GEORGIA WITHDRAWS FROM AIR DEFENSE COOPERATION

UNCLAS TBILISI 000754

SIPDIS

DEPT. FOR EUR/CARC

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV MOPS GG
SUBJECT: GEORGIA WITHDRAWS FROM AIR DEFENSE COOPERATION
AGREEMENT WITH RUSSIA


1. (U) Summary: The Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
announced on May 5 that Georgia was withdrawing from a 1995
Air Defense Cooperation Agreement with Russia. Deputy
Defense Minister Batu Kutelia explained to the media that the
1995 treaty was politically and technically incompatible with
Georgia's airspace monitoring cooperation with NATO and
Georgia's policy toward further integration with the
alliance. Separately, Abkhaz de-facto foreign minister
Sergei Shamba made a statement on May 6 that Abkhazia was
ready to sign an agreement on military cooperation with
Russia in exchange for security guarantees. Abkhaz de-facto
officials also claimed that another Georgian unmanned aerial
vehicle (UAV) had been observed flying over the Gali
district. UNOMIG patrols did not observe any UAV flight and
could not confirm the Abkhaz claim. Abkhaz de-facto
authorities held a large pro-Russia rally in Sukhumi and Gali
on May 6 as a show of support for Russian President Putin's
recent initiatives in support of Abkhazia. UNOMIG reported
that schools in the ethnic Georgian Gali region were
instructed to attend the Gali rally. End Summary.

Georgia Withdraws from Air Defense Agreement
--------------

2. (U) The Georgian Foreign Ministry announced on May 5 that
Georgia was withdrawing from a 1995 Air Defense Cooperation
Agreement with Russia. Deputy Defense Minister Kutelia
explained at a press conference that the agreement was no
longer technically or politically compatible with Georgia's
airspace monitoring cooperation with NATO and Georgia's
policy toward further integration into the alliance. He said
Georgia has signed an agreement with NATO on the exchange of
airspace monitoring information which contradicted Georgia's
obligations under the 1995 agreement with Russia. He added
that the Georgian decision to withdraw from the agreement had
been made at the beginning of 2008, but had taken several
months to finalize.

Shamba calls for military cooperation agreement with Russia
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3. (U) Abkhaz de-facto foreign minister Sergei Shamba said
on May 6 that Abkhazia was ready to give Russia the "broadest
possible" military cooperation in exchange for security
guarantees, calling for an agreement similar to one the U.S.
has with Taiwan (Note: Russian FM Lavrov was quoted as
saying that Russia has not received a formal proposal from
the Abkhaz on this issue. End note). Shamba said that
Putin's April 16 instructions opens opportunities for
cooperation not only on social and economic projects, but
also military projects. He said Abkhazia could also provide
military bases and "take into account" Russia's other
military interests in Abkhazia.

Pro-Russia rally in Sukhumi, Gali
--------------

4. (U) Abkhaz de-facto officials organized a pro-Russia
rally on May 6 in support of Russian President Putin's recent
steps toward strengthening ties with Abkhazia, apparently
timed to coincide with Putin's last day in office. Rallies
were organized in Sukhumi and Gali, and included de-facto
president Bagapsh. UNOMIG told us that schools in the
predominantly ethnic-Georgian Gali district were "instructed"
to attend the Gali rally, but UNOMIG observers have not seen
evidence of forced participation of other Gali residents, as
had been earlier claimed in Georgian media reports. De-facto
foreign minister Shamba said that the rally was a way for the
Abkhaz people to "thank Russia and its President" for its
recent steps in support of the Abkhaz people.

TEFFT