ECUADOR DEMARCHE RESPONSE ON RUSSIA-GEORGIA

C O N F I D E N T I A L QUITO 000880 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/05/2028 TAGS: PGOV PREL MARR KPKO GG RU EC SUBJECT: ECUADOR DEMARCHE RESPONSE ON RUSSIA-GEORGIA CONFLICT REF: A. STATE 89769 ¶B. STATE 90978 ¶C. STATE 90980 ¶D. STATE 91894 Classified By: DCM Andrew Chritton for Reasons 1.4 (b&d) ¶1. (C) POLOFF delivered points from reftels to MFA Multilateral Affairs Director General Lourdes Puma on September 5. Puma reiterated her regular mantra that the GOE was particularly sensitive to issues of sovereignty. She noted that the GOE would not make a public commitment for or against Russia or Georgia, nor about the recognition by Russia of independence of South Ossetia or Abkhazia. When pressed, Puma confirmed that the GOE did support UNSCR 1808, affirming Georgia's sovereignty. ¶2. (C) Puma said that the GOE wanted to promote a peaceful resolution to the conflict, the only viable solution. She added that this would require the withdrawal of all troops from the zone of conflict, but expressed her personal doubts whether Russia would withdraw its troops anytime soon. When questioned, Puma confirmed that the GOE supported the terms of the August 12 ceasefire agreement mediated by French President Sarkozy, but clarified that Russian troops should exit the so-called "buffer zone" only if it had guarantees that Georgia would not attack and would withdraw its security forces as well. She further confirmed the GOE's support for Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) monitoring and the decision by the OSCE Permanent Council to increase the number of international monitors in Georgia. ¶3. (C) When asked whether the GOE has had or would have conversations with the Russians on the issue, Puma stated only that Russia was angry over Kosovo's independence and over Georgia and the Ukraine's intention to join NATO, and that Russia "feels threatened" by the increase of NATO's size and influence. ¶4. (C) Puma personally lamented Georgia's decision to escalate the conflict in South Ossetia, calling it "irresponsible." She explained that, while it did not justify Russia's disproportionate invasion of Georgia, Russia had historically always responded in such a manner and had also never backed down from aggression. She added that the confidence gained over the last 15 plus years between Russia and Western Europe had been lost over this small zone of conflict. Hodges