NETHERLANDS/EU: DUTCH PRESS RUSSIA ON GEORGIA

C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 000957 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/11/2018 TAGS: PREL PGOV ETRD EU NL GG RS IR SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/EU: DUTCH PRESS RUSSIA ON GEORGIA REF: A. SECSTATE 119280 ¶B. SECSTATE 115017 ¶C. FALLS - EUR/ERA EMAIL 11-4-08 Classified By: Political & Economic Affairs Counselor Andrew C. Mann fo r reasons 1.5(b,d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: On October 30, Dutch FM Verhagen urged Russian FM Lavrov to comply with the 6-point ceasefire plan for Russia and Georgia. Verhagen and Lavrov disagreed on Iran, with Lavrov suggesting Iran is being unfairly pressured. Lavrov urged support for the Medvedev plan for European security. END SUMMARY. Georgia -------------- ¶2. (C) During a discussion on November 7, FM Verhagen gave Ambassador a read-out of his October 30 meeting with Lavrov. Verhagen said it was a good meeting with pleasant atmospherics. They touched on Iran, Afghanistan, and EU-Russia relations, but Georgia dominated the discussion. Lavrov sent a "clear signal" Russia feels misunderstood by the West. Russia is convinced Georgia President Saakashvili attacked them. Verhagen responded that -- particularly in the context of upcoming Geneval meetings -- "we will look to your constructive behavior in the future." He urged Lavrov to comply with the 6-point plan and noted the Netherlands would not accept South Ossetian and Abkhazian as representatives of "independent" countries during talks in Geneva. Lavrov said it was important for security and stability in the region to be discussed by all parties. Verhagen agreed all parties could be represented but not as independent states (no flag, no nameplate, no translation in their own language for the breakaway Georgian territories). Lavrov said he wanted the procedural issues settled and hoped Geneva will generate a guarantee of no use of force in the region and no sales of offensive weapons, while Georgia is under Saakashvili. According to Lavrov, Russia does not believe the US, NATO or the West provoked Georgia to attack Russia. They blame it all on Saakashvili. Verhagen and Lavarov agreed to disagree on the conclusion that an SS-26 (Russia cluster bomb) killed the Dutch journalist. Verhagen said the Russian argument on this point was legalistic and not logical. ¶3. (U) In a press release November 11, Verhagen noted "Europe will continue to condemn Russia's recognition of Georgia's breakaway provinces, but that does not mean we can simply ignore one another." The release also noted that progress in EU-Russia talks will still depend on "effective implementation of the Georgia peace plan." Iran -------------- ¶4. (C) Verhagen and Lavrov had an "intensive" discussion on Iran. Again, they agreed to disagree. Lavrov had a different interpretation of the recent IAEA report on Iran,s nuclear program. He felt the IAEA, under pressure from the US and West, put additional requirements on Iran that they could not now meet. Verhagen told the Ambassador the two track approach (dialogue and sanctions) will run into trouble in the Security Council since Russia is not interested in sanctions. Lavrov said he is convinced Iran wants to possess the full nuclear fuel cycle, but not military nuclear technology/capability, but he could not offer any convincing reason why he thought that, according to Verhagen. European Security -------------- ¶5. (C) Lavrov said discussions of the Russian plan for European Security should include all relevant parties, including NATO members like Canada and the US. CULBERTSON