Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08MOSCOW1928
2008-07-07 11:32:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Moscow
Cable title:
RUSSIAN POSITIONS ON ZIMBABWE, KOSOVO, BURMA AND
how-toVZCZCXRO0882 PP RUEHDU RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHRN RUEHTRO DE RUEHMO #1928 1891132 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 071132Z JUL 08 FM AMEMBASSY MOSCOW TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8921 INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE RUEHXD/MOSCOW POLITICAL COLLECTIVE RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L MOSCOW 001928
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/07/2018
TAGS: PREL PHUM KDEM UNSC BM KV ZI RS
SUBJECT: RUSSIAN POSITIONS ON ZIMBABWE, KOSOVO, BURMA AND
UNAMID
REF: STATE 70882
Classified By: Acting Political Counselor Margaret Hawthorne for reason
s 1.4(b/d).
(C) During a July 3 meeting, the MFA's new Director of the
Department of International Organizations, Gennadi Gatilov,
laid out the GOR positions on international efforts in
Zimbabwe, Kosovo, and Burma, and updated us on the request
for Russia to provide helicopters to UNAMID:
-- Zimbabwe: Gatilov said that the African Union (AU) was
working to help settle the political crisis in Zimbabwe and
the GOR wanted to give the organization more time to succeed.
He pointed to a July 2 AU resolution calling upon other
parties to avoid "complicating the situation" by interfering
with African mediation efforts, which argued against the
U.S.' proposed Chapter VII resolution (reftel). Russia
feared that adoption of such a resolution, which sought to
punish Mugabe, would close any chance for a political
settlement. Gatilov explained that Russian concerns with the
Chapter VII resolution were "more a matter of principal than
substance," as the GOR felt that the resolution went "beyond
the mandate" of the UNSC, which did not include judging the
outcome of national elections. The GOR was also concerned
with the use of sanctions as a method to punish UN member
states in situations that did not present a threat to
international or regional peace and security.
-- Kosovo: Russia maintained that SYG Ban Ki-Moon would need
agreement from both Kosovo and Serbia to implement his plan
to transition UNMIK to EULEX, which Belgrade was unlikely to
do. Gatilov said that the GOR was "surprised" by the SYG's
apparent intention to move forward without the consent of the
UN member states directly involved, and believed that the SYG
had "overstepped his authority."
-- Burma: Russia supported SYG Special Representative
Gambari's efforts in Burma, which have proven "quite useful,"
and asked the Burmese authorities to "be more constructive"
during his next trip. Gatilov did not explain what exactly
Russia expected Gambari to accomplish considering that the
GOR has consistently voiced its support for the Burmese
regime's "democratization" program.
-- UNAMID Helicopters: The MFA sent the request to provide
helicopters to UNAMID to the Russian MOD, which has yet to
respond. Gatilov noted that Russia was in the process of
sending helicopters to EUFOR in Chad and the Central African
Republic, suggesting that the MOD may feel unable to
contribute assets to UNAMID.
BEYRLE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/07/2018
TAGS: PREL PHUM KDEM UNSC BM KV ZI RS
SUBJECT: RUSSIAN POSITIONS ON ZIMBABWE, KOSOVO, BURMA AND
UNAMID
REF: STATE 70882
Classified By: Acting Political Counselor Margaret Hawthorne for reason
s 1.4(b/d).
(C) During a July 3 meeting, the MFA's new Director of the
Department of International Organizations, Gennadi Gatilov,
laid out the GOR positions on international efforts in
Zimbabwe, Kosovo, and Burma, and updated us on the request
for Russia to provide helicopters to UNAMID:
-- Zimbabwe: Gatilov said that the African Union (AU) was
working to help settle the political crisis in Zimbabwe and
the GOR wanted to give the organization more time to succeed.
He pointed to a July 2 AU resolution calling upon other
parties to avoid "complicating the situation" by interfering
with African mediation efforts, which argued against the
U.S.' proposed Chapter VII resolution (reftel). Russia
feared that adoption of such a resolution, which sought to
punish Mugabe, would close any chance for a political
settlement. Gatilov explained that Russian concerns with the
Chapter VII resolution were "more a matter of principal than
substance," as the GOR felt that the resolution went "beyond
the mandate" of the UNSC, which did not include judging the
outcome of national elections. The GOR was also concerned
with the use of sanctions as a method to punish UN member
states in situations that did not present a threat to
international or regional peace and security.
-- Kosovo: Russia maintained that SYG Ban Ki-Moon would need
agreement from both Kosovo and Serbia to implement his plan
to transition UNMIK to EULEX, which Belgrade was unlikely to
do. Gatilov said that the GOR was "surprised" by the SYG's
apparent intention to move forward without the consent of the
UN member states directly involved, and believed that the SYG
had "overstepped his authority."
-- Burma: Russia supported SYG Special Representative
Gambari's efforts in Burma, which have proven "quite useful,"
and asked the Burmese authorities to "be more constructive"
during his next trip. Gatilov did not explain what exactly
Russia expected Gambari to accomplish considering that the
GOR has consistently voiced its support for the Burmese
regime's "democratization" program.
-- UNAMID Helicopters: The MFA sent the request to provide
helicopters to UNAMID to the Russian MOD, which has yet to
respond. Gatilov noted that Russia was in the process of
sending helicopters to EUFOR in Chad and the Central African
Republic, suggesting that the MOD may feel unable to
contribute assets to UNAMID.
BEYRLE