Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08MOSCOW701
2008-03-13 12:14:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Moscow
Cable title:
GOR DENIES INVOLVEMENT IN ABKHAZIA MILITARY
how-toVZCZCXYZ0020 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHMO #0701 0731214 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 131214Z MAR 08 FM AMEMBASSY MOSCOW TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7116 INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHXD/MOSCOW POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L MOSCOW 000701
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/13/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV GG RS
SUBJECT: GOR DENIES INVOLVEMENT IN ABKHAZIA MILITARY
BUILD-UP
REF: A. MOSCOW 566
B. TBILISI 396
Classified By: Political M/C Alice G. Wells. Reasons 1.4 (B/D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L MOSCOW 000701
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/13/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV GG RS
SUBJECT: GOR DENIES INVOLVEMENT IN ABKHAZIA MILITARY
BUILD-UP
REF: A. MOSCOW 566
B. TBILISI 396
Classified By: Political M/C Alice G. Wells. Reasons 1.4 (B/D).
1. (C) All MFA Georgia handlers expressed surprise at the
GOG's allegation that the GOR was providing military
assistance to Abkhazia (ref B). MFA CIS Fourth Department
Deputy Director Aleksey Pavlovskiy told us March 12 that he
was hearing such news for the first time from us. Pavlovskiy
went on to say that, as clearly stated in the March 6 MFA
statement, the GOR's move to pull out of the CIS sanctions
regime was intended to increase economic, financial
assistance as well as expanded official contacts with
Abkhazia (ref A). He emphasized that the GOR had no
immediate military plans for Abkhazia. Pavlovskiy warned
against giving too much credence to GOG reports, saying that
even the UN had noted the copious "false reports" issued by
the GOG. In an earlier, March 8 conversation, Pavlovskiy
acknowledged that Russia would be free to sell weapons,
although "it does not mean Russia will do so tomorrow."
2. (C) GOR Special Envoy for the Abkhazia conflict Vladislav
Chernov echoed Pavlovskiy, and advised consulting with the
UNOMIK, rather than relying on "exaggerated" GOG reports.
According to Chernov, the Abkhaz, perceiving a heightened
threat level, might be responding to the Georgians force
concentration along the "border" by reinforcing their
peacekeeping operation. The Abkhaz rightfully saw the GOG's
insistence on sanctions again Abkhazia as another sign that
the GOG would be happy to have Abkhazia remain an economic
backwater indefinitely.
3. (C) A clearly frustrated MFA CIS Fourth Department Deputy
Director Dmitriy Tarabrin also denied Russian involvement in
any military activity in Abkhazia. Both Pavlovskiy and
Tarabrin rejected Saakashvili's charges of Russian violation
of Georgia's territorial integrity. Both insisted that the
GOR's pullout from the sanctions regime could not have been a
surprise, as it was planned over a year ago. MFA officials
reiterated that the GOR had no intentions of undermining
Georgian territorial integrity.
4. (U) On March 13, the Duma will hold a special hearing on
the request for recognition from Abkhazia, South Ossetia, and
Transniestria.
BURNS
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/13/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV GG RS
SUBJECT: GOR DENIES INVOLVEMENT IN ABKHAZIA MILITARY
BUILD-UP
REF: A. MOSCOW 566
B. TBILISI 396
Classified By: Political M/C Alice G. Wells. Reasons 1.4 (B/D).
1. (C) All MFA Georgia handlers expressed surprise at the
GOG's allegation that the GOR was providing military
assistance to Abkhazia (ref B). MFA CIS Fourth Department
Deputy Director Aleksey Pavlovskiy told us March 12 that he
was hearing such news for the first time from us. Pavlovskiy
went on to say that, as clearly stated in the March 6 MFA
statement, the GOR's move to pull out of the CIS sanctions
regime was intended to increase economic, financial
assistance as well as expanded official contacts with
Abkhazia (ref A). He emphasized that the GOR had no
immediate military plans for Abkhazia. Pavlovskiy warned
against giving too much credence to GOG reports, saying that
even the UN had noted the copious "false reports" issued by
the GOG. In an earlier, March 8 conversation, Pavlovskiy
acknowledged that Russia would be free to sell weapons,
although "it does not mean Russia will do so tomorrow."
2. (C) GOR Special Envoy for the Abkhazia conflict Vladislav
Chernov echoed Pavlovskiy, and advised consulting with the
UNOMIK, rather than relying on "exaggerated" GOG reports.
According to Chernov, the Abkhaz, perceiving a heightened
threat level, might be responding to the Georgians force
concentration along the "border" by reinforcing their
peacekeeping operation. The Abkhaz rightfully saw the GOG's
insistence on sanctions again Abkhazia as another sign that
the GOG would be happy to have Abkhazia remain an economic
backwater indefinitely.
3. (C) A clearly frustrated MFA CIS Fourth Department Deputy
Director Dmitriy Tarabrin also denied Russian involvement in
any military activity in Abkhazia. Both Pavlovskiy and
Tarabrin rejected Saakashvili's charges of Russian violation
of Georgia's territorial integrity. Both insisted that the
GOR's pullout from the sanctions regime could not have been a
surprise, as it was planned over a year ago. MFA officials
reiterated that the GOR had no intentions of undermining
Georgian territorial integrity.
4. (U) On March 13, the Duma will hold a special hearing on
the request for recognition from Abkhazia, South Ossetia, and
Transniestria.
BURNS