Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08KUALALUMPUR769
2008-08-29 09:40:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Cable title:
GOM CONSIDERING POSITION ON GEORGIA
how-toVZCZCXRO1536 PP RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH DE RUEHKL #0769 2420940 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 290940Z AUG 08 FM AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1569 INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 2492 RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 2605 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 0186 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 1690 RUEHSI/AMEMBASSY TBILISI 0016 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 2567 RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 0018 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1081
C O N F I D E N T I A L KUALA LUMPUR 000769
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP/MTS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/29/2018
TAGS: PREL GG RS MY
SUBJECT: GOM CONSIDERING POSITION ON GEORGIA
REF: A. SECSTATE 90978
B. SECSTATE 89769
C. SECSTATE 87763
Classified By: ACTING POLITICAL SECTION CHIEF W. GARY GRAY, REASON 1.4
(B AND
D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L KUALA LUMPUR 000769
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP/MTS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/29/2018
TAGS: PREL GG RS MY
SUBJECT: GOM CONSIDERING POSITION ON GEORGIA
REF: A. SECSTATE 90978
B. SECSTATE 89769
C. SECSTATE 87763
Classified By: ACTING POLITICAL SECTION CHIEF W. GARY GRAY, REASON 1.4
(B AND
D).
1. (C) Drawing on points from demarche reftels, in an
August 28 meeting with MFA Undersecretary for Europe Mahinder
Singh, DCM Rapson stressed that Russia,s clearly
disproportionate response to events in Georgia went against
the grain of international practice and convention, and
underlined U.S. rejection of Russia,s recognition of South
Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent states. Mahinder, while
acknowledging that the situation in Georgia "is a big concern
for us," said his government was still grappling with the
issue and that it was important to understand Russia,s
perspective regarding what appeared to be Western/NATO
expansion into "Russia,s backyard." He noted that ASEAN had
successfully brought Russia into the Asia Pacific process and
that "Russia has never disturbed our region." He indicated
that the GOM planned to make a statement on the issue soon,
but did not provide further elaboration on the GOM,s
position. DCM reiterated that if the international community
failed to respond to such violations of the territorial
integrity of an established country, it heightens the risk
that it could happen again.
2. (C) On an August 25 call on Deputy Prime Minister Najib
Tun Razak with visiting U.S. Pacific Fleet Commander Admiral
Willard (reported septel),the Ambassador asked the DPM to
support Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and
to call on Russia to honor its commitments under the
ceasefire President Medvedev signed. The Ambassador also
urged continued access for international humanitarian
organizations to corridors for the delivery of humanitarian
assistance as well as OSCE monitoring.. Najib responded
that the Russians were testing the international community.
They had done this before and every time they met weakness
when they probed they would be emboldened to press further.
He declined to commit Malaysia to any public or private
actions on the issue, but made it clear that he was
personally unsympathetic to Russia's current course of
action.
KEITH
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP/MTS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/29/2018
TAGS: PREL GG RS MY
SUBJECT: GOM CONSIDERING POSITION ON GEORGIA
REF: A. SECSTATE 90978
B. SECSTATE 89769
C. SECSTATE 87763
Classified By: ACTING POLITICAL SECTION CHIEF W. GARY GRAY, REASON 1.4
(B AND
D).
1. (C) Drawing on points from demarche reftels, in an
August 28 meeting with MFA Undersecretary for Europe Mahinder
Singh, DCM Rapson stressed that Russia,s clearly
disproportionate response to events in Georgia went against
the grain of international practice and convention, and
underlined U.S. rejection of Russia,s recognition of South
Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent states. Mahinder, while
acknowledging that the situation in Georgia "is a big concern
for us," said his government was still grappling with the
issue and that it was important to understand Russia,s
perspective regarding what appeared to be Western/NATO
expansion into "Russia,s backyard." He noted that ASEAN had
successfully brought Russia into the Asia Pacific process and
that "Russia has never disturbed our region." He indicated
that the GOM planned to make a statement on the issue soon,
but did not provide further elaboration on the GOM,s
position. DCM reiterated that if the international community
failed to respond to such violations of the territorial
integrity of an established country, it heightens the risk
that it could happen again.
2. (C) On an August 25 call on Deputy Prime Minister Najib
Tun Razak with visiting U.S. Pacific Fleet Commander Admiral
Willard (reported septel),the Ambassador asked the DPM to
support Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and
to call on Russia to honor its commitments under the
ceasefire President Medvedev signed. The Ambassador also
urged continued access for international humanitarian
organizations to corridors for the delivery of humanitarian
assistance as well as OSCE monitoring.. Najib responded
that the Russians were testing the international community.
They had done this before and every time they met weakness
when they probed they would be emboldened to press further.
He declined to commit Malaysia to any public or private
actions on the issue, but made it clear that he was
personally unsympathetic to Russia's current course of
action.
KEITH