URUGUAY: NO RECOGNITION OF ABKHAZIA AND SOUTH

C O N F I D E N T I A L MONTEVIDEO 000488 SIPDIS FOR EUR/RUS KATE SZPILA E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/25/2018 TAGS: PREL RS GG UY SUBJECT: URUGUAY: NO RECOGNITION OF ABKHAZIA AND SOUTH OSSETIA REF: A. STATE 90978 ¶B. STATE 89769 Classified By: DCM ROBIN MATTHEWMAN, FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) & (D) ¶1. (C) Emboff passed Ref A & B points to MFA Europe director Minister Alfaro Malmierca on August 22 and 26, respectively. Malmierca noted that Uruguay had issued a public statement August 14 deploring the use of violence in Georgia and calling for a peaceful solution that respects the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity. In a subsequent conversation following Russia's recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, Malmierca stated that Uruguay is not considering recognition of the breakaway enclaves. Malmierca added that the only way Uruguay would contemplate recognition would be if the International Court of Justice issued a ruling supporting those entities' independence. Baxter