --------------


4. (C) Arnault said he would raise with the Friends in
Berlin the possibility of urging the Georgians to make
concrete proposals to the Abkhaz, spelling out in some detail
what "the fullest autonomy" actually would mean. He said
that it may be too late, but thought that an upcoming October
meeting in Uppsala, Sweden between the Georgians and the
Abkhaz could be a forum for discussing such a proposal.
Arnault said that Shamba told him that he expects that within
six months of Russian recognition of Abkhaz independence,
Russia will ask the Abkhaz to request incorporation into
Russia. He seemed to think the Abkhaz have a reason to work
with the Georgians, although he said he did not know if they
still had freedom to maneuver (as evidenced by Bagapsh's
refusal to allow UNOMIG to expand its capabilities in the
Upper Kodori). Arnault said that he was concerned that
President Saakashvili would find his hand forced by events,
should Russia or the Abkhaz attempt to take control of the
Upper Kodori or force Georgians out of Gali in an ethnic

TBILISI 00002389 002 OF 002


cleansing campaign. He quoted Saakashvili as saying that
Georgia could not stand by if Georgian refugees started
streaming across the Enguri river again.
PERRY