RUSSIA REACTS TO DAS BRYZA'S STATEMENTS

C O N F I D E N T I A L MOSCOW 001335

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/13/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV GG RS
SUBJECT: RUSSIA REACTS TO DAS BRYZA'S STATEMENTS

Classified By: CDA Daniel A. Russell. Reasons 1.4 (B/D).


1. (C) Russian officials continue to respond sharply to
public statements by DAS Bryza in Tbilisi and Sukhumi on
responsibility for the increased tensions between Georgia and
Abkhazia. On May 13, MFA Fourth CIS Department Deputy
Director Dmitriy Tarabrin told us that the GOR was
"surprised" that a senior U.S. government official would
conflate "facts and false information." Tarabrin accused DAS
Bryza of ignoring Georgia's on-going violations of the 1994
Moscow Agreement. Flying drones in a conflict zone on a spy
mission was de-stabilizing and should be addressed before DAS
Bryza "heaped accusations on Russia."


2. (C) Tarabrin maintained that Georgian drones continued to
fly. Citing an Abkhaz report, he said that a drone capable
of carrying air-to-air missiles was shot down on May 12 by
the Abkhaz military. Accusing DAS Bryza of "blindly" siding
with the Georgians, rather than acting as a "mediator" of the
peace process, Tarabrin reiterated that Russia had explained
its position clearly and regularly through all channels -- in
Moscow, Washington and, Tbilisi. We reiterated that the U.S.
was not alone in criticizing the series of Russian steps that
have escalated tension in the region and cast doubt on
Russian support for the territorial integrity of Georgia,
with Tarabrin dismissive.


3. (C) Tarabrin's remarks follow a May 12 MFA statement, (A
translation of the MFA statement was sent to EUR/RUS.) which
accused DAS Bryza of siding with Georgia by acquiescing to
the GOG's "one-sided" build-up of forces along the "border"
with Abkhazia, the regular penetration of Abkhaz airspace by
GOG spy planes, and its erroneous characterization of the
increase in CIS peacekeepers. The MFA took issue with DAS
Bryza's assessment that the UAV flights increased Georgian
confidence. Arguing that Georgia's use of UAVs had violated
the 1994 Moscow Agreement and UNSCR 1808, the MFA alleged
that the drones were collecting intelligence and had been
configured to carry air-to-air missiles. The MFA contended
that Russia had informed Georgia and the U.S. of its
initiatives in the region, and had clarified that the lifting
of CIS sanctions was in response to the social-economic
interests of the Abkhaz population, for which Georgia had
done nothing in the last fifteen years. It judged talk of a
potential military action by Russia as far-fetched. The
statement concluded that DAS Bryza's remarks tracked with the
"American policy" to defend those countries that they
"strenuously" were pulling into NATO.


4. (U) Major Russian newspapers reported DAS Bryza's visit
to Tbilisi and Sukhumi, focusing on his warning about
Russia's "provocations" and his justification of Georgia's
use of UAVs as a security measure against the possible
military build-up in Abkhazia. RIA Novostey termed
"counterproductive" DAS Bryza's alleged contention that many
Russians would like to see tensions increased. The daily
Kommersant interpreted DAS Bryza's emphasis on the importance
of direct dialogue between Tbilisi and Sukhumi as a "hint
that Russia would only interfere with the negotiation
process."


5. (C) Meanwhile, Georgia's new Ambassador Erosi
Kitsmareshvili has arrived in Moscow, and the MFA was working
on a schedule of introductory meetings for him.
Kitsmareshvili has an opportunity to urge a fresh start with
the Medvedev team. While Russian rhetoric remains high,
Tarabrin reconfirmed that the number of CIS peacekeeping
troops has held at 2,500, under the 3,000 mandated limit.
RUSSELL