Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08NEWDELHI2373
2008-09-04 09:47:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy New Delhi
Cable title:
INDIA NOT TAKING SIDES ON RUSSIA - GEORGIA
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHNE #2373 2480947 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 040947Z SEP 08 FM AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3241 INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 7006 RUEHBW/AMEMBASSY BELGRADE 0002 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 5227 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 2778 RUEHPS/AMEMBASSY PRISTINA 0018 RUEHSI/AMEMBASSY TBILISI 0044 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 5775 RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 0156 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE VIENNA 0035 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEIDN/DNI WASHINGTON DC RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 6857 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 7869 RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
UNCLAS NEW DELHI 002373
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV GG RU IN
SUBJECT: INDIA NOT TAKING SIDES ON RUSSIA - GEORGIA
REF: A. A. SECSTATE 090978
¶B. B. SECSTATE 90980 C. SECSTATE 091894
Poloff delivered reftel demarches regarding Russian
recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia and rebutting
Russian claims regarding the ceasefire agreement to Ministry
of External Affairs Director (Eurasia) Sandeep Arya on August
¶26. In follow-up conversations on September 4, Arya
informed Poloff that the GOI still has not made any official
statement regarding Russia's recognition of Abkhazia and
South Ossetia, and that no policy decision has been made
regarding the issue. He added that the GOI does not "practice
recognition on the basis of internal self-determination," and
said that this situation is "the same as Kosovo, which we
have never recognized." Pressed on whether the GOI would
encourage Russia to respect ceasefire restrictions on its
forces in Georgia, Arya reiterated that the GOI has no
position on the matter. He further stated that there has
been no interaction at official levels in Delhi between the
GOI and Russia regarding South Ossetia/Abhkazia since August
¶7. Arya hinted that there could be an official visit between
India and Russia in October (NFI),suggesting that such a
meeting could be the venue for India to formally discuss its
position with Moscow.
MULFORD