Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08STATE106585
2008-10-06 15:36:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Secretary of State
Cable title:
EUR A/S DANIEL FRIED'S 9/23/2008 MEETING WITH
how-toVZCZCXRO9495 RR RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHC #6585/01 2801540 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 061536Z OCT 08 FM SECSTATE WASHDC TO RUEHKB/AMEMBASSY BAKU 7487 RUEHCH/AMEMBASSY CHISINAU 9637 RUEHKV/AMEMBASSY KYIV 8007 RUEHSI/AMEMBASSY TBILISI 8844 INFO EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 106585
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/24/2018
TAGS: PREL EAID UP GG MD AJ
SUBJECT: EUR A/S DANIEL FRIED'S 9/23/2008 MEETING WITH
GUAM FOREIGN MINISTERS
Classified By: Classified by EUR A/S Daniel Fried. Reason: 1.4 (b,d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 106585
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/24/2018
TAGS: PREL EAID UP GG MD AJ
SUBJECT: EUR A/S DANIEL FRIED'S 9/23/2008 MEETING WITH
GUAM FOREIGN MINISTERS
Classified By: Classified by EUR A/S Daniel Fried. Reason: 1.4 (b,d).
1. (U) September 23, 2008; 2:00 p.m.; New York, New York.
2. (U) Participants:
U.S.
EUR Assistant Secretary Daniel Fried
UNGA Senior Area Advisor for Europe William Pope
Robert Gonzales (EUR/UMB Notetaker)
GUAM
GUAM Secretary General Valeri Chechelashvili
Georgian Foreign Minister Eka Tkeshelashvili
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Volodymyr Ohryzko
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov
Moldovan UN Permanent Representative Alexandru Cujba
3. (C) SUMMARY. EUR A/S Daniel Fried met with GUAM
representatives September 23 to discuss progress on
existing GUAM-U.S. cooperation and how GUAM can adapt
to confront the challenges it faces following the recent
conflict in Georgia, including development of a strategic
dimension. While GUAM representatives were unsure how to
expand their strategic cooperation, Fried encouraged the
group to use GUAM as a forum for discussion and
cooperation on common strategic threats to the degree
they were comfortable. Fried and the GUAM representatives
agreed to hold the next GUAM-U.S. meeting on the margins
of the December 4-5 OSCE Ministerial Council meeting in
Helsinki. END SUMMARY.
--------------
GUAM APPRECIATIVE OF U.S. SUPPORT
--------------
4. (SBU) EUR Assistant Secretary Daniel Fried met with
GUAM Organization for Democracy and Economic Development
Foreign Ministers on September 23, 2008. (Moldova was
represented by its UN Permanent Representative.) Georgia,
the current GUAM chair, led the session in which countries
thanked A/S Fried for U.S. support in the establishment of
the GUAM Secretariat in Kyiv (expected to open in November
2008 or later). They also expressed appreciation for U.S.
aid to GUAM's existing programs in the fields of law
enforcement, drug smuggling, human trafficking and border
security. The group said GUAM's activities should keep pace
with existing challenges and agreed that continued USG
financial support and technical assistance would be helpful.
Fried told the group that the U.S. stands ready to consider
funding future projects and offer further technical
assistance.
--------------
COOPERATION AFTER THE GEORGIA CONFLICT
--------------
5. (C) Each GUAM representative said the conflict in
Georgia has brought new urgency to focusing international
attention on the region, given its strategic location as
an energy and transport corridor. Fried stressed U.S.
support for GUAM in two areas: existing practical
cooperation and a strategic dimension. He noted U.S.
concern about the region in the wake of the recent conflict
in Georgia and highlighted the series of visits by U.S.
officials, including Vice President Cheney's recent trip
to Baku and Kyiv, as a demonstration of ongoing support
and interest. While GUAM need not develop a military
orientation at this time, Fried continued, it should remain
a forum for discussion and cooperation on common strategic
threats.
6. (C) Georgian Foreign Minister Tkeshelashvili stressed
that GUAM is not "anti-any country." However, the recent
conflict in Georgia necessitates consideration of how GUAM
can serve a common purpose in both the strategic and economic
realm. All representatives agreed that military cooperation
is a sensitive issue. Fried replied that there is no need
to rush discussions on a strategic security dimension, but
it is important to move forward with existing programs.
-------------- -
BRINGING INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION TO THE REGION
-------------- -
STATE 00106585 002 OF 002
7. (SBU) Participants also emphasized the need to bring
international attention to protracted conflicts in the GUAM
region in an effort to bring about peaceful settlements.
