GOG AMENDMENTS TO TRAVEL PROCEDURES FOR DIPLOMATIC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TBILISI 002590 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/CARC E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL OTRA OVIP GG SUBJECT: GOG AMENDMENTS TO TRAVEL PROCEDURES FOR DIPLOMATIC VISITS TO SOUTH OSSETIA AND ABKHAZIA ¶1. (U) Post received a Circular Note, no. 6/4302-12, on October 13 from the Government of Georgia, regarding GOG rules for notification by diplomats before travel to Abkhazia or South Ossetia. This amends travel procedures for Diplomatic Agents accredited to Georgia and Foreign State Officials to Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia and Abkhazia, which had been previously issued by the GOG in August. The changes result from interventions by the diplomatic community in Tbilisi, which had objected to the travel procedures as announced by the GOG in August. ¶2. (SBU) The main objections by the diplomatic community to the former rules were that the two weeks advance notice of travel required was too long, and that the rules required diplomats to provide a report on their activities after their return from the breakaway regions. The new rules require only five days advance notice for diplomats accredited in Georgia, although twelve working days is still required for diplomatic visitors based abroad. We believe that it will be possible to work with the GOG should important, high-level Washington visitors be required to travel to Abkhazia or South Ossetia on shorter notice. The new rules do away with the requirement for reporting back to the GOG on results of travel. ¶3. (U) In order to comply with the amended rules, all visitors to the U.S. Embassy in Tbilisi who wish to visit Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia or Abkhazia will need to SIPDIS provide a written request to the U.S. Embassy 15 working days in advance of their visit in order for the appropriate request to be made to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia within 12 days requirement. Please include with the request the exact time and itinerary of the visit, full composition of the delegation and planned meetings. ¶4. (U) The text of the Circular Note follows: Begin Text: Regulations Concerning Visit of the Diplomatic Agents Accredited to Georgia and Foreign State officials to Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia, Georgia and Abkhazia, SIPDIS Georgia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia (hereinafter - the Ministry) should be notified in a written form about any visit of diplomatic agents accredited to Georgia or foreign state officials to Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia, Georgia and Abkhazia Georgia. - The formal notification about the intended visit should be communicated to the Ministry at least 5 working days in advance for the diplomatic agents accredited to Georgia and 12 working days for the foreign state officials. - The formal notification to the Ministry shall contain the information on the exact time and itinerary of the visit, full composition of the delegation and the planned meetings. - In case of visits of diplomatic agents accredited to Georgia exceptions to the Point 2 above are possible, where urgent circumstances (e.g. urgent consular needs or the progress of humanitarian aid) require visits at shorter notice. - The Ministry on a case by case basis, reserves the right to refuse permission to diplomatic agents and foreign state officials to travel to Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia, Georgia and Abkhazia, Georgia. - The Ministry gives permission in a written form to a foreign state official on a planned visit. In case of a joint visit of diplomatic agents accredited to Georgia and foreign state officials the regime of permissions for foreign state officials will be applied. - These regulations do not apply to foreign delegations under the auspices of the United Nations Secretary General and Diplomatic Missions or International Organizations mandated to operate on the territory of Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia, Georgia and Abkhazia, Georgia. End Text. ¶3. (U) All visitors to the U.S. Embassy in Tbilisi who wish to visit Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia or Abkhazia will need to provide a written request to the U.S. Embassy 15 working days in advance of their visit in order for the request to be made to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia within the 12 day requirement. Please include with the request the exact time and itinerary of the visit, full composition of the delegation and planned meetings. TBILISI 00002590 002 OF 002 TEFFT