TFGG01: NATO ALLIES STILL DIVIDED ON GEORGIA

C O N F I D E N T I A L USNATO 000284 NOFORN SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/11/2018 TAGS: NATO PREF PREL SUBJECT: TFGG01: NATO ALLIES STILL DIVIDED ON GEORGIA STATEMENT REF: A. USNATO 275 ¶B. USNATO 279 ¶C. USNATO 281 ¶D. USNATO 282 Classified By: Ambassador Kurt Volker for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: The North Atlantic Council (NAC) met August 12 in emergency session to discuss a NAC statement on the Georgia crisis and to discuss whether to agree to Russias request for a meeting of the NATO-Russia Council (NRC). Although Allies agreed in principle to begin drafting a formal statement for subsequent NAC approval, consensus broke down over timing. The NAC authorized the SYG to engage the press after the NAC meeting with Georgia scheduled for later in the day to give an assessment of todays meetings and Allies positions. Discussions over the text of a statement will continue in the Political Committee. Allies also discussed whether to agree to a meeting of the NRC, as Russia has requested. Nearly all Allies spoke in favor of having the meeting, while stressing that there could not be "business as usual." The United States and others reserved and NATO agreed for today to say there is no agreement on timing of a possible NRC meeting. De Hoop Scheffer and several Allies also stressed that NATO would need a strong, unified message for Russia before such a meeting. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) The SYG opened the August 12 NAC, which had been called to discuss NATOs response to events in Georgia, by highlighting the extremely grave political and humanitarian situation that has developed in Georgia within the last five days. He made note of Georgias request through NATOs Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre for medical and other humanitarian supplies. SYG welcomed the new U.S. Permanent Representative to NATO, Kurt Volker. The NATO Intelligence Division Chief reviewed the events of the last five days and provided her assessment that the Russians were likely to continue supporting the Abkhaz and South Ossetia forces; will continue to conduct attacks inside of Georgia proper; and will most likely keep a strong military presence in Abkhazia and South Ossetia for the foreseeable future. Deputy Chairman of the Military Committee, LTG Eikenberry, noted that the situation is very fluid and there are big gaps in NATOs understanding of what is happening on the ground. He solicited further intelligence flows from Allies. -------------- Timing Is Everything -------------- ¶3. (C) The SYG emphasized that he needed to engage the press later in the afternoon, and the NAC should not be viewed by the media as "bickering" and incapable of reaching agreement on a statement. He told Allies that "either they reach agreement on a statement now, or he would give his line on the tone of the meetings and do his best to present a cohesive review of Allies positions." He noted that his remarks to the press last Friday highlighted the "disproportionate use of force" by the Russians and he would use the same term again. ¶4. (C) There was broad agreement among nearly all Allies that a statement is necessary, but consensus faltered on the timing of the statement, with some Allies saying that they needed more guidance from capitals, and others arguing that the NAC should wait until French President Sarkozy, in his capacity as EU President, meets with President Medvedev. The French PermRep also underscored the sensitive discussions that FM Kouchner had with President Saakashvili yesterday, stating that the Georgian President would again call for a ceasefire, as reason for the NAC to delay its statement. Other Allies argued that NATO had to coordinate its message not only with the EU, but also with the OSCE and UN as well. In addition to the French PermRep, the PermReps from Belgium, Turkey, and Germany came out strongly against issuing an immediate statement. ¶5. (C) Support for an immediate statement came from the U.S., UK, Latvia, Bulgaria, Poland, Czech Republic, Norway, The Netherlands, and the Baltic states. The Czech PermRep asked why there was a need, at this stage of the crisis, for Allies to ask for more guidance from capitals. Ambassador Volker declared that the NAC not only has the authority to speak out on the crisis, but the responsibility to do so. "This is not an issue of timing," he said, and observed that any statement from the NAC would reinforce what the EU and other international organizations are doing. ¶6. (C) Ambassador Volker also stressed that we need to be clear about reality vs. tactics. The reality is that Russias military action in Georgia was planned, is disproportionate, is inconsistent with any conceivable Russian role as peacekeepers and amounts to Russia using military force to impose its will in the territory of a sovereign neighboring country. Especially with a number of members that had been incorporated into the Soviet Union or part of the Warsaw Pact, this is something the Alliance must take very seriously. -------------- But Content is also Important -------------- ¶7. (C) Many Allies spoke in favor of the U.S. text that was distributed yesterday as a solid basis to begin crafting a statement, while other PermReps said that some elements of the text were more useful than others. Full support for the U.S. text came from the Czech Republic, Poland, Estonia, and Lithuania. The UK, Italy, Canada, and Norway said that overall the text was good and should be a starting point for discussions. The Netherlands and Slovakia both said that the text was fine, but the language on Russian aggression went too far and was not constructive. Iceland and Hungary called for a "balanced" text, implying that they felt the language on Russian aggression was too much. ¶8. (C) Among the Allies who were not supportive of the U.S text, the French and Belgians did not directly criticize it as they preferred to delay the statement altogether, while Spanish support was weak. By far the most critical Ally was Germany. The German PermRep said, "The number one priority for Allies is to support the UNSC and help to defuse the tension in the region, and a strong statement from the NAC will not do this." He added that Germany would not support "a thunderous statement of condemnation." He suggested that for the NAC statement, Allies should refer to the language from the draft UNSCR that has been tabled in New York. ¶9. (C) In the discussion, all Allies agreed that any NAC statement or press remarks by the Secretary General should: - Call for an immediate cessation of hostilities; - Highlight NATOs support of all international efforts to end the conflict; - Welcome Georgias cease fire offer; - Encourage Russian and Georgian militaries to return to their positions of August 6; - Reinforce the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia; - And note the specific examples of forthcoming humanitarian aid. ¶10. (C) The NAC agreed that the Political Committee would meet that afternoon to craft a statement and to review developments in Georgia. For the statement itself, other points that were floated by Allies included: - The need to find a long term solution to the frozen conflicts, (Czech Republic); - Condemning Russia for its aggression, (Czech Republic, UK, Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, Latvia); - Criticizing Russia for overstepping its peacekeeping responsibilities, (Denmark, Canada, Slovakia); - Criticizing Russia for disproportionate use of force, (Norway, The Netherlands, Hungary). -------------- Humanitarian Aid Starting -------------- ¶11. (U) Lithuania said that it had delivered humanitarian aid to the Georgian government on August 10. Germany stated that its first response to the aid request is a one million (Euro) donation to the UNHCR. Germany is also considering a donation of medical supplies and tents. Norway, Denmark, UK, and Canada announced plans to donate humanitarian aid on a national basis and through international organizations. -------------- Most Allies Favor NRC Meeting -------------- ¶12. (C) The vast majority of PermReps called for a NRC meeting, with many saying that the forum was particularly important during times of crisis. Many stated that Allies had to respond to the Russian request to hold a meeting, if only to not give the Russians propaganda points with the media. However, many Allies refused the call for an immediate NRC, instead urging the NAC to develop a unified Allied position for engaging Russian Ambassador Rogozin. The SYG, U.S., Estonia, Latvia, Poland, and Bulgaria all said that the NRC could not continue with a "business as usual" approach. The SYG warned that Rogozin will be difficult to manage unless the PermReps have "their act together." No Ally suggested that the NRC be suspended or terminated. ¶13. (C) COMMENT: There was broad Allied support for the SYGs approach to the Georgian crisis in general, and his handling of the media in particular. This support was reflected in the consensus to allow the SYG to freely engage the media this afternoon. Poland informed the NAC that its Foreign Minister, as well as the Presidents of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania are traveling to Tbilisi to express solidarity with the Georgians. The Germans were the most problematic of the difficult Allies in todays NAC. Their PermRep questioned whether NATO has a role in defusing the crisis and pushed Allies to follow the lead of the UN. Their PermRep suggested that NATO, when the dust settles, should assess all of the "mistakes and miscalculations" which led to the crisis in Georgia. We assess that the Germans are likely to not only continue blaming Georgia for precipitating the crisis, but Berlin also could argue that the U.S.-led efforts to grant MAP to Georgia contributed to the tense atmosphere in the region. The German PermRep also mentioned that Chancellor Merkel will meet with President Medvedev this Friday. END COMMENT. VOLKER