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
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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

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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

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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
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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
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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

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of the upcoming July 1-2 ASRC to assess the efficiency of
existing OSCE mechanisms and procedures, especially in regard
to recent experiences.
FINLEY