LIBERIA: DEMARCHE ON RUSSIAN RECOGNITION OF ABKHAZIA AND

UNCLAS MONROVIA 000677 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL EAID RS GG LI SUBJECT: LIBERIA: DEMARCHE ON RUSSIAN RECOGNITION OF ABKHAZIA AND SOUTH OSSETIA REF: STATE 90978 ¶1. PolOff met with Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for International Cooperation and Economic Integration Conmany Wesseh August 29 to deliver reftel demarche. Wesseh said that to his knowledge there had been no internal GOL discussions as of yet on formulating a position with respect to Russia's recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia and that Liberia would arrive at a position in conjunction with its ECOWAS partners. ¶2. (SBU) Wesseh, who was just nominated to be Liberia's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, said he personally was very concerned about the "old Cold War rhetoric being thrown around on both sides" and hoped that the new international order would not be threatened. He said his personal opinion was that the international community should take care not to "disrespect mighty Russia" in a way that would encourage it to make alliances with terrorist states. ¶3. (SBU) Wesseh said that Liberia has not done much at all to engage Russia as a development partner but that he personally would not be averse to doing so in the future. THOMAS-GREENFIELD