Identifier | Created | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|
08TBILISI1571 | 2008-09-12 15:44:00 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Tbilisi |
VZCZCXRO1739 PP RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHSI #1571 2561544 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 121544Z SEP 08 FM AMEMBASSY TBILISI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0074 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 0105 |
C O N F I D E N T I A L TBILISI 001571 |
1. (C) Summary. Russian forces allowed OSCE monitors past checkpoints outside Akhalgori, but an Ossetian checkpoint did not allow the OSCE into Akhalgori. This raises questions about the prospects for South Ossetian cooperation with OSCE and EU monitors in the future. A special letter has been prepared in the Georgian parliament on human rights violations during Russian aggression and was sent to all European Parliaments on 12 September. Eduard Kokoity announced yesterday that South Ossetia is an independent republic and has no intention to integrate into Russia. The opposition faction New Georgia/Christian Democrats will split into two factions. Saakashvili countered Russian accusations that the United States was rearming Georgia by labeling it Russian propaganda. End Summary. OSSETIANS DENY OSCE ACCESS TO AKHALGORI -------------------------- 2. (C) On September 11, OSCE monitors successfully passed Russian checkpoints outside Akhalgori, but were refused access to the village itself by Ossetian forces, who explained that the OSCE would need clearance from the "authorities" in Tskhinvali to travel into South Ossetia. This is the first time Ossetian forces have made the decision to deny the OSCE access. (COMMENT: No matter what the outcome of the negotiations on the modalities of the increased OSCE contingent and the new EU observers, it is possible that Russia will cite the unwillingness of the "sovereign" government in Tskhinvali as a reason to allow no monitors into South Ossetia -- even if Russia itself agrees in principle to allowing the original eight into South Ossetia. We may need to find a way to convince Russia to convince South Ossetia to cooperate with Russia's own concessions. End comment.) PARLIAMENTARY OPEN LETTER ON HUMAN RIGHTS -------------------------- 3. (SBU) According to press reports, a special letter has been prepared in the Georgian parliament on human rights violations during Russian aggression and was sent to all European Parliaments on 12 September. The document outlines the details of the bombing in Georgian villages, the arson attacks in Georgia's National Parks, and how churches and monasteries were attacked. Georgian Parliament Human Rights Committee Chairman Giorgi Arsenishvili stated, "If you take a look at the text of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, you will fail to find a single point in it which Russia did not violate during this intervention. You cannot find a single point in the 1977 Geneva Convention that Russia did not violate." Both the ruling party and the opposition unanimously supported the letter. KOKOITY CHANGES HIS MIND ON JOINING RUSSIA -------------------------- 4. (SBU) According to press reports, the leader of the South Ossetia, Eduard Kokoity, announced yesterday that South Ossetia is an independent republic and has no intention to integrate into Russia. His statement contradicts his earlier statements suggesting that within a few years, South Ossetia would join Russia. Kokoity clarified that he was misunderstood. OPPOSITION FACTION SPLITS -------------------------- 5. (SBU) According to press reports, the opposition faction New Georgia/Christian Democrats will split into two factions. Gia Tortladze will be the head of the New Georgia faction and Giorgi Akhvlediani will lead the Christian Democrats. SAAKASHVILI SAYS NO U.S. MILITARY ASSISTANCE -------------------------- 6. (SBU) According to press reports, Saakashvili countered Russian accusations that the United States was rearming Georgia by labeling it Russian propaganda. "We don't expect to get anything from the United States. We haven't got anything from the United States recently and we will not be getting any large-scale hardware or military material assistance from the United States. No matter what kind of theoretical assistance we could have received from anybody, there is no way Georgia can fight wars with Russia," Saakashvili said in an interview with the Associated Press. TEFFT |