TFGG01 - DEMARCHE REQUEST ON BELGIAN MFA (CURRENT

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 001337 SIPDIS DEPT FOR IO/UNP K.G. MOORE E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/27/2018 TAGS: UNSC PREL GG BE SUBJECT: TFGG01 - DEMARCHE REQUEST ON BELGIAN MFA (CURRENT UNSC CHAIR) RE EMERGENCY SESSION TODAY REF: A. STATE 92371 ¶B. 92325 ¶C. 91894 AND 90978 Classified By: POL/ECON Counselor Richard Eason for reasons 4 b/d ¶1. (C) SEE URGENT DEVELOPMENT IN PARA 4 (BELOW). The MFA of Belgium, which this month chairs the UNSC, is in the process of refining its instructions to Amb. Jan Grauls in New York for today's emergency UNSC meeting that is being convened at the request of the Government of Georgia. Before Poloff could go down the list of what we want Permreps to say at this meeting (REF A) Fons Borginon, deputy chief of cabinet to FonMin De Gucht, said that the current Belgian talking points begin with the forceful condemnation of Russia's decision to recognize South Ossetia and Abhazia (which FonMin De Gucht also made in a strongly-worded press release Aug 26) and a call on Russia to (1) revoke its recognition; (2) reaffirm Goergia's territorial integrity; and (3) implement the Sarkozy plan, as clarified. It was almost as if he had read our points before. ¶2. (C) When asked about calling on Russia to cooperate with the OSCE, EU and UN to find an international mechanism to bring stability, he said that this is always Belgium's approach to such problems. He said there might also be a point about the need for access for humanitarian aid. ¶3. (C) Our interlocutor made clear that these talking points will not be cast in concrete until shortly before they are sent to Amb Grauls at about 9:00 AM NY Time and they may also include some way of trying to encourage a return to talking with the Russians. He hinted that the Belgians take the fact that the GOR has been writing opeds and editorials everywhere this week as an indication that the Russians are not altogether comfortable with the position they find themselves in after recognizing these non-viable mini-states. What will the Tchechens say? And China with its Uighurs won't like it either. ¶4. (C) URGENT DEVELOPMENT: South Ossetia and Abkhazia have asked to be heard at this meeting. So, when, at eleven AM NY Time, Amb Grauls chairs a meeting to discuss the format of this emergency session, he will have to figure out how to handle this request in a way that does not advance these mini-states' pretensions to recognition. COMMENT: Grauls, an experienced multilateral diplomat, no doubt realizes precisely what is at stake. END COMMENT BUSH .