The group agreed to highlight this in the GUAM-U.S. joint
statement, noting that GUAM and the U.S. discussed current
areas of cooperation and noted the "conviction of the
international community to intensify efforts" to resolve
conflicts in the GUAM region, as well as the need for
cooperative responses to future challenges. Fried and the
GUAM representatives agreed that the U.S. and GUAM would
next meet on the margins of the December 4-5 OSCE Ministerial
Council meeting in Helsinki.
RICE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/24/2018
TAGS: PREL EAID UP GG MD AJ
SUBJECT: EUR A/S DANIEL FRIED'S 9/23/2008 MEETING WITH
GUAM FOREIGN MINISTERS
Classified By: Classified by EUR A/S Daniel Fried. Reason: 1.4 (b,d).
1. (U) September 23, 2008; 2:00 p.m.; New York, New York.
2. (U) Participants:
U.S.
EUR Assistant Secretary Daniel Fried
UNGA Senior Area Advisor for Europe William Pope
Robert Gonzales (EUR/UMB Notetaker)
GUAM
GUAM Secretary General Valeri Chechelashvili
Georgian Foreign Minister Eka Tkeshelashvili
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Volodymyr Ohryzko
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov
Moldovan UN Permanent Representative Alexandru Cujba
3. (C) SUMMARY. EUR A/S Daniel Fried met with GUAM
representatives September 23 to discuss progress on
existing GUAM-U.S. cooperation and how GUAM can adapt
to confront the challenges it faces following the recent
conflict in Georgia, including development of a strategic
dimension. While GUAM representatives were unsure how to
expand their strategic cooperation, Fried encouraged the
group to use GUAM as a forum for discussion and
cooperation on common strategic threats to the degree
they were comfortable. Fried and the GUAM representatives
agreed to hold the next GUAM-U.S. meeting on the margins
of the December 4-5 OSCE Ministerial Council meeting in
Helsinki. END SUMMARY.
--------------
GUAM APPRECIATIVE OF U.S. SUPPORT
--------------
4. (SBU) EUR Assistant Secretary Daniel Fried met with
GUAM Organization for Democracy and Economic Development
Foreign Ministers on September 23, 2008. (Moldova was
represented by its UN Permanent Representative.) Georgia,
the current GUAM chair, led the session in which countries
thanked A/S Fried for U.S. support in the establishment of
the GUAM Secretariat in Kyiv (expected to open in November
2008 or later). They also expressed appreciation for U.S.
aid to GUAM's existing programs in the fields of law
enforcement, drug smuggling, human trafficking and border
security. The group said GUAM's activities should keep pace
with existing challenges and agreed that continued USG
financial support and technical assistance would be helpful.
Fried told the group that the U.S. stands ready to consider
funding future projects and offer further technical
assistance.
--------------
COOPERATION AFTER THE GEORGIA CONFLICT
--------------
5. (C) Each GUAM representative said the conflict in
Georgia has brought new urgency to focusing international
attention on the region, given its strategic location as
an energy and transport corridor. Fried stressed U.S.
support for GUAM in two areas: existing practical
cooperation and a strategic dimension. He noted U.S.
concern about the region in the wake of the recent conflict
in Georgia and highlighted the series of visits by U.S.
officials, including Vice President Cheney's recent trip
to Baku and Kyiv, as a demonstration of ongoing support
and interest. While GUAM need not develop a military
orientation at this time, Fried continued, it should remain
a forum for discussion and cooperation on common strategic
threats.
6. (C) Georgian Foreign Minister Tkeshelashvili stressed
that GUAM is not "anti-any country." However, the recent
conflict in Georgia necessitates consideration of how GUAM
can serve a common purpose in both the strategic and economic
realm. All representatives agreed that military cooperation
is a sensitive issue. Fried replied that there is no need
to rush discussions on a strategic security dimension, but
it is important to move forward with existing programs.
-------------- -
BRINGING INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION TO THE REGION
-------------- -
STATE 00106585 002 OF 002
7. (SBU) Participants also emphasized the need to bring
international attention to protracted conflicts in the GUAM
region in an effort to bring about peaceful settlements.
The group agreed to highlight this in the GUAM-U.S. joint
statement, noting that GUAM and the U.S. discussed current
areas of cooperation and noted the "conviction of the
international community to intensify efforts" to resolve
conflicts in the GUAM region, as well as the need for
cooperative responses to future challenges. Fried and the
GUAM representatives agreed that the U.S. and GUAM would
next meet on the margins of the December 4-5 OSCE Ministerial
Council meeting in Helsinki.
RICE