RUSSIANS RENEW PRESSURE FOR U.S. APPEARANCE BY DE

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000195

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL GG
SUBJECT: RUSSIANS RENEW PRESSURE FOR U.S. APPEARANCE BY DE
FACTO ABKHAZ FOREIGN MINISTER

REF: TBILISI 459


1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified -- please protect
accordingly.


2. (U) This is an action request -- action requested para 5.


3. (SBU) On March 12 Russian PR Churkin, in reaction to
negative signals from Washington, renewed his request of last
week for U.S. approval of a visa for de facto Abkhaz Foreign
Minister Sergey Shamba to participate in an "Arria" formula
meeting with Security Council members prior to the April 15
renewal of UN Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG). The Russians
insist that Shamba be given the chance to make an appearance
in the U.S. prior to the April 15 renewal of the UNOMIG
mandate. They do not propose that Shamba participate
directly in Council discussions of UNOMIG or formally address
the Security Council, perhaps in recognition of the near
unanimous rejection of this proposal by the Friends of the
Secretary General in their February 12-13 meeting in Geneva

SIPDIS
(Tbilisi 459). With some annoyance, Churkin said that the
Russians were "tired of speaking on behalf of the Abkhaz in
the Council" and were looking for a way to shift this
responsibility to the Abkhaz themselves. Churkin, who said
he had firm instructions to get this done, pressed strongly
for U.S. agreement to issue a visa in time for Shamba to come
to New York well before the UNOMIG mandate renewal April 15,
noting that refusal to accommodate this "reasonable request"
for an unofficial meeting with Council members would create
greater difficulties in our dealings with this conflict.


4. (SBU) In his earlier approach to us, Churkin indicated
that Russia proposes to host an Arria formula meeting in New
York to give Shamba a platform to express Abkhaz views. He
explained that they seek to give the Council the opportunity
to take the Abkhaz position more fully into account in
renewing the UNOMIG mandate. (Note: Arria formula meetings
are not official meetings of the Security Council. Such
"meetings" may be hosted by any member of the Council and
invitations are extended by that delegation to all Council
members, who may be represented at any level. As such,
issuance of visas for non-member participants would be at the
discretion of the U.S. End Note.)


5. (SBU) Comment and Action Requested: Although Arria
formula meetings are not official meetings of the Council,
they have taken on a semi-official status. Council members
are not obliged but are expected to send a representative to
attend. The Russians seem to be arguing that the Friends
Group only rejected the proposal that the Abkhaz be granted
the chance to address the Council in a formal session in
connection with the UNOMIG mandate renewal. Russia's
proposed Arria formula meeting is thus presented as a
compromise. USUN seeks Department guidance on a response to
Russian mission.
WOLFF