GERMANY EXPECTS RESUMPTION OF EU PCA NEGOTIATIONS

C O N F I D E N T I A L BERLIN 001526

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/10/2018
TAGS: EUN PREL PGOV GG RS
SUBJECT: GERMANY EXPECTS RESUMPTION OF EU PCA NEGOTIATIONS
WITH RUSSIA; UNCLEAR VIEW ON NEW RUSSIA SECURITY PROPOSAL

REF: STATE 119280

Classified By: ACTING POLITICAL MINISTER COUNSELOR STAN OTTO FOR REASON
S 1.4 (B) AND (D).


1. (C) POLOFF delivered reftel points to MFA Head of the
Russia and Ukraine Division Ernst Reichel. Reichel expected
the resumption of PCA negotiations to be approved at a
ministers' lunch today during the GAERC, and did not share
the concern that Russian President Medvedev's security
proposal was an attempt to divide the U.S. from Europe.
According to Reichel, the French presidency is arguing that
no formal decision is required and that general agreement is
sufficient. Reichel expects only Lithuania and possibly
Poland to oppose the resumption. In Germany's view, new
developments with regard to the August 12 and September 8
cease-fire agreements are unlikely, and it is difficult to
"see what can be won by waiting longer" to resume PCA
negotiations. Therefore, Germany supports moving forward in
light of what Russia has fulfilled from the agreements (i.e.,
moving out of Georgia proper and the buffer zones),and
Germany does not interpret what remains (i.e., troops levels,
the Upper Kodori Valley, and Akhalgori) as grounds for
continuing the suspension of PCA negotiations. Reichel
agreed that Germany would continue to pressure Russia for
OSCE and EUMM access to the two breakaway provinces.


2. (C) With regard to the Russian proposal for a new
pan-European security treaty, Reichel emphasized that the
Russians want the U.S. and Canada to be part of a conference
to discuss the proposal. Reichel expressed the view that the
Russian agenda is likely a reaction to NATO expansion and
missile defense and not an attempt to cut the U.S. and Canada
out of European security. Reichel, himself, questioned why
the U.S. perceived this as an attempt to divide the U.S. from
Europe. (NOTE: During earlier conversations, other contacts
at the MFA and Chancellery agreed that the Russian proposal
is an attempt to sideline the U.S.; the Chancellery is
especially worried by this prospect). Reichel agreed that
the Russian proposal contains various principles that
contradict Russia's past and continuing actions in Georgia
(i.e., refusal to allow EUMM and OSCE access and continued
non-compliance with the cease-fire agreements). However, he
argued that the conference would provide a forum to point out
such contradictions. Before a conference could occur,
Reichel suggested a process of confidence building by which
the participants could be assured that Russia would honor
whatever commitments it undertook at the conference.
TIMKEN JR