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

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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.

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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