GEORGIAN PRESIDENT SAAKASHVILI'S JUNE 25 MEETING

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BERLIN 000840 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/26/2018 TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR EUN GM RS SUBJECT: GEORGIAN PRESIDENT SAAKASHVILI'S JUNE 25 MEETING WITH CHANCELLOR MERKEL Classified By: Political Minister-Counselor Jeffrey Rathke for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili held a 90-minute lunch meeting June 25 in Berlin. According to the Chancellery, the atmosphere of the meeting was constructive. The majority of the discussion was taken up by Saakashvili's description of Georgia's economic progress, but Abkhazia and the EU's expanding role were also discussed. Georgia's request to join NATO's Membership Action Plan (MAP) was raised; Merkel told the press afterwards that Germany wanted to see progress on Abkhazia before supporting MQ. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) According to Norman Walter at the Chancellery, Saakashvili spent the first hour of the meeting methodically briefing Merkel on the economic situation in Georgia, stressing the country's recent progress and importance to the EU. Walter said this was not a discussion, with Merkel remaining silent and occasionally nodding while Saakashvili made Georgia's case. ¶3. (C) Saakashvili pressed Merkel to encourage the EU to play a greater role in mediating on Abkhazia. Merkel agreed that the EU should play a significant role in helping to facilitate a resolution, but deferred any action until the June 30 Friends of the Secretary General of Georgia (FSG) meeting in Berlin. ¶4. (C) Following the meeting with Saakashvili, Merkel reportedly called Slovenian Prime Minister Jansa and asked him to put Abkhazia on the agenda of the June 26-27 EU-Russia Summit. Walter said that Jansa agreed and that Abkhazia would be one of many topics raised at the summit. Likewise, Merkel agreed to discuss Abkhazia with Russian President Medvedev at July 7-9 G-8 Summit in Japan. Saakashvili was reportedly very happy with Merkel's decision to put Abkhazia on her agenda with Medvedev. Walter emphasized that Germany was not taking the lead or serving as an intermediary or moderator between Georgia and Russia (as alleged in some press reports). He said that Abkhazia would be addressed within the framework of the FSG; the EU would continue to discuss Abkhazia as well. ¶5. (C) The subject of MAP for Georgia reportedly was discussed only briefly. The Chancellor pledged Germany's support to help Georgia address areas of concern, but remained firm in her opposition to MAP until things changed on the ground in Abkhazia. In the press availability following their meeting, Merkel referred to the "political statement" at the Bucharest summit that Georgia would become a NATO member "one day." Merkel also told the press that no third country had a veto on NATO membership decisions, but that "clear progress" was necessary on Abkhazia before Germany would support MAP. She said she "would not find it good if a country had MAP when it still had a UN Mission in it." She declined to predict Germany's position on MAP at the December NATO Foreign Ministerial -- there would be a better picture of where things stood in the fall, and one should not focus excessively on December, in her view. Merkel noted the effect on NATO-EU relations of disagreements between Turkey and Cyprus, implying that Georgian NATO membership could import additional political difficulties into an Alliance that needed to be capable of action. Saakashvili said Georgia intended to make progress on Abkhazia, with a view toward improving Georgia's integration into NATO and closeness to the EU. He said Georgia wanted to have a concrete understanding of what was expected, and the discussion with the Chancellor constituted progress on that score. ¶6. (U) In the press availability, the Chancellor also reiterated Germany's support for Georgia's territorial integrity and concern about "specific steps" taken by Russia. She said deterioration of the conflicts in Georgia had to be avoided, and that Russia should continue its peacekeeping activities under the existing mandate until a new approach could be agreed. She said a negotiated solution to the conflicts could not be slow-tracked; intensified efforts were needed. ¶7. (U) Saakashvili called in the press availability for a "viable alternative" to the "existing format" on Abkhazia. He said Georgia was ready to work closely with Russia to prevent provocations. Saakashvili accused Russia of preparing to extract oil in Abkhazia, which was "unacceptable" and "contrary to international law." Nonetheless, Georgia wanted to reduce tensions and reach a BERLIN 00000840 002 OF 002 negotiated solution on Abkhazia, he emphasized. Saakashvili praised President Medvedev's "reflective" approach but asserted that the situation in Abkhazia had gotten worse, not better. Georgia "did not know" whether Medvedev was really in charge but wanted to remain in discussion with him. ¶8. (C) Comment: Chancellery senior-director-equivalent Geza von Geyr told us that Saakashvili should have left with a sense that Germany is ready to help Georgia deal with Abkhazia and other challenges. The Chancellery considered Saakashvili's presentation more restrained and constructive than they had expected. While the visit may not have erased German concerns about MAP for Georgia, it appears to have put the Chancellor's relationship with Saakashvili on a stronger footing, which should promote greater openness to addressing key issues in the months ahead. End Comment. TIMKEN JR