UNSC/GEORGIA -- OPPOSING SEPARATIST PARTICIPATION

C O N F I D E N T I A L JAKARTA 001806 SIPDIS DEPT FOR GCG, EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, EUR, EUR/RUS, EUR/CARC, IO, IO/UNP (MOORE) E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/22/2018 TAGS: PREL UNSC ID GG RS SUBJECT: UNSC/GEORGIA -- OPPOSING SEPARATIST PARTICIPATION IN DISCUSSIONS REF: STATE 100791 Classified By: Pol/C Joseph L. Novak, reasons 1.4(b+d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: Mission has urged the Indonesian government to oppose participation by Abkhazia and South Ossetia in UN Security Council discussions on Georgia. GOI contacts took the points on board. One contact in the President's Office--noting Indonesia's longstanding concern about separatism--said the GOI was unlikely to support an appearance by representatives of the two entities in the UNSC. We recommend that this matter also be reviewed in New York with high-level Indonesian interlocutors now there for UNGA. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) Mission reviewed reftel points regarding Georgia with the GOI on September 22. In discussions with contacts in the President's Office and the Department of Foreign Affairs, Mission underscored that the appropriate venue to hear any views from the Abkhas and South Ossetian leaders is the October 15 international meeting in Geneva. We stressed that inviting the separatists to the UNSC discussions would only stimulate Russia's campaign to legitimize its recognition of the separatist regions. This is inconsistent with numerous UNSC resolutions, including UNSCR 1808 in April of this year. The Council must maintain a unified message and continue to support Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity. ¶3. (C) Our Department of Foreign Affairs contacts took the points on board. Pol/C also reviewed the USG points with Tri Sukma Djandam, an advisor to the President on international affairs. Hearing us out, Djandam noted Indonesia's longstanding concerns about separatism domestically and internationally, and said the GOI was unlikely to support an appearance by representatives of the two entities in the UNSC. Pol/C urged that the GOI instruct its mission in New York as soon as possible re this matter, underscoring its opposition to the Russian plan. ¶4. (C) GOI contacts noted that many high-level Indonesian officials are already in New York for UNGA. They recommended that the USG talk to them there. In particular, Mission recommends that we engage Desra Percaya, the head of the Department of Foreign Affairs' Office of International Security, who is slated to be part of Foreign Minister Wirajuda's delegation to UNGA. HUME