LATVIA TELLS GEORGIA SUPPORT FOR MAP NOT UNLIMITED

C O N F I D E N T I A L RIGA 000682

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/07/2023
TAGS: PREL MARR NATO GG LG
SUBJECT: LATVIA TELLS GEORGIA SUPPORT FOR MAP NOT UNLIMITED

Classified By: Ambassador Charles W. Larson, Reason: 1.4 (d)


1. (C) Summary: Latvian officials are telling Georgian
counterparts that Tbilisi should not take Latvian support for
MAP for Georgia for granted and that irresponsible
actions/statements by the Georgians will cause Latvia to
lessen its support. End summary.


2. (C) In recent days, officials at both the MOD and MFA have
told us that Latvia is frustrated by what it views as
provocative and unhelpful comments and actions by Georgia,
such as suggestions that Georgia will use force to take back
South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Latvian officials have
communicated to Georgian counterparts that, while Latvia
remains committed to Georgia joinig NATO and getting MAP as
soon as possible, that support is not unlimited. One
official said, "We feel that they take our support for
granted and expect we will support them no matter what they
say and do. That is wrong. They need to behave and act
responsibly, and we've made that point."


3. (C) Sources at both ministries say that the Latvians first
tried to deliver this message in Brussels but that the
official at the Georgian mission there refused to share the
report with his superiors in Brussels or Tbilisi, claiming he
feared he would be punished for being the bearer of bad news.
So, the Latvians delivered the message in Riga and in
Tbilisi. Receiving officials in both places were described
as shocked that Latvia had limits to its patience.


4. (C) When President Saakashvili was here November 1 and met
with President Zatlers, the message was delivered in a less
direct way, with Zatlers noting that Russia wants to provoke
a Georgian reaction it can use to undermine Georgia in
Europe, and urging Saakashvili not to take the bait.
LARSON