Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09LONDON89
2009-01-13 15:32:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy London
Cable title:  

UK VIEWS ON WAY FORWARD ON THE SEPARATIST REGIONS

Tags:  PROV PREL MOPS GG RS EZ SW UN UK 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO5757
PP RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHNP RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHLO #0089/01 0131532
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 131532Z JAN 09
FM AMEMBASSY LONDON
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0898
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHAD/AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI PRIORITY 0359
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 1102
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 0843
RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH PRIORITY