ROKG SUPPORTS USG/INTERNATIONAL POSITION ON GEORGIA

C O N F I D E N T I A L SEOUL 001686 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/01/2018 TAGS: PREL RS GG SUBJECT: ROKG SUPPORTS USG/INTERNATIONAL POSITION ON GEORGIA REF: STATE 89769 Classified By: POL M/C Joseph Yun. Reasons 1.4(b/d) ¶1. (C) Kim Eun-joong, Director-General, European Affairs Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MOFAT), told Dep Pol M/C at an August 25 meeting that the ROKG supports international calls for the Russian Federation to abide by the August 12 ceasefire agreement, in response to reftel points. MOFAT had presented such a position to the Russian Charge d'affaires, a.i., during the previous week (nfi),and had informed all of its diplomatic missions of the position as well. The ROKG supported a peaceful and diplomatic resolution of the issues underlying the conflict, and withdrawal of Russian troops in line with the ceasefire agreement was a necessary step. The ROKG (as an Asian Partner for Cooperation) would also support OSCE efforts to send monitors to the conflict area. ¶2. (C) As for the request for humanitarian aid, the ROKG had tentatively decided to provide USD 100,000 of assistance to Georgia's displaced persons through the UN World Food Program, and might decide on additional assistance after an interagency meeting on Central Europe scheduled for August ¶27. Kim said that he would present the USG position at that meeting, and expected further coordination with the USG on resolution of the Georgia conflict. VERSHBOW