GEORGIA - DEMARCHE REQUEST ON DRAFT UNSC

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 STATE 086130 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/08/2018 TAGS: UNSC GE PREL PBTS SUBJECT: GEORGIA - DEMARCHE REQUEST ON DRAFT UNSC RESOLUTION Classified By: IO A/S Brian Hook, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) This is an action request. Addressees should demarche their host government at the highest appropriate level to gain support for a draft UN Security Council Resolution addressing the conflict in Georgia (text at para 8). We are seeking an early vote on this text in the Council. Objectives -------------- ¶2. (C) Fully expecting a Russian veto of any resolution which addresses the situation in Georgia, the U.S. is seeking unified international support for a call for an immediate cessation of hostilities in Georgia and the restoration of the status quo ante prior to August 7. The Department hopes to gain a 14-1 vote in favor of the resolution. -- For Paris, London, Brussels, Rome, Zagreb, and San Jose: These missions have expressed strong support for the resolution in New York. Posts should confirm support for the text, solicit host government views of other Council members, positions, and ask for help soliciting unified support from other Council members. -- For PANAMA City, Jakarta, and Ouagadougou: These governments may be sympathetic to this resolution. Posts should seek their commitment to actively support the resolution in consultations and to commit to voting in favor. -- For Beijing, Tripoli, Pretoria, and Hanoi: These governments are unlikely to support the text, but posts should stress the outrageous and unacceptable nature of Russia's actions, and seek their support; or, if not support, at least an abstention. ¶3. (U) Posts should report the results of their efforts as soon as possible by cable. Please use task force designation (TFGG01) in the subject line to ensure immediate delivery. Department point of contact is IO/UNP John Mariz, marizjc@state.gov, 202 647-0048. Background -------------- ¶4. (SBU) On August 6, responding to persistent attacks on Georgian villages from Russian-backed separatist in the breakaway region of South Ossetia, Georgian forces began operations against the separatist militias and moved against the regional capital of Tskhinvali, not previously under the control of Georgian forces. On August 7, Russia-based combat troops entered Georgian territory in order to drive Georgian forces from the region. Subsequently, Russia has systematically widened its operations well beyond the original conflict zone in South Ossetia, carried out widespread air attacks on positions throughout Georgia, and moved to take control of territory inside Georgia. Russia has also encouraged separatists in the breakaway region of Abkhazia to mount attacks against Georgian forces, effectively both opening a second front in this conflict and driving out UNSC-mandated UNOMIG (UN Observer Mission in Georgia) military observers from the region. STATE 00086130 002 OF 004 ¶5. (SBU) Russia's claims that is acting in defense of its citizens are specious. Over the past several years, and particularly over the past several months, Russia has engaged in a concerted effort to destabilize Georgia through support of militant separatists in South Ossetia and Abkhazia, in violation of a series of UN resolutions reaffirming Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity. ¶6. (SBU) Posts should draw on President Bush's August 11 statement on the situation in Georgia (see para 9 for text). Posts should also draw on the information provided by the Crisis Management Center's Task Force 1, available through the Crisis Management portal in the Intellipedia website (http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Cris is Georgia) for updates on the situation on the ground. Suggested Talking Points -------------- ¶7. (SBU) Begin Points: -- There must be an immediate cease-fire and an end to the violence in Georgia. We deplore the loss of human life which has resulted from the current hostilities. Russia is intensifying and expanding its military moves to threaten Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Despite a written Georgian cease-fire offering, Russia refuses to cease hostilities and is moving deeper into Georgian territory. --Russia claims that their military offensive is in retaliation for the loss of peacekeepers in South Ossetia. Their response is wildly disproportionate. Russia cannot explain, much less justify, their military assault throughout Georgia. Russia's moves in Abkhazia, in conjunction with Abkhaz separatists, are far from the original zone of conflict. They have warned of an attack on the international airport in Tbilisi; bombed the civilian port of Poti; attacked the city of Gori "all outside of the zone of control. -- The Security Council should act in support of a French-drafted resolution which calls for: -- an immediate cease-fire; -- a withdrawal of all Russian and Georgian forces to their positions prior to August 7; -- support for mediation; and -- all parties to fully implement the Moscow agreement of 1994. -- There has been broad agreement