GUIDANCE FOR GEORGIA CONSULTATIONS, JANUARY 29

UNCLAS STATE 008687

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: UNSC GE PREL
SUBJECT: GUIDANCE FOR GEORGIA CONSULTATIONS, JANUARY 29



1. (SBU): The UNSC will hold consultations on the situation
in Georgia on January 29. USUN should draw from the points
in para 2 below during consultations and other meetings
related to the UN Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG) and
Georgia.


2. (U) Begin points.

-- The U.S. welcomes the Secretary General,s report and
appreciates efforts by UNOMIG and the Special Representative
of the Secretary General to enhance stability and security in
the Abkhazia region of Georgia and to facilitate dialogue
between the Georgian and Abkhaz sides in pursuit of a
peaceful resolution of the conflict.

-- We welcome the cooperation between the Georgian and
Abkhaz sides to allow the Joint Fact-Finding Team,s
investigation into the deadly clash at Bokhundjara on
September 20. The United States deeply regrets the loss of
life and hopes that such incidents can be avoided in the
future.

a) If raised: Although the Fact-Finding Team was not able to
precisely determine the circumstances of the incident, the
report notes "there may have been Abkhaz operational
activities going on unrelated to the activities of the group
that came under attack." We strongly urge both sides to
refrain from acts of violence and provocation, as stressed in
UNSCR 1781.

b) Only if necessary to refute Russian allegations: Based on
the forensic evidence and witness interviews, the Fact
Finding Team concluded that the two former Russian officers
died as a result of shooting in a close-quarter battle
environment.

-- We express our strong support for the enhancement of
UNOMIG,s observation capacity as recommended by UNSC
resolution 1781. If the final assessment by the Special
Representative of the Secretary General determines that
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are the most efficacious
means to enhance this capacity, we will support their prompt
deployment to the region.

-- We have done good work together in the Group of Friends to
develop confidence-building measures; we support the efforts
of UNOMIG and the SRSG to work with the sides to implement
these measures in coming weeks and months to change the
situation on the ground in Georgia,s Abkhazia region for the
better. At the same time, we must acknowledge that progress
in implementing CBMs has slowed considerably in recent
months. We are hopeful that the sides will consider fresh
approaches to peacefully solving the conflict through
negotiations.

-- We support the efforts of SRSG Arnault to implement
practical steps to bring the sides to the negotiating table.

End points.
RICE