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 -------------- -------------- ¶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