FINLAND: RESPONSE ON ABKHAZIA AND SOUTH OSSETIA

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