Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BERN137
2009-03-27 17:50:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bern
Cable title:  

SWISS VIEWS ON ABKHAZIA/SOUTH OSSETIA AND RUSSIAN

Tags:  PREL MOPS PBTS GG RS SZ 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0004
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHSW #0137 0861750
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 271750Z MAR 09
FM AMEMBASSY BERN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5748
INFO RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 0618
RUEHSI/AMEMBASSY TBILISI 0055
C O N F I D E N T I A L BERN 000137 

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/RUS AND EUR/CE (Y.SAINT-ANDRE)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/23/2029
TAGS: PREL MOPS PBTS GG RS SZ
SUBJECT: SWISS VIEWS ON ABKHAZIA/SOUTH OSSETIA AND RUSSIAN
BASING PLANS

REF: A. STATE 24186

B. MOSCOW 645

Classified By: A/DCM Richard A. Rorvig; reasons 1.4(b) and (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L BERN 000137

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/RUS AND EUR/CE (Y.SAINT-ANDRE)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/23/2029
TAGS: PREL MOPS PBTS GG RS SZ
SUBJECT: SWISS VIEWS ON ABKHAZIA/SOUTH OSSETIA AND RUSSIAN
BASING PLANS

REF: A. STATE 24186

B. MOSCOW 645

Classified By: A/DCM Richard A. Rorvig; reasons 1.4(b) and (d).


1. (C) Poloff delivered the reftel A message March 20 to
Norbert Baerlocher, Regional Coordinator for Eastern Europe
and Central Asia at the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs
(FDFA). Baerlocher underlined that Switzerland shares USG
concerns regarding Russian basing plans and regarding any
actions that could be viewed as conferring recognition on
Abkhazia or South Ossetia. He said that the GOS only deals
with issues in Abkhazia or South Ossetia via the Swiss
embassy in Tbilisi. To illustrate the point, he remarked
that the Swiss Development Corporation (SDC) has some
programs in the North Caucasus region of the Russian
Federation. Contacts in that region had recently suggested
to the SDC that it expand its programs into South Ossetia,
which the GOS flatly refused, insisting that any programming
in South Ossetia would have to be via Georgia. Baerlocher
also emphasized that the GOS does not accept "passports" from
Abkhazia or South Ossetia for travel to Switzerland.


2. (C) Baerlocher said that he was pleased that Georgia had
asked Switzerland to serve as its Protecting Power in Moscow
(reftel B). He commented that this obligation allows
Switzerland more easily to maintain "equidistance" toward
Moscow in performing Switzerland's Protecting Power role for
the Russians Tbilisi.
CARTER