Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08VIENNA1225
2008-08-25 14:35:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Vienna
Cable title:
AUSTRIAN POSITION ON POSSIBLE RUSSIAN RECOGNITION
how-toVZCZCXRO8037 PP RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHVI #1225 2381435 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 251435Z AUG 08 FM AMEMBASSY VIENNA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0823 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L VIENNA 001225
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/RUS (SZPILA)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/25/2018
TAGS: PREL RS GG AU
SUBJECT: AUSTRIAN POSITION ON POSSIBLE RUSSIAN RECOGNITION
OF ABKHAZIA AND SOUTH OSSETIA
REF: A. STATE 90978
B. VIENNA 1216
Classified by: Economic-Political Counselor J. Dean Yap for
reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L VIENNA 001225
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/RUS (SZPILA)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/25/2018
TAGS: PREL RS GG AU
SUBJECT: AUSTRIAN POSITION ON POSSIBLE RUSSIAN RECOGNITION
OF ABKHAZIA AND SOUTH OSSETIA
REF: A. STATE 90978
B. VIENNA 1216
Classified by: Economic-Political Counselor J. Dean Yap for
reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) The Ambassador discussed ref A points August 25 with
MFA State Secretary Winkler, just minutes after the Duma vote
in favor of recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
Speaking on the margins of the Alpbach Forum in Tirol
Province, the Ambassador urged the GOA to express its
objections to the Duma's actions directly to the Russian
Government. The Ambassador maintained that Austria, as a
"neutral" country, was particularly well placed to show the
Russians what a negative impact their actions were having on
the international community. Winkler replied that he
personally believed a strong, assertive Austrian response was
called for, and said he would argue for this within the GOA.
2. (C) Econ/Pol Couns and Polchief also urged direct Austrian
engagement with Russia in a conversation with Franz-Josef
Kuglitsch, MFA Director for the South Caucasus, shortly
before the Duma vote. Kuglitsch said the GOA would likely
issue a press statement in response to a Duma vote in favor
of recognition. He said he did not expect President Medvedev
to agree to recognition, adding that the U.S. is "always
pessimistic" in its view of Russian behavior. Kuglitsch was
more concerned that there was no clear Western position on
the "international mechanism" to replace Russian troops.
Econ/Pol Couns noted that the French had the lead on matters
relating to the six points; Kuglitsch replied that France had
called a special session of the European Council for
September 1 to discuss Georgia and relations with Russia.
Econ/Pol Couns stressed the importance of engaging the
Russians directly as soon as possible; even if a detailed
Western position on implementing the six points had not yet
been fully worked out, it was not too soon to warn the
Russians against aggravating the crisis.
Girard-diCarlo
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/RUS (SZPILA)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/25/2018
TAGS: PREL RS GG AU
SUBJECT: AUSTRIAN POSITION ON POSSIBLE RUSSIAN RECOGNITION
OF ABKHAZIA AND SOUTH OSSETIA
REF: A. STATE 90978
B. VIENNA 1216
Classified by: Economic-Political Counselor J. Dean Yap for
reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) The Ambassador discussed ref A points August 25 with
MFA State Secretary Winkler, just minutes after the Duma vote
in favor of recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
Speaking on the margins of the Alpbach Forum in Tirol
Province, the Ambassador urged the GOA to express its
objections to the Duma's actions directly to the Russian
Government. The Ambassador maintained that Austria, as a
"neutral" country, was particularly well placed to show the
Russians what a negative impact their actions were having on
the international community. Winkler replied that he
personally believed a strong, assertive Austrian response was
called for, and said he would argue for this within the GOA.
2. (C) Econ/Pol Couns and Polchief also urged direct Austrian
engagement with Russia in a conversation with Franz-Josef
Kuglitsch, MFA Director for the South Caucasus, shortly
before the Duma vote. Kuglitsch said the GOA would likely
issue a press statement in response to a Duma vote in favor
of recognition. He said he did not expect President Medvedev
to agree to recognition, adding that the U.S. is "always
pessimistic" in its view of Russian behavior. Kuglitsch was
more concerned that there was no clear Western position on
the "international mechanism" to replace Russian troops.
Econ/Pol Couns noted that the French had the lead on matters
relating to the six points; Kuglitsch replied that France had
called a special session of the European Council for
September 1 to discuss Georgia and relations with Russia.
Econ/Pol Couns stressed the importance of engaging the
Russians directly as soon as possible; even if a detailed
Western position on implementing the six points had not yet
been fully worked out, it was not too soon to warn the
Russians against aggravating the crisis.
Girard-diCarlo