GEORGIAN AMBASSADOR TO TOKYO ASSERTS RUSSIAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 002379 SIPDIS MOSCOW PASS VLADIVOSTOK HELSINKI PASS ST. PETERSBURG E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/29/2016 TAGS: PREL MARR JA RS GG SUBJECT: GEORGIAN AMBASSADOR TO TOKYO ASSERTS RUSSIAN INVASION DIRECTLY CONFRONTS U.S. TOKYO 00002379 001.4 OF 002 Classified By: Charge d' Affaires, a.i. James P. Zumwalt. Reasons 1.4 (B) (D) ¶1. (C) Summary. Russia's invasion of Georgia is designed to punish Tbilisi for efforts to move closer to the United States and to confront Washington by "fighting the U.S. in Georgia," Georgian Ambassador to Japan Ivane Matchavariani told Charge on August 29. The Georgian asked for assistance in convincing Tokyo to take a more visible role in supporting Tbilisi ) "something more than working through the G8 process." Moscow's actions in Georgia, the Ambassador asserted, have caused some Diet members to begin to reassess Tokyo's own bilateral relationship with Moscow. End Summary. -------------- Children Cut Off -------------- ¶2. (C) On August 29, Georgian Ambassador to Japan Ivane Matchavariani, at his request, briefed Charge on recent developments regarding Russia's military incursion into Georgia. The Georgian Ambassador expressed appreciation for United States support during the crisis, noting that Georgia could not stand without American backing. Matchavariani, a fluent English speaker who studied at Johns Hopkins University, is married to a United States citizen, and lived several years in New York, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C., recalled the harrowing experience faced by himself, his wife, and two children, all of whom were vacationing in Georgia as the Russian invasion began. Matchavariani stated numerous terrified Georgian parents had been cut off from their children who had been vacationing at summer homes near western Black Sea ports as Russian forces invaded Abkhazia toward Poti. -------------- Punish Western Ties -------------- ¶3. (C) Matchavariani asserted Russian actions were designed to punish Tbilisi for its efforts to move closer to the United States and NATO, Westernize its economy, and remove any remaining visages of the country's Soviet past. The Ambassador claimed Georgia has made dramatic changes over the last few years, modernizing an economy which was now "free of corruption" while transforming itself into an Eastern European-like nation. Conspiracy theories formulated by Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin claiming the United States instigated the crisis were "nonsense." Such theories, widely believed by the Russian public, demonstrated the Kremlin's true intent was to confront Washington ) "Russia is fighting the U.S. in Georgia," according to the Georgian Ambassador. ¶4. (C) Several Central Asian contacts in Tokyo are "scared" about the implications of the Russian moves for their republics, Matchavariani indicated. Moscow's supposed rational for the Georgian invasion - protecting Russian citizens - is "invalid" and sets a dangerous precedent for Kazahkstan and the Baltics. Human Rights Watch, the Georgian TOKYO 00002379 002.2 OF 002 asserted, found that only 43 civilians had been killed during the crisis - most by Russian bombing. -------------- Encourage Japanese Involvement -------------- ¶5. (C) The Georgian asked Charge for assistance with convincing Tokyo to take a more visible role in supporting Tbilisi ) "something more than working through the G8 process." Japan should undertake more direct, visible support such as official visits and financial assistance, he indicated, as has been done by Belgium and Canada. Matchavariani acknowledged, however, Tokyo's statements condemning Russian actions and claimed some Diet members have proposed forming an expert's study group, composed of academics and former government officials, to advise the Georgian government. ¶6. (C) Moscow's actions in Georgia, the Ambassador asserted, have caused some Diet members to begin to reassess Tokyo's own bilateral relationship with Moscow. Minister of State for Declining Birthrates, Gender, Equality, and Abductions Kyoko Nakayama, among others, reportedly observed that Japan's policy of "concessions" to Russia had so far failed to provide any dividends to Tokyo. (Comment: If correct, Nakayama's comment may refer to Japan's failure to resolve the Northern Territories issue with Russia.) According to Matchavariani, some Diet members have begun to wonder whether Tokyo should link its aid and economic development packages to signs of a more cooperative attitude from Russian officials. -------------- U.S. Responses -------------- ¶7. (C) Charge reviewed various actions the United States has undertaken to encourage Japan's engagement in response to the crisis, including the Secretary's and U/S Burn's telephone exchanges with G7 counterparts, and demarches calling on Tokyo to engage international/multinational fora and refrain from recognizing Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Charge, noting Japanese officials were often reluctant to be seen as taking the lead on contentions issues, suggested the Georgian Ambassador provide Tokyo authorities with examples of actions taken by other governments as a way to encourage continued steps by Japan. ZUMWALT