OSCE/FSC: US INTERVENTON AT MAY 7 FSC ON GEORGIA

C O N F I D E N T I A L USOSCE 000122 SIPDIS STATE FOR VCI/CCA, VCI/NRRC, EUR/RPM, EUR/PRA, SCA/CEN, SCA/RA, PM/WRA JCS FOR J5 OSD FOR ISA (PERENYI) NSC FOR DOWLEY USUN FOR LEGAL, POL CENTCOM FOR CCJ5-C, POLAD UNVIE FOR AC GENEVA FOR CD E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/05/2018 TAGS: PARM PREL OSCE KCFE XG SUBJECT: OSCE/FSC: US INTERVENTON AT MAY 7 FSC ON GEORGIA UAV INCIDENT Classified By: Classified by: Hugh M. Neighbour, Chief Arms Control Del egate, for reason 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (SBU) The is a request for guidance. See paragraphs 2-4 for background and paragraph 5 and 6 for request. ¶2. (C) Background: Georgian representatives explained to USDEL how allies and other concerned states could support Georgia's planned intervention on the April 20 UAV incident at the May 7 Forum for Security Cooperation meeting. Georgia plans to respond to Russia's "five questions" (reftel USOSCE 0120) in more detail than it provided at the April 30 FSC. Georgia hopes that the U.S. and other pS would be able to comment on their involvement in the "independent" investigation of the April 20 UAV incident. Specifically, Georgia asked if the U.S. could confirm that it has sent investigators to the region and that it will share its findings with the FSC. ¶3. (C) The Georgians appreciated the fact that the OSCE and FSC had moved quickly on this latest incident, especially as compared to the pace that the OSCE organization got involved last fall in the August Missile Incident. USMission shares Georgia's goal of keeping the FSC seized of the matter now. ¶4. (SBU) The U.S. (Finley) stated at the April 30 FSC that the USG had sent investigators to Georgia and urged other pS to participate in the investigation. The U.S. said the results of the investigation should be shared with the OSCE at the earliest opportunity. ¶5. (C) Mission recommends that responses to Georgia and other pS on the April 20 UAV be confined to the immediate issues discussed in the FSC, i.e., the organization and conduct of the investigation and report of the findings in the FSC. ¶6. (C) Mission recommends that U.S. respond to any interventions on the April UAV incident by stating: -- The United States, as announced at last week's FSC, has already sent investigators to the region to help evaluate the evidence. -- The U.S. continues to urge all participating States to send experts to assist in an international effort to ascertain the facts underlying this incident, -- The U.S. urges all parties to the incident to cooperate with the investigation. -- The U.S. expects that the results of the investigations will be shared with the OSCE at the earliest opportunity. FINLEY