Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08USUNNEWYORK86
2008-01-30 00:49:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
USUN New York
Cable title:  

RUSSIA CRITICIZES GEORGIA IN UNSC CONSULTATIONS ON

Tags:  PGOV PREL UNSC GG 
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VZCZCXRO4472
PP RUEHIK RUEHLN RUEHPOD RUEHTRO RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUCNDT #0086/01 0300049
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 300049Z JAN 08
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3623
INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PRIORITY 1140
RUEHSI/AMEMBASSY TBILISI PRIORITY 4208
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 USUN NEW YORK 000086 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL UNSC GG
SUBJECT: RUSSIA CRITICIZES GEORGIA IN UNSC CONSULTATIONS ON
ABKHAZIA

REF: SECSTATE 08687

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 USUN NEW YORK 000086

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL UNSC GG
SUBJECT: RUSSIA CRITICIZES GEORGIA IN UNSC CONSULTATIONS ON
ABKHAZIA

REF: SECSTATE 08687


1. (SBU) Summary: In closed UNSC consultations on January
29, UN Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG) Special
Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) Jean Arnault
reported to Council members that there had been few
developments since the release of the SYG's latest quarterly
report. Arnault stressed that there had been no significant
incidents in Abkhazia during the reporting period. He said
U/SYG Guehenno will convene a meeting of the Friends in
Geneva February 18-19 aimed at restarting dialogue between
the sides and promoting implementation of the confidence
building measures (CBMs) discussed in Bonn last year.
Arnault also stated that UNOMIG is reviewing deployment of
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to enhance observation
capacity and hopes to present a proposal to the Council by
April.


2. (SBU) Summary Continued: Russian Permrep Churkin said
despite recent calm the situation in Abkhazia is unstable and
criticized Georgia's "military buildup" there. Churkin
acknowledged that the Saakashvili administration had made
some post-election positive soundings regarding resolution of
the conflict, but these need to be followed by tangible
steps. The past actions of Georgia's leadership, he said,
have only led to stalemate. Most Council members expressed
support for a UN-led assessment of the Abkhazia peace process
and for considering deploying UAVs, though some Council
members said use of UAVs requires financial scrutiny. End
Summary.

Arnault: Past Three Months Without Incident In Abkhazia


3. (SBU) On January 29, SRSG Arnault briefed Council members
in closed consultations on the SYG's latest report on UNOMIG.
He said there were few developments following the SYG's
report other than a minor incident involving Georgian patrol
boats off the coast of Abkhazia. He reported no change in
his positive assessment as there had not been significant
incidents in Abkhazia during the past three months. Arnault
noted that Georgia is putting a new cabinet in place and
Temur Yakobashvili is being confirmed to replace David
Bakradze as Minister of Re-integration, but said the name
change from Ministry of State Conflicts to Ministry of
Re-integration had been criticized by the Abkhaz. Arnault

said U/SYG Guehenno will convene a meeting of the Friends in
Geneva February 18-19 aimed at restarting dialogue between
the sides and promoting implementation of the CBMs discussed
in Bonn last year. He said UNOMIG is currently reviewing
deployment of UAVs and hoped the Council will be able to
discuss this in April. Regarding the planned UN assessment
of the peace process, Arnault said he had seen slow
implementation of CBMs and needed to take stock of the peace
process to date including CBMs, IDP return, political
dialogue and the overall progress of the past decade.
Arnault planned for the assessment to be completed by late
Spring after Georgian parliamentary elections.

Russia: Situation Unstable Because Of Georgia


4. (SBU) Making his national statement first, Russian
Ambassador Churkin said the apparent calm in the zone of
conflict belied an unstable situation and criticized the
Georgian presence in the Upper Kodori Valley, estimating it
to be as many as 1,400 persons. He criticized what he
characterized as a Georgian "military buildup" that allowed
Georgian personnel to sometimes "bypass" CIS peacekeepers.
Churkin further criticized the presence of the Georgian Youth
Patriotic Camp at Inghuri as a provocation of the Abkhaz and
rebuked "daily misinformation" by Georgian media and
officials focused against the Abkhaz side and CIS
peacekeepers. Churkin said Russia shares the SYG's concern
about the erosion of trust between the sides. It was time to
push forward completing the documents on non-resumption of
hostilities and return of IDPs. He also asserted there was
no merit to Georgian concerns that signing such an agreement
would put them on a symbolic equal footing with the Abkhaz.
Churkin acknowledged that the Saakashvili administration had
made some post-election positive soundings regarding
resolution of the conflict, but these needed to be followed
by tangible steps. He charged that past actions of Georgia's
leadership had only led to stalemate. Churkin concluded that
Russia will continue to take steps aimed at settlement of the
conflict by peaceful means.

Statements By Other Council Members


USUN NEW Y 00000086 002 OF 002



5. (SBU) French Permrep Ripert praised the decline in
incidents, especially noteworthy as it had occurred during a
political crisis in Georgia and elections that might have
been expected to increase tensions. France stressed the
necessity of focusing on three parameters: 1) respect for
Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity; 2) political
work and the irreplaceability of the Friends; and 3) making
the return of IDPs to Abkhazia a priority. France expressed
support for the deployment of UAVs by UNOMIG. Belgian
Permrep Verbeke expressed disappointment with the standstill
on the political process and said that a bottom-up approach
remained the best way forward. Belgium supported improving
the monitoring capabilities of UNOMIG in the Kodori Valley
and beyond, but using UAVs needed the trust of both sides.
He also called for a cost-analysis.


6. (SBU) UK Permrep Sawers stated that the current calm is
laudable, but expressed disappointment with the lack of trust
in the peace process. The UK expressed support for Belgium's
suggestion that the financial impact of the UAV proposal be
reviewed. Italian Deputy Permrep Mantovani expressed support
for normalization in Georgian-Russian relations and also
agreed that UAVs should receive financial scrutiny.
Croatia favored deployment of UAVs as soon as possible and
completion of the assessment of the peace process as a way of
giving that process new momentum.


7. (SBU) Per reftel, USUN Political Minister-Counselor
stressed the importance of the efforts of Arnault to reach a
peaceful settlement in Abkhazia, welcomed cooperation between
the Georgian and Abkhaz sides to allow the Joint Fact Finding
Team's investigation into the September 20 incident, and
expressing regret for the loss of life involved on September

20. He voiced USG strong support for enhancement of UNOMIG's
observation capacity and for promptly deploying UAVs in the
region if the SRSG's final assessment determines they are the
most effective means to enhance this capacity.

Russia's Additional Comments On UAVs And Questions On
Assessment Of Peace Process


8. (SBU) Russian Permrep Churkin requested the floor again
near the end of the meeting, saying that he agreed with the
comments that the cost of UAV deployment should be reviewed,
but said even more important is not damaging trust between
the sides. Regarding the UN assessment of the peace process,
Churkin asked Arnault about the UN's approach, the role of
the Friends and the outcome. Arnault responded that UAVs
should cost UNOMIG approximately three million dollars per
year, whereas utility radar would involve "huge costs and
large increases in personnel. UAVs therefore seemed to be "a
fairly cost-effective way of significantly increasing
UNOMIG's observational capacity." Regarding the assessment
of the peace process, Arnault said he believed the time had
come for stocktaking as there was more and more vocal
opposition to an approach based on CBMs. This would involve
not just political dialogue but also return of IDPs, CBMs,
the cease-fire and other issues. Arnault said he intended to
involve UNHCR and other UN organizations as well as non-UN
organizations.

Comment


9. (SBU) Comment: If Department believes that UAVs would
fill a critical need in enhancing UNOMIG's operational
effectiveness then we may want to consult with the UK and
others who questioned their cost. End Comment.
WOLFF