GEORGIA:UN PLANNING FOR THE INTERNATIONAL MECHANISM

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 USUN NEW YORK 000807 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/08/2018 TAGS: PREL RS GG SUBJECT: GEORGIA:UN PLANNING FOR THE INTERNATIONAL MECHANISM Classified By: Ambassador Rosemary DiCarlo for reasons 1.4(b) and (d) 1.(C) Summary. SRSG-designate Johan Verbeke outlined Department of Political Affairs (DPA) views on the future UN presence in Georgia. Verbeke is concerned that if the EU agrees to accept Russian proposals that international observers should deploy only on the Georgian side of the security zones along the Abkhazia and South Ossetian boundaries, it will be very difficult to convince Russia at a later date to allow an international mechanism within Abkhazia and South Ossetia proper. Verbeke, instead, wanted to push for international observers to be deployed on both sides of the boundaries. Verbeke also said DPA is concerned that the fact-finding mission called for by the U.S. France, and others at the August 28 Security COUNCIL meeting needed to keep a low profile, in order to achieve buy-in from Russia. The UN may suggest a 2-3 month rollover of the UNOMIG mission, while the Security COUNCIL determines the way forward for the mission. Verbeke will travel to Moscow on September 8 to consult with Russia on UN plans in Georgia. End Summary. Security Arrangements -------------- 2.(C) SRSG-designate for the United Nations Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG) Johan Verbeke told Ambassador DiCarlo on September 5 he was concerned that the EU's apparent readiness to accept Russia's terms for the EU monitoring presence in Georgia --specifically, that the 200 proposed EU monitors would only be permitted to deploy on the Georgian side of the boundary with Abkhazia and South Ossetia-- would lead to de facto borders. Verbeke understood the urgent need to deploy the international mechanism in order to precipitate the Russian withdrawal, but he called acceptance of the Russian terms "short sighted". If international monitors were only to be deployed on the Georgian side of the boundaries with Abkhaz and South Ossetian sides and only Russian monitors were to be deployed in Abkhazia and South Ossetia proper, the situation would be frozen. Verbeke believed that the West should focus more attention on achieving an international mechanism within Abkhazia and South Ossetia. 3.(C) Verbeke believes international monitors are needed on both sides of the boundaries. An international protective force is needed as well in areas within Abkhazia and South Ossetia where Georgian populations are concentrated, such as the town of Gali in Abkhazia. Verbeke thought Russia would continue to refuse access to international monitors within Abkhazia and South Ossetia, but said also, "we can't sit back and let them get away with it". He suggested that perhaps a formula could be worked out to allow a limited number of Russian monitors on the Georgian side of the boundary and an equal number of international monitors on the Abkhaz side. UNOMIG Reconfiguration -------------- 4.(C) Verbeke confirmed the UN is looking at a two to three month technical roll-over of the UNOMIG mandate when it expires on October 15, as a way to give the Security COUNCIL time to decide on the future of UNOMIG. Verbeke was not certain how Moscow would react to a rollover request, but he did not rule out the possibility that Moscow might go along with it. The downside of a technical rollover of the mandate, would be that the return of refugees and IDPs would not be addressed. He pointed out that the six-point cease-fire agreement also did not refer to IDP returns, which would make it more difficult to address these in an international context. 5.(C) Verbeke suggested it would be preferable to have a UN mandate for all of the international efforts, with the UN playing a coordinating, "umbrella", role over EU and OSCE activities, but he understood that this was unlikely. The EU wanted a UN mandate for its planned mission, but made clear that it planned to operate autonomously in Georgia. NOTE. In a separate conversation with Ambassador DiCarlo on February 5, Undersecretary General for Political Affairs Lynn Pascoe said that DPA would like Verbeke to head the UN's notional umbrella mission in Georgia, with two Deputy SRSGs-- one for the UNOMIG mission in Abkhazia and one that would provide coordination for the EU and OSCE efforts. Like Verbeke, Pascoe believed the concept would not likely come to fruition, since the EU was opposed to UN oversight of its mission. END NOTE. UN Assessment Mission -------------- 6.(C) Referring to the UN fact-finding mission on HUMAN rights and humanitarian issues called for by the French, U.S. and others at the August 28 Security COUNCIL meeting, Verbeke USUN NEW Y 00000807 002 OF 002 said that the Secretary General was committed to establishing the facts about potential HUMAN RIGHTS violations by parties to the conflict and assessing the needs of internally displaced persons (IDPs). However, Verbeke said it was in the interest of the UN to downplay the public profile of the mission in order to achieve Russian approval for the mission to gain access to South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Once the mission is on the ground, it could establish the facts related to claims of HUMAN RIGHTS abuses. Travel to Moscow -------------- 7.(C) Verbeke said he planned to travel to Moscow on September 8 to discuss the UN role in Georgia with the Russian side. He had suggested to Moscow that he delay his trip until after the EU Troika meetings, but his Russian interlocutors said they were prepared to meet him. Khalilzad