EL SALVADOR: AGAINST RUSSIA'S INVASION OF GEORGIA

C O N F I D E N T I A L SAN SALVADOR 001024 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/23/2018 TAGS: PGOV PREL ES SUBJECT: EL SALVADOR: AGAINST RUSSIA'S INVASION OF GEORGIA AND INDEPENDENCE OF BREAKAWAY REGIONS REF: A. STATE 90980 ¶B. STATE 91894 Classified By: The Ambassador, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) DCM and Poloff met with Vice Minister of Foreign Relations Eduardo Calix and MFA Director General of Foreign Policy Werner Romero on August 27 to deliver reftel points regarding developments in Georgia. Calix said El Salvador opposed Russia's invasion, and that Russia must respect the terms of the ceasefire and remove its forces from Georgia. He also stressed that it is important that the countries reach a political solution, and return to the status-quo ante. ¶2. (C) Calix acknowledged that there was now the risk that Russia's relations with the rest of the world could degrade and the GOR could withdraw from participation in international organizations. Calix mentioned Kosovo, but in the context of pointing out Russia's hypocrisy supporting South Ossetia's and Abkhazia's independence while objecting to Kosovo's. GLAZER