in the Council that there must be an immediate cease-fire and an end to the violence. The violence in Georgia continues and the humanitarian situation is dire. The Security Council must demonstrate to the parties its resolve to seek a peaceful end to the conflict. The French draft resolution is designed to bring the fighting to an end, restore the status quo ante, promote mediation to deal with the underlying issues, and reaffirm Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity. The United States fully supports the resolution that is being circulated, and urges your government to support it also. End talking points. Proposed French-drafted UNSC Resolution -------------- ¶8. (C) Begin Draft text of UNSC Resolution: The Security Council, Gravely concerned at the escalation of violence in STATE 00086130 003 OF 004 Georgia, which began on August 7 in the area of South Ossetia (Georgia),and resulted in the loss of numerous lives, injuries, and severe damage to property and infrastructure; Also gravely concerned at the extension of violence throughout Georgian territory, including Abkhazia (Georgia); Distressed by the increasing number of refugees and internally displaced persons, and their rapidly deteriorating situation; Determined to achieve an immediate end to this outbreak of violence, and to facilitate a peaceful and durable settlement through negotiations; Dismayed that hostilities are occurring during the Olympic Truce, which Member States were urged to observe during the games of the XXIX Olympiad in Beijing; Recalling the statements of the Secretary General on this issue, including that of 9 August 2008; Reaffirming its support for the United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG) and its resolution 1808 (2008); ¶1. Reaffirms the commitment of all member states to the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognized boundaries; ¶2. Calls for the immediate and unconditional cessation of hostilities, and the complete withdrawal of Russian and Georgian forces to their positions prior to 7 August 2008; ¶3. Stresses the urgent need for all parties to refrain from further use of force; ¶4. Calls on all parties to the conflict to engage immediately in negotiations aimed at finding a peaceful and durable solution; ¶5. Expresses its strong support for the mediation efforts undertaken by Member States and relevant organizations, including those of the European Union and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe; ¶6. Expresses its intention to take further action, as appropriate, to help bring about and implement a peaceful and durable solution to the crisis; ¶7. Also urges all parties to the conflict in Abkhazia (Georgia) to implement fully the Moscow agreement on cease-fire and separation of forces of 14 May 1994 and to cooperate fully with the UNOMIG; ¶8. Calls on all parties to the conflict to allow full and unfettered access of humanitarian assistance to victims, including refugees and internally displaced persons; ¶9. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter. End Resolution Text. POTUS Remarks -------------- ¶9. (U) President's August 11 Remarks: I have asked by national security team to discuss the situation in Georgia. I am deeply concerned by reports that Russian troops have moved beyond the zone of conflict, attacked the Georgian town of Gori, and are threatening STATE 00086130 004 OF 004 Georgia's capital of Tblisi. There is evidence that Russian forces may soon begin bombing the civilian airport in the capital city. If these reports are accurate, these Russian actions would represent a dramatic and brutal escalation of the conflict in Georgia. And these actions would be inconsistent with assurances we have received from Russia that is objectives were limited to restoring the status quo in South Ossetia that existed before fighting began on August 6. It now appears that an effort may be underway to depose Georgia's duly-elected government. Russia has invaded a sovereign neighboring state and threatens a democratic government elected by its people. Such an action is unacceptable in the 21st century. The Georgian government has accepted the elements of a peace agreement that the Russian government previously said it would be willing to accept: an immediate cease-fire, the withdrawal of forces from the zone of conflict, a return to the military status quo as of August 6, and a commitment to refrain from using force. There are representatives of the European Union and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe currently in Moscow seeking Russia's agreement to this peace plan. Russia's government must respect Georgia's territorial integrity and sovereignty. The Russian government must reverse the course it appears to be on and accept this peace agreement as a first step toward resolving this conflict. Russia's actions this week have raised serious questions about its intentions in Georgia and the region. These actions have substantially damaged Russia's standing in the world. And these actions jeopardize Russians, relations with the Unites States and Europe. It is time for Russia to be true to its word and to act to end this crisis. Thank you. RICE