TURKEY: GEORGIAN FM URGES GLOBAL SOLUTIONS IN

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 001576 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR/SE, EUR/CARC E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/02/2018 TAGS: PREL GG RU TU SUBJECT: TURKEY: GEORGIAN FM URGES GLOBAL SOLUTIONS IN MEETING WITH FM BABACAN Classified By: DCM Doug Silliman, reasons 1.4 (b,d) ¶1. (C) Georgian DCM Irakli Koplatadze on September 1 gave DCM a readout of the August 31 meeting between Turkish FM Babacan and Georgian FM Tkeshelashvili in Istanbul. Babacan, said Koplatadze, began the meeting by expressing "deep concern" for Russian actions and strong Turkish support for the "political unity, territorial integrity, and sovereignty" of Georgia. He then asked if, now that the immediate tensions of the Russian invasion had eased, Georgia would be willing to discuss Turkey's idea for a Caucasus Stability and Cooperation Platform. Babacan also expressed concern over Georgia's decision to break diplomatic relations with Russia, but, according to Koplatadze, expressed Turkish support for Georgia's NATO candidacy. ¶2. (C) Tkeshelashvili responded that Georgia does not believe the current situation calls for "local" solutions. She asked Turkey to do more to make sure that European and global organizations in which it is a member or candidate -- NATO, EU, OSCE, UN -- work to press Russia to restore Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity. As long as Georgia is occupied by Russian troops and Russia recognizes Abkhazia and South Ossetia, Georgia will not be willing to sit with Russia in the format Turkey has suggested. The two agreed to be back in touch (probably by phone) after Lavrov's September 2 visit to Ankara. ¶3. (C) According to Koplatadze, at an August 31 dinner for Tkeshelashvili, PM Erdogan's Foreign Policy Advisor Ahmet Davutoglu commented that NATO had a role in resolving the Georgia crisis, but that NATO must have a clear framework of responsibilities for Georgia and define precisely "where those responsibilities start and where they end." COMMENT: We read this remark as a further sign of Turkey's caution in approaching Georgia's desire for full membership. END COMMENT. Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Turk ey WILSON