Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BRUSSELS1138
2008-07-25 13:56:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
USEU Brussels
Cable title:  

GEORGIA: A/S FRIED ENCOURAGES EU TO DO MORE

Tags:  PREL PGOV PBTS KINR EAID ECON EUN GO XH 
pdf how-to read a cable
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OO RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHBS #1138/01 2071356
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 251356Z JUL 08
FM USEU BRUSSELS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEHSI/AMEMBASSY TBILISI IMMEDIATE
RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA IMMEDIATE
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BRUSSELS 001138 

NOFORN
SIPDIS

EUR FOR FRIED, BRYZA; NSC FOR WILSON AND STERLING

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/26/2008
TAGS: PREL PGOV PBTS KINR EAID ECON EUN GO XH
SUBJECT: GEORGIA: A/S FRIED ENCOURAGES EU TO DO MORE

REF: USEU 1120

Classified By: Christopher Davis, Political Minister-Counselor for reas
ons 1.4(d) and (e)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BRUSSELS 001138

NOFORN
SIPDIS

EUR FOR FRIED, BRYZA; NSC FOR WILSON AND STERLING

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/26/2008
TAGS: PREL PGOV PBTS KINR EAID ECON EUN GO XH
SUBJECT: GEORGIA: A/S FRIED ENCOURAGES EU TO DO MORE

REF: USEU 1120

Classified By: Christopher Davis, Political Minister-Counselor for reas
ons 1.4(d) and (e)


1. (C/NF) Summary: EUR Assistant Secretary Dan Fried
emphasized to a group of EU Political and Security Committee
(PSC) Ambassadors that the situation in Georgia was growing
increasingly tense. He noted U.S. support for a
German-drafted Western Friends' three-phase plan to reach a
settlement to the Abkhazia conflict and highlighted
opportunities for the EU to play an increased role in
implementing the proposals. PSC officials emphasized the
EU's increased attention to Georgia and explained that member
states would soon decide on an options paper for increased
engagement there. The Ambassadors raised concerns about
balancing competing interests with regard to Russia and
queried Fried on the impact of Georgia and Ukraine moving
closer to NATO. Separately, A/S Fried briefed Council
Secretariat DirGen Robert Cooper on the Quad meeting and
highlighted specific steps the West should consider taking to
support the German plan as well as options in the face of
Russian attempts to block it. Cooper observed that "the
problem resides in Moscow" and thought Berlin could exert
powerful influence on the Kremlin by hinting at consideration
of support for Georgia MAP. End Summary.

Cooper: The Problem Resides in Moscow
--------------

2. (C/NF) In a July 22 meeting accompanied by Ambassador
Silverberg, A/S Fried and Robert Cooper EU Council
Secretariat Director General exchanged readouts of the Quad
and the GAERC discussions of Georgia held earlier the same
day (reftel). Cooper noted that German FM Steinmeier 's
"information point" on the Western Friends of Georgia
negotiations proposal had sparked an unfocused debate among
EU Foreign Ministers without leading to a concrete plan.
Ministers expressed frustration and a feeling of growing

danger. " Steinmeier's plan was reasonable, the situation
in Georgia was not." Cooper noted that "the problem resided
in Moscow with its creeping annexation (of Abkhazia) and
provocations." This had made it all the more difficult for
the EU, as "an enlightenment organization" to handle.
Nonetheless, the EU FMs felt overall that the EU needed to
get involved. Fried suggested the EU consider specific steps
to support the German plan at different stages, including
tasks related to policing, border monitoring, and economic
rehabilitation. Secretary Rice, was exceptionally tough with
Georgian leaders during her early July trip to Tbilisi and
had succeeded in bringing them around to make key concessions
in Phase One of the German-drafted plan.

3.(C/NF) Cooper said CFSP High Rep Solana believed the EU
should adhere to three principles for engagement: support for
Georgia's territorial integrity, support for some level of
autonomy for Abkhazia, and rejection of settlement by force;
"and keep repeating it." A/S Fried warned Cooper that there
were signs of Russian backtracking on the first point. He
pointed to a recent Medvedev letter to President Bush in
which he referred to the "problem of" Georgia's territorial
integrity. In the face of Russian attempts to block
negotiations, the EU should consider ending visa facilitation
for Abkhaz holders of Russian passports and imposing
sanctions against Russians engaged in illegal investment in
Abkhazia. Cooper agreed that "the problem resides in
Moscow" and thought Berlin could exert powerful influence on
the Kremlin by hinting at consideration of support for
Georgia MAP.

PSC Ambassadors : We Want to Do More
--------------

4. (C) A/S Fried also briefed a group of ten EU Political
and Security Committee (PSC) officials July 23 on Quad (UK,
U.S., Germany, and France) Political Directors meeting on
Georgia of July 22. He warned that the situation in Georgia
was deteriorating faster than the diplomatic process could
move to address it. The atmosphere is growing tenser, and
one incident could trigger a downward spiral, said Fried.
While the Georgians are not without blame, the Russians are
the principal aggressors. He highlighted a possible danger
that the Russians could misjudge U.S. and EU priorities and
assume that the partners were otherwise engaged with
presidential elections and getting the Treaty of Lisbon back
on track and try to take advantage of that situation. It
remains important to demonstrate to Moscow that the U.S. and
EU share common objectives and resolve.

BRUSSELS 00001138 002 OF 002




5. (C) A/S Fried underscored U.S. support for German FM
Steinmeier's engagement on Georgia and cited as a good basis
for work a German paper which details three phases for
engagement to reach a settlement: first, non-use of force
pledges and accompanying security measures; second,
confidence-building measures; and third, status issues.
Fried noted that Political Directors will soon meet to flesh
out the details of the first phase of the plan and suggested
that the EU could play a role in the phase one activities,
possibly in the shape of providing outside observers in the
instance of a mutual Georgian-Abkhazian withdrawal. If the
German process works, Fried foresees a Ministerial-level
meeting on the margins of UNGA. He warned that if the
Russians refuse to participate, we will collectively need to
think about ways to ensure that Moscow pays a diplomatic
price for its unwillingness to engage on finding a solution.
Fried also praised a recent New Friends of Georgia grouping
led by Poland and including Sweden and other nations which
can intervene with Georgia in ways that other countries with
different historical experiences cannot.


6. (C) In response to Fried's remarks, UK PSC Ambassador
Barrow and Irish PSC Ambassador Cross highlighted recent EU
internal discussions about Georgia and noted the increasing
priority the member states are giving to the issue. French
Deputy PSC Ambassador Chabert explained that the EU next week
would take decisions on a Georgia "options paper" which
discusses ways of creating security-building measures,
methods of supporting the initiative to create a free trade
zone and possibilities to weaken links between the Abkhazian
and Russian sides. (Note: In a July 22 meeting with A/S
Fried and EUR DAS Matthew Bryza, Swedish FM Carl Bildt said
the European Commission's FTA proposal " did not go far
enough" and that ending visa facilitation for Abkhaz Russian
passport holders required passport data the EU did not
currently possess, but that it was not impossible. End
Note.) In response to a UK question as to whether Russia
would participate in the upcoming meeting, Fried assessed
that it will be hard for the Russians to avoid the event, but
they likely will try to stall progress. A Finnish official
questioned how long the Georgians would wait for the German
plan to yield concrete results. Fried replied that the more
support we provide, the more patience we can expect. Our
goal should be to extend the time frame at play by
stabilizing the situation and convincing Georgians that there
is no need to be in a hurry. Russian intransigence and
ongoing provocations gave us cause for genuine alarm,
however.


7. (C) European officials also raised questions about
Russian behavior more broadly, specifically noting that while
Russia's involvement on Georgia was troublesome, there were
other issues where Moscow's cooperation was necessary,
particularly at the UN. Fried agreed that balancing the
interests would be difficult, citing as examples Russian
helpfulness on Iran and intransigence on Zimbabwe. He
highlighted the importance of countering Russia's perceptions
that the U.S. and EU are divided in New York. Fried also
addressed recent "1970s-style" proposals from Moscow on new
European security architecture and urged that we start
querying the Russians about the details of their ideas,
specifically how this will fit in with Georgia, address
energy policies, and relate to the existing security
structures in Europe.


8. (C) Irish and Czech PSC Ambassadors requested A/S Fried's
assessment of the impact of Georgian and Ukrainian bids to
join NATO. On Georgia, Fried noted that the decisions made
at Bucharest were ambiguous enough to give Russians a chance
to negatively intervene. Russia is relieved by the political
turmoil in Ukraine, said Fried, and it is clear that Moscow
will continue to try to exert pressure there. Although it is
a long road to full NATO membership for Georgia and Ukraine,
Fried underscored the importance of not permittin Russia to
draw a line in Europe.


9. (U) ER A/S Fried did not have the opportunity to clear
this message before departing post.
SILVERBERG
.