NICARAGUA RECOGNIZES INDEPENDENCE OF SOUTH OSSETIA AND ABKHAZIA

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAGUA 001124 SIPDIS DEPT FOR WHA/FO DAS MADSEN DEPT FOR WHA/CEN KRAAIMORE DEPT FOR EUR/RUS DEPT FOR USOAS STATE PASS TO USAID/LAC -- CARDENAS AND BATTLE COMMERCE FOR SEC GUTIERREZ NSC FOR FISK AND GARCIA SOUTHCOM FOR FPA E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/03/2018 TAGS: MOPS PREL RU GG NU SUBJECT: NICARAGUA RECOGNIZES INDEPENDENCE OF SOUTH OSSETIA AND ABKHAZIA REF: A. MANAGUA 1112 (NOTAL) ¶B. SECSTATE 91894 ¶C. SECSTATE 89769 Classified By: Ambassador Robert Callahan for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: On September 2, during a late night speech to commemorate the 29th anniversary of the Nicaraguan Army, President Daniel Ortega declared that Nicaragua would back the Russian government of Vladimir Putin, and recognize the independence of Georgia's separatist enclaves of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. He accused the U.S. and NATO of seeking to "encircle" the Russian Republic. He also called Georgia's recent military action "pre-meditiated" and compared it to a Nazi blitzkreig. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (U) During a 45-minute, late night speech on September 2, marking the 29th Anniversary of Nicaragua's Army, Daniel Ortega announced that, "The Government of Nicaragua recognizes the independence of the Republics of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, and we are in full agreement with the Government of Russia,s position that the conflict can be ended through dialogue with European countries." Ortega then launched into an attack against the U.S. and NATO, stating that, "the member countries of NATO are interested in closing a military circle around the Russian Republic," and that "the peace of the world has been threatened by the power-hungry, hegemonic politics that have arisen since the Soviet Union disappeared." Ortega then asserted that NATO had "used Georgia in a military operation for a premeditated, lightning-fast attack typical of the kind launched by the Nazi army." Finally, Ortega emphasized that Georgia's attack had left thousands dead and wounded, but this had not been reported by "the mass media dominated by global capitalism." ¶3. (C) COMMENT: According to international media reporting, Nicaragua is the first country, after Russia, to recognize the "independence" of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Ortega's action comes less than a week after we delivered the demarches on the Georgia-Russia conflict to the Foreign Ministry (REFS B & C) that had urged against such a step. Ortega's declaration is disappointing, but not unexpected, given the nostalgia for Cold War rhetoric and politics on his part. This contrarian and unhelpful stance may also be a harbinger of what is in store from incoming UNGA president-elect and former Nicaraguan Foreign Minister Miguel D'Escoto, who likely shares this world view and mindset. CALLAHAN