GEORGIAN PRESENTS ITS DEMANDS TO RUSSIA FOLLOWING

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TBILISI 000905 SIPDIS DEPT. FOR EUR/CARC E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/31/2018 TAGS: PREL PGOV MOPS GG SUBJECT: GEORGIAN PRESENTS ITS DEMANDS TO RUSSIA FOLLOWING UNOMIG REPORT ON APRIL 20 SHOOT-DOWN OF GEORGIAN UAV Classified By: Ambassador John F. Tefft, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) In a May 27 meeting with the Ambassador, Deputy Foreign Minister Grigol Vashadze delivered a non-paper (faxed to EUR/CARC) outlining Georgia's planned response to Russia in the wake of the United Nations Observer Mission to Georgia (UNOMIG) fact finding report on the April 20 shoot-down of a Georgian unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) over Abkhazia. The UNOMIG report concluded that a Russian military jet was responsible for shooting down the UAV. Vashadze told the Ambassador that he had called in the Russian Ambassador earlier in the day and demanded the following: 1. Russia pay material damages for the loss of the UAV; 2. Russia allow international inspection of the Gudauta military base; 3. Russia make an official, public apology for shooting down the UAV; 4. Russia withdraw its paratrooper battalion and equipment from Abkhazia; and 5. Russia reinstate military and economic sanctions on Abkhazia and repeal President Putin's instructions allowing for closer, official ties between Russian government officials and Abkhaz de-facto authorities. On this last point Vashadze said he had told the Russian Ambassador that it would be sufficient if Russia publicly announced that it would not implement the Putin instructions. ¶2. (U) Text of non-paper Begin text: N6/2792-12 The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia presents its complements to the Embassy of the United States of America in Georgia and has the honour to inform about the following: With regard to the shooting down of an unarmed UAV of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia, the United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG) established a Fact Finding Team. Following the work carried out by the FFT, a final report was released by UNOMIG on 26 May 2008. The Fact Finding Team of UNOMIG concluded that the video footage and radar data provided by the Georgian side are authentic. The report also concludes that the distinctive configuration of the jet aircraft seen on the video clearly indicates that it was either a MIG-29 "Fulcrum" or a SU-27 "Flanker". Based on the authentication of the radar record, the FFT could confirm that the jet aircraft headed north toward Maykop/Krasnodar into the Russian airspace following the downing of the UAV of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia. The FFT concluded that the aircraft belonged to the Russian Air Force. The FFT indicated that the jet aircraft could possibly take off from the airfield of the Gudauta military base. The FFT concludes that the 1994 Moscow Agreement provides only for the CIS PKF and no one else to perform the separation of forces, and therefore, the enforcement actions by third parties - in this case the Russian Federation - in the zone of conflict is fundamentally inconsistent with the Moscow Agreement and, aside from possible considerations under international law, undercuts the ceasefire and separation of forces regime. Apart from it, by conducting the aforementioned action on the territory of Georgia, the Russian Federation violated Paragraph 4, Article 2 of the UN Charter, which prohibits use of force against the territorial integrity of any state. At the same time, this represents an act of aggression according to the Paragraph b, Article 3 of the Annex to the 1974 UN General Assembly Resolution on Definition of Aggression. Downing of the Georgian UAV on 20 April 2008 is a continuation of the Russian Federation's policy to annex inalienable parts of Georgia - Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region. Since in its report UNOMIG notes the possibility of military aircraft's presence on the airfield of the Gudauta military base, it is obvious that an international inspection of this base is necessary to verify the fulfillment of 1999 Istanbul commitments by the Russian Federation. On the basis of all above mentioned, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia categorically demands from the Russian Federation to make an official apology for the act of aggression carried out against Georgia, ensure appropriate compensation of the material loss, and an international inspection of the Gudauta military base. TBILISI 00000905 002 OF 002 At the same time, the Georgian side continues to strongly insist on withdrawal of additional military contingent, military equipment and weaponry from the territory of Georgia, which were introduced to Abkhazia, Georgia after 30 April 2008 without consent of the Government of Georgia, reversal of the 6 March 2008 decision on withdrawal from the regime of restrictions set up by 19 January 1996 decision of the CIS Council of Heads of State "On Measures to Settle the conflict in Abkhazia, Georgia", and reversal of the 16 April 2008 instructions by the President of Russia to the Government of the Russian Federation. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Embassy of the United States of America in Georgia the assurances of its highest consideration. 27 May 2008 Tbilisi End text. TEFFT