Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07USUNNEWYORK155
2007-02-27 19:19:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
USUN New York
Cable title:  

USUN DISCUSSES PROTRACTED CONFLICTS RESOLUTION

Tags:  PGOV PREL GG MD AJ 
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PP RUEHBZ RUEHIK RUEHYG
DE RUCNDT #0155 0581919
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 271919Z FEB 07
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1396
INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHKB/AMEMBASSY BAKU PRIORITY 0140
RUEHCH/AMEMBASSY CHISINAU PRIORITY 0051
RUEHKV/AMEMBASSY KYIV PRIORITY 0006
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PRIORITY 0956
RUEHSI/AMEMBASSY TBILISI PRIORITY 3884
RUEHYE/AMEMBASSY YEREVAN PRIORITY 0113
RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE PRIORITY 1655
UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000155 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL GG MD AJ
SUBJECT: USUN DISCUSSES PROTRACTED CONFLICTS RESOLUTION
WITH GUAM

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000155

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL GG MD AJ
SUBJECT: USUN DISCUSSES PROTRACTED CONFLICTS RESOLUTION
WITH GUAM


1. (SBU) On February 23, Acting Permrep Wolff met with
representatives of the GUAM (Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and
Moldova) at their request to discuss their initiative of a
General Assembly (GA) resolution on protracted conflicts.
Speaking for the GUAM, Moldovan Permrep Grigore explained the
group had introduced its issue on the GA agenda in September
and now was discussing how to proceed. The GUAM thought it
had a coordinated and balanced text but were ready to work to
make it "more balanced and acceptable to all interested."
Ideally the GUAM would achieve consensus, said Grigore, but
"as we do not live in an ideal world, that might not be
possible." Grigore stated that the GUAM had met recently
with Russian Permrep Churkin, the EU Troika, the UK and
others. He reported that Russia had said that it was flatly
against the GUAM initiative and considered it "illegally
placed on the agenda, which was a procedural issue it
intended to pursue." Grigore also said the GUAM was
cognizant that there are many parallel processes and issues
at stake in the UN.


2. (SBU) Ambassador Wolff explained that the US wanted the
GUAM as a partner and wanted a consensual outcome and that
the effort at reaching consensus should be made before GUAM
members tabled their resolution. Wolff said the US also
faced a problem of timing because we were working on a
number of other issues and our ability to deal with some
parties, including Russia, might be complicated by how they
reacted to the GUAM resolution. This in turn would obviously
affect our ability to facilitate an ideal outcome for GUAM
countries on issues important to them. These other issues
included Kosovo, Abkhazia and Minsk Group work on
Nagorno-Karabakh. USUN Deputy Polcounselor explained to the
GUAM representatives that we could probably agree readily on
criteria to be applied to efforts to resolve the protracted
conflicts, but we would want any resolution to indicate that
application of those criteria could dictate different results
in different conflicts.


3. (SBU) Ambassador Grigore said he appreciated our clear
message, explaining that the GUAM had heard a similarly clear
message from the EU Troika. Georgian Permrep Alasania
explained that the GUAM considered its relations with the US
as special and was seriously considering delay on its
resolution.


4. (SBU) Ambassador Wolff explained again that the US would
insist on consensus -- if the GUAM insisted on a resolution
-- rather than specific wording and he agreed to reach out to
the Armenian Mission as appropriate. The Moldovan Ambassador
stated that the GUAM would be appreciatiative if USUN could
actively help to broker the process of coming up with a
consensual resolution and hoped we could make the exercise a
triumph of trans-Atlantic cooperation.


5. (SBU) Comment: The GUAM's unexpected move to suddenly
table their resolution may have reflected the group's
frustration that few regard their initiative as a priority
and that there may never be "a right time" for them to table
it and begin debate. USUN will approach Armenia and continue
to engage the GUAM, if only to keep their issue off the GA
agenda, but we will have to do so gingerly so as not to
disrupt work on Kosovo, Georgia and other issues. End
comment.
WOLFF