Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08TOKYO2379
2008-08-29 08:59:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:
GEORGIAN AMBASSADOR TO TOKYO ASSERTS RUSSIAN
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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)
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
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