Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08HELSINKI184
2008-04-29 12:18:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Helsinki
Cable title:  

FINLAND: RESPONSE ON ABKHAZIA AND SOUTH OSSETIA

Tags:  PREL GG RS FI 
pdf how-to read a cable
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DE RUEHHE #0184 1201218
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 291218Z APR 08
FM AMEMBASSY HELSINKI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4264
INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE
RUEHAH/AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT 0118
RUEHTA/AMEMBASSY ASTANA 0002
RUEHKB/AMEMBASSY BAKU 0013
RUEHSW/AMEMBASSY BERN 1130
RUEHEK/AMEMBASSY BISHKEK 0199
RUEHCH/AMEMBASSY CHISINAU 0036
RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE
RUEHKV/AMEMBASSY KYIV 0743
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 4889
RUEHNT/AMEMBASSY TASHKENT 0234
RUEHSI/AMEMBASSY TBILISI 0198
RUEHYE/AMEMBASSY YEREVAN 0040
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 0957
RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 0131
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0090
C O N F I D E N T I A L HELSINKI 000184 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/29/2015
TAGS: PREL GG RS FI
SUBJECT: FINLAND: RESPONSE ON ABKHAZIA AND SOUTH OSSETIA

REF: SECSTATE 40673

Classified By: PolChief Greg Thome Reasons 1.4 b,d.

C O N F I D E N T I A L HELSINKI 000184

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/29/2015
TAGS: PREL GG RS FI
SUBJECT: FINLAND: RESPONSE ON ABKHAZIA AND SOUTH OSSETIA

REF: SECSTATE 40673

Classified By: PolChief Greg Thome Reasons 1.4 b,d.


1. (C) PolOffs delivered subject demarche to Antti
Vanska, Counsellor, Unit for Russia and Paivi
Pihlajamaki, Second Secretary Unit for Europe and
Central Asia April 28. The GoF generally agreed
with the points. Pihlajamaki noted that Foreign
Minister Stubb used the opportunity of his April 25
meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov last
week to raise concerns about the Presidential
Instructions on Abkhazia and South Ossetia as well
as the UAV shootdown (see also septel).


2. (C) Speaking as for his own government and for
the Finnish OSCE Chairmanship-in-Office (CiO),
Stubb urged Lavorv to communicate more openly with
Tblisi and to find ways of playing a constructive
role in Abkhazia and South Ossetia without
threatening Georgian sovereignty. Stubb noted that
the OSCE would be a proper forum for a broad airing
of the UAV shootdown, and reassured Lavrov that the
Finnish CiO would endeavor to "channel" that
discussion in order to ensure that it remained
productive. Lavrov offered no substantive response
regarding either the Presidential Instructions or
the UAV. He suggested that the OSCE needed to find
"more serious" mechanisms for addressing security
issues, but also did not say "no" to dealing with
the issue at the OSCE, Pihlamaki reported. Lavrov
confirmed that President Putin had finally taken a
call from President Saakashvili. (GoF Comment:
Vanska and Pihlajamaki editorialized that, while
the OSCE discussions on Russia and Georgia are
necessary, they are unlikely to produce major
progress.) Lavrov also noted to Stubb that he had
discussed Georgia with Secretary Rice.


3. (C) Separately, the Finns said that Lithuania
wants the UAV shootdown and the Presidential
Instructions added to the EU's GAERC agenda this
week -- a move the GoF supports.

HYATT