NATO/GEORGIA: ALLIES PRAISE GEORGIAN RESPONSE TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 USNATO 000191 SIPDIS NOFORN SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/22/2017 TAGS: PGOV PREL GG RS NATO SUBJECT: NATO/GEORGIA: ALLIES PRAISE GEORGIAN RESPONSE TO KODORI ATTACK REF: A. TBILISI 585 AND PREVIOUS ¶B. 2006 USNATO 609 ¶C. TBILISI 459 Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Richard G. Olson for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY AND COMMENT. NATO Allies unanimously praised Georgia's restrained response to the March 11 attacks in the Kodori Gorge (ref A) during a March 21 Political Committee meeting at NATO Headquarters. Allies commended Georgia for turning to the UN-led Joint Fact Finding Group, which includes Abkhaz and CIS Peacekeeping Force representatives, to investigate the attack before assigning blame. Allies also commented positively on Georgia's efforts to peacefully resolve the separatist conflicts in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The Allies' comments contrasted sharply with the criticism leveled at Georgia in an October Political Committee meeting following Georgia's arrest and expulsion of alleged Russian spies (ref B) and demonstrated that Georgia's restrained and transparent reaction to the Kodori attack has paid dividends for Georgia's image at NATO. END SUMMARY AND COMMENT. ALLIES IMPRESSED WITH GEORGIAN RESPONSE TO ATTACK -------------- -------------- ¶2. (C) Following a Georgian briefing on its efforts to resolve the separatist conflicts in Abkhazia and South Ossetia, Allies at a March 21 Political Committee meeting praised Georgia for its restrained response to the March 11 attack in the Kodori Gorge and for its efforts to resolve the separatist conflicts exclusively through peaceful means. Germany welcomed the Joint Fact Finding Group investigation of the March 11 attack and hoped confidence building measures agreed at the last meeting of the Group of Friends of the UN Secretary-General in Geneva (ref C) would soon be SIPDIS implemented. France noted NATO had no formal role in the resolution of the conflicts, but welcomed the briefing and expressed support for Georgia's peaceful approach. ¶3. (C) Bulgaria praised Georgia's progress in reforms and said Georgia was acting in a moderate and restrained way, especially after the March 11 attack. Spain stressed the importance of a commitment to peaceful conflict resolution, which Georgia had demonstrated by turning to the Joint Fact Finding Group as well by presenting new ideas and proposal to re-energize negotiations over the conflicts. ¶4. (C) The Czech Republic thanked Georgia for its "reassuring" briefing and welcomed its decision to involve all parties in the investigation into the March 11 incident. Estonia noted Georgia was demonstrating a lot of goodwill in its efforts to resolve the conflicts and welcomed Georgia's constructive approach toward Russia. ¶5. (C) The UK welcomed Georgia's efforts at peaceful conflict resolution and expressed appreciation for the restraint shown after the March 11 attack. The UK added that Georgia needed to do its part to implement UNSCR 1716, including reducing personnel in the Upper Kodori Valley to agreed levels. The U.S. expressed strong support for Georgia's commitment to peaceful resolution of the conflicts, acknowledging that choices such as its response to the Kodori attack were difficult for Georgia. Georgia's latest proposal related to South Ossetia included interesting ideas and Georgia should continue to consult with Allies and others. ¶6. (C) Lithuania praised Georgia's self-restraint in the face of missile attacks on March 11, noting this response had strengthened Georgia's position. Latvia, Canada, Romania, Denmark, Poland, Greece, and Norway also commended Georgia on its commitment to peaceful resolution of the conflicts. ¶7. (C) Denmark, Germany, and Portugal encouraged Georgia to consider signing a declaration on the non-use of force as a means to advance negotiations with the Abkhaz. Germany, Slovakia, Norway, and the U.S. rejected Kosovo as any form of precedent for the resolution of conflicts elsewhere. GEORGIANS STRESS COMMITMENT TO PEACEFUL RESOLUTION -------------- -------------- ¶8. (C) The briefing by Georgian Deputy FM Manjgaladze and Deputy State Minister for Conflict Resolution Kaladze reiterated Georgia's commitment to the peaceful resolution of the conflicts in Abkhazia and South Ossetia, outlined Georgia's proposal for resolution of the conflicts including the draft MOU it distributed at the OSCE, and expressed Georgia's desire for direct talks with separatist leaders. USNATO 00000191 002 OF 002 While noting that Georgia was not aiming to change negotiating formats now, the briefers made clear Georgia's frustration with the current formats and with Russia's role as "facilitator" of the peace process, noting Russia was not an honest broker and was impeding genuine negotiations. ¶9. (C) Manjgaladze stressed that it was a Georgian proposal to use the UN-led Joint Fact Finding Group to investigate the Kodori attack even though the participation of Abkhaz and CIS Peacekeeping force representatives in the group would reduce the chances of a conclusive report. He noted that the evidence available so far indicated military helicopters had participated in the attack and, given the difficult flying conditions, Georgia believed only Russia could have carried it out. Nonetheless, Georgia would not publicly speculate on responsibility until the investigation was complete. It would, however, "react on all levels to prevent a future incident." 10 (C) The briefers welcomed increased international involvement, especially from the EU, in conflict resolution and stressed the importance of economic development in the conflict areas as long as aid was funneled through the central government. Deputy Interior Minister Zguladze also pointed to Georgian efforts "to clean up illegality" in risk areas, such as the Pankisi Gorge and the areas near the boundary with Abkhazia and South Ossetia. She said, however, that Georgian efforts would fail without the establishment of Georgian-Russian border controls in Abkhazia and South Ossetia, especially at the Roki Tunnel. She invited international efforts to assist in controlling that border crossing, calling it a very high Georgian national priority. ¶11. (C) In response to the calls for Georgia to issue a declaration on the non-use of force, Manjgaladze said Georgia was flexible on the issue and had made similar commitments in different forms several times in the past. Previous iterations, however, were always signed in parallel with commitments from the Abkhaz side, especially regarding the return of IDPs. Zguladze added that the March 11 attack demonstrated that Georgia was not the one shooting and Deputy Defense Minister Kutelia added that perhaps Russia should sign a non-use of force commitment with Georgia. Asked how Georgia would respond if the investigation showed Russia had carried out the March 11 attack, Kutelia said Georgia had no plan, but asked Allies what they thought Georgia should do. NULAND