CANADIANS CALL IN RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR RE: GEORGIA

C O N F I D E N T I A L OTTAWA 001137 SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/RUS K. SZPILA E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/27/2018 TAGS: PREL PARM MOPS NATO GG RS CA SUBJECT: CANADIANS CALL IN RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR RE: GEORGIA REF: STATE 90978 Classified By: Acting PolMinCouns Kurt van der Walde, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) In response to reftel demarche, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) Deputy Minister Len Edwards called in Russian Ambassador to Canada Georgiy Mamedov on August 26 to encourage Russia to reconsider its actions and cooperate fully with the international community in resolving the crisis in Georgia. According to DFAIT Senior Policy Adviser Amy Galigan, Mamedov responded that Russia "is not into annexation" and Georgia, South Ossetia and Abkhazia should sign a non-aggression pact, something Russia suggested some time ago. Mamedov also told Edwards that that Russia has no designs on Ukraine or the Baltics despite media comments to the contrary, Galigan said. ¶2. (C) In a separate conversation that day Mamedov urged DFAIT senior staff to have Foreign Minister David Emerson call his Russian counterpart. Emerson did not make the call, but did issue the following statement on August 26: "Canada is gravely concerned about Russia's recognition of the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. This recognition violates Georgia's territorial integrity and sovereignty and is contrary to UN Security Council resolutions supported by Russia, as well as to the six-point peace plan brokered by President Nicolas Sarkozy on behalf of the EU. Canada supports the democratic and legitimate government of Georgia. Russia must fulfill its international obligations, reconsider its actions and cooperate fully with the international community to resolve the crisis in Georgia in a peaceful manner." Visit Canada,s Economy and Environment Forum at http://www.intelink.gov/communities/state/can ada WILKINS