OSCE FSC/PC: RUSSIA AND GEORGIA AGAIN EXCHANGE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 USOSCE 000156 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR VCI/CCA, VCI/NRRC, EUR/RPM, EUR/PRA, EUR/CARC, 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: N/A TAGS: PARM PREL OSCE KCFE XG GG RU SUBJECT: OSCE FSC/PC: RUSSIA AND GEORGIA AGAIN EXCHANGE BARBS ON ABKHAZIA, RUSSIA REMAINS IN DENIAL ON UAV REF: A. A. USOSCE DAILY REPORTS MAY 30 - JUNE 11 ¶B. B. USOSCE 148 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: In a series of three Joint FSC-PC meetings held on June 11 in response to requests by Georgia and Russia to further address tensions based on recent events in Abkhazia, both sides traded now familiar accusations on Abkhazia. Russia categorically denied its involvement in the April 20 shootdown of a Georgian UAV while Georgia, and others cited the UNOMIG report which concluded the interceptor aircraft belonged to the Russian Air Force. Russia again complained of Georgia's "massive violations" of the Moscow Agreement, and that Georgia had yet to provide the complete UAV video and radar data necessary to verify the Georgian interpretation of the incident; Georgia replied that it had done so six weeks ago at the UNSC. The Georgian Deputy Minister of Interior and the Commander of the Georgian Air Force participated in the final meeting providing technical expertise, but also raising the rhetoric ante. ¶2. (SBU) The U.S., EU, Moldova, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Norway, and Canada each took the floor with all, inter alia, reiterating support for Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity as well as calling for restraint, conformity with international law, and continued dialogue to reach a political settlement. The FSC Chairman will submit a report of the proceedings to the CiO and likely refer the matter to the PC for further discussion. Additionally, CiO Finland intends to address existing OSCE mechanisms in the upcoming July 1-2 ASRC. End Summary. RUSSIA,S LAUNDRY LIST OF ALLEGED GEORGIAN VIOLATIONS -------------- -------------- ¶3. (SBU) The first two meetings of the 3-part series were focused on issues raised in the two Russian Notes Verbales (FSC-PC.DEL/11/08 and FSC-PC.DEL/12/08) invoking the Vienna Document Chapter III mechanism. As regards UAV flights over the security zone, Russian Chief Arms Control Delegate Ulyanov repeated the elements outlined in the relevant Russian Note Verbale and deflected some of the blame for increased tensions to those nations that allocate funds which enable Georgia to purchase UAVs, the very source of an additional irritant. Ulyanov characterized Georgia's May 30 announced intention to cease UAV flights as heartening, but noted it was offset by Georgia's June 1 Note Verbale (FSC-PC.DEL/13/08) which insisted on the legitimacy of UAV flights and reserved the right to resume flights, which the May 26 UNOMIG report had qualified as an unequivocal violation of the 1994 Moscow Agreement. Russia appealed to Georgia to affirm it would desist from future UAV flights over Abkhazia in the interest of minimizing tensions, normalizing relations and achieving a political settlement. ¶4. (SBU) In the second meeting, Russia reiterated its position that Georgia is in flagrant violation of the 1994 Moscow Agreement, citing many of the alleged violations listed in its note and specified in the additional reference material a laundry list to ensure all pS had a "balanced view" of the current situation. Ulyanov remarked that Georgia's numerous actions were "throwing fuel on the fire" and called on Georgia ) better equipped than Abkhazia to move the process forward ) to demonstrate the political will to cease these violations, restore the Upper Kodori to the USOSCE 00000156 002 OF 004 status quo of 28 July 2006, and sign a non-use of force agreement and security guarantee as called for by UNSCR 1808. ¶5. (SBU) Georgian Ambassador Dolidze retorted that Russia had activated the OSCE security mechanisms to divert attention from the April 20 UAV incident, which Georgia views as a violation of its territorial integrity and sovereignty. He called on Russia to stop turning the OSCE into a "comedy club" but rather focus on the serious incident at hand and related Russian actions in order to enable a productive dialogue. RUSSIA REMAINS IN DENIAL AS GEORGIAN RHETORIC SHARPENS -------------- -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Noting that the April 20 UAV incident ) open aggression on a sovereign state on the eastern flanks of Europe ) was the real reason for this gathering, Dolidze provided a thorough presentation on the UAV incident to include the video footage, radar data, terrain analysis showing location of the UAV, and a photo comparison of the SU-27, MiG-29 and L-39 as well as recounting Georgia's specific actions as a "responsible state" in response to the event. Considering the UNOMIG report findings which confirmed the interceptor aircraft belonged to Russia and the authenticity of materials provided by Georgia, Dolidze was surprised by Russia's egregious refusal to take this incident seriously and respond in kind. ¶7. (SBU) Ulyanov reiterated that this was a matter to be resolved between Tbilisi and Sukhumi, while again registering serious doubts concerning the Georgian claims and insisting Georgia had refused to provide Russia with all the materials necessary for its experts to verify the Georgian interpretation of the incident. Remarking that "even the best doctor can be prone to medical error," he also expressed concerns with the UN inspection team report alleging it was biased by Georgia providing the team with the independent experts' report in advance and by the inability of the team to meet with representatives from Abkhazia. Despite a direct question from the U.S. to Russia as to why it had not turned over its own radar data, Ulyanov refused to acknowledge the request and simply repeated calls for Georgia to submit all of the "evidence" to Russia before discussions could continue. ¶8. (SBU) During the final FSC-PC session, the Georgian Deputy Minister of Interior, Ekaterine Zguladze, and the Commander of the Georgian Air Force addressed the participating States. The Deputy Minister - excusing her demeanor by noting she was no diplomat - sarcastically thanked Russia for its decade-long "help" resolving the conflict and stated Georgia would be far more grateful for assistance with internationalizing the peacekeeping force and achieving a peace plan. Responding to Russia's laundry list of alleged Georgian massive violations, she twice cited the "drunken Russian peacekeepers" who drive armored vehicles into Zugdidi and Tbilisi. She acerbically responded to the Russian request that the Kodori valley be returned to status quo ante, saying that would mean a return to lawlessness where human trafficking often took place. ¶9. The Air Force Commander explained how the aircraft in the video had to be either a MiG-29 or SU-27, given its twin fins, and not an L-39, as Russia asserts, since the L-39 USOSCE 00000156 003 OF 004 could not be modified to perform such a shoot-down. He further explained that the attacking fighter had made three attempts in total to shoot down the UAV. As a result of two failed high speed attempts, the pilot decreased airspeed on the third, which caused a loss of altitude enabling the capture of the fighter on the UAV video. Regarding the authenticity of Georgia's materials, he emphasized that all had been given full access to the radar site and it was impossible to manipulate the data. He then blasted Russia, accusing Georgia's "big brother" Russia of both financing and developing a technically sophisticated and integrated air defense system on the territory of Georgia's "little brother," Abkhazia. Ulyanov retorted that while he appreciated the positive statements initially made by Georgian Ambassador Dolidze, as they called for greater bilateral cooperation, the last two statements clearly demonstrated another side to Georgia's rhetoric. STATES REITERATE SUPPORT FOR GEORGIAN TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY -------------- -------------- ¶10. (SBU) Slovenia (EU) read out its June 6 GAERC statement in which it expressed its concern over rising tensions in the region and urged both sides to calm their public rhetoric and take steps to normalize relations. All additional pS who spoke (U.S., Moldova, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Norway, and Canada) echoed the EU call to respect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Georgia and the need for restraint, conformity with international law and continued dialogue to reach a political settlement. Many welcomed President Saakashvili's peace plan and encouraged contacts at the highest levels. Most speakers cited the UNOMIG report which fingered Russia as responsible for the UAV shootdown. Canada, noting the UNOMIG report finding on UAV flights violating the Moscow Agreement, indicated that this was no excuse for Russia taking the action it did: Russia should have raised the UAV issue in the UN or OSCE rather than shooting it down. ¶11. (SBU) The U.S. (Ambassador Finley) reiterated that the UNOMIG report had drawn the appropriate conclusions and that Russia's failure to consult with Georgia on troop deployments was unsuitable for a peacekeeping mission. She then called for further consideration of how the OSCE can contribute to easing tensions and proposed confidence building measures such as greater cooperation between the OSCE and UNOMIG to help provide more transparent information regarding the situation on the ground, OSCE pS visits to areas of concern, and a Russian pledge to reduce its military presence in Abkhazia to the level preceding the recent increase in tensions. She urged the PKO to play a more active role in the return of refugees and noted that a de-escalation of tensions could reinvigorate the peace process through direct negotiations between Abkhazia and Georgia. NEXT STEPS IN VIENNA -------------- ¶12. (SBU) According to CiO Finland, the FSC Chairman will submit a report of the proceedings to the CiO and likely refer the matter to the PC for further discussion that should focus on measures for stabilizing the situation and halting activities that give rise to concerns of the involved Sates. Additionally, CiO Finland intends to use Working Session III USOSCE 00000156 004 OF 004 of the upcoming July 1-2 ASRC to assess the efficiency of existing OSCE mechanisms and procedures, especially in regard to recent experiences. FINLEY