TFGG01: CHANCELLOR MERKEL SAYS RUSSIA HAS NOT

C O N F I D E N T I A L BERLIN 001181 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/25/2018 TAGS: PREL NATO GM GG RS SUBJECT: TFGG01: CHANCELLOR MERKEL SAYS RUSSIA HAS NOT FULFILLED SIX-POINT PLAN REF: A. STATE 90980 ¶B. STATE 90978 Classified By: Acting DCM Jeffrey Rathke for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: German Chancellor Merkel said in an interview August 24 that Russia had not fulfilled its obligations under the ceasefire agreement and called Russia's credibility into question. A Chancellery spokesman criticized the Russian legislature's recommendation of recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia and called on President Medvedev and the Russian government not to act on the parliamentary resolution. Foreign Minister Steinmeier said publicly August 24 that Russia must implement all the ceasefire requirements. He spoke August 24 with Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov, but the results of the conversation have been closely held -- the Foreign Office did not have a readout yet. Merkel renewed her call for a meeting of EU members with Georgia and neighboring states (not including Russia),but the Chancellery does not expect this meeting to happen for several weeks. End summary. Merkel States Clearly: Russia has not Met Conditions ¶2. (U) Chancellor Merkel said in a nationally televised interview August 24 (text emailed to EUR) that Russia had not fulfilled the requirements of the six-point-plan. She highlighted the Russian troop presence around Poti in particular. If this continued, Merkel warned, there could be further "decisions," an apparent reference to consequences. "There has to be credibility," she noted. She said it was important that "the respect for the territorial integrity of a country is one of the values of German foreign policy." Merkel restated Germany's Bucharest Summit position on Georgia and NATO/MAP, but added that Russia needed to understand that independent countries could choose their security arrangements freely and that NATO was not a Cold War alliance anymore, but rather a future-oriented "Alliance based on values." ¶3. (C) A/DCM spoke August 25 with Chancellery Deputy National Security Adviser Rolf Nikel, welcoming Merkel's statements and seeking any additional German assessment. Nikel clarified a statement by Deputy Government Spokesman Thomas Steg over the weekend that had been interpreted by some to suggest acceptance of additional Russian troops under "additional security measures." Nikel said Germany's position is that Russian forces are only permitted to carry out patrols (not roadblocks or checkpoints) under these provisions, only in an area several kilometers outside the administrative border of South Ossetia, and that the forces patrolling had to belong the contingent of 500 peacekeeping forces based in South Ossetia (the level Russia maintained before hostilities). German Government: Tough Statement Against Recognition ¶4. (C) A/DCM drew from reftels in August 25 conversations with Nikel and Foreign Office DAS-equivalent Emily Haber. Nikel and Haber agreed with U.S. points, and Nikel highlighted the public comments made August 25 by Deputy Spokesman Steg, who criticized the Russian parliamentary resolution as contrary to the principle of Georgia's territorial integrity and sovereignty. Steg said that the resolution would not help calm the situation in Georgia, and Germany's expectation of Russia and President Medvedev was that the Russian Government would not approve or implement it. EU Council Meeting September 1 ¶5. (C) Nikel said that the EU Council meeting called by French President Sarkozy for September 1 would have three basic agenda items: humanitarian and reconstruction assistance to Georgia; further measures the EU could implement (e.g. monitoring forces, ESDP mission); and the future of EU-Russia relations. The PSC would meet this week and would try to develop more details. Nikel said Germany sensed a growing "willingness to do something" in the EU but did not offer specific German ideas. Haber added that the Foreign Office was planning for Steinmeier to join Merkel for the EU Council. EU - Georgia Meeting? ¶6. (C) Nikel reiterated Germany's interest in supporting a meeting that would bring the EU together with Georgia and other states in the region that participate in the EU's Neighborhood Policy (Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Kazakstan were mentioned in press reports). Nikel cautioned that Germany did not expect this meeting to happen soon -- plans would need to develop carefully because of the delicate situation and the interests of other participants. Nikel expected the September 1 EU Council to initiate discussion of the idea, which foreign ministers might take up at the September 5-6 Gymnich meeting. The Chancellery did not expect that actual event to take place before the end of September. Haber noted that the Foreign Office saw this primarily as a reconstruction conference. OSCE Monitors ¶7. (C) Nikel said deployment of German OSCE monitors would have to be approved by the cabinet -- this would be done at the August 27 weekly cabinet meeting. TIMKEN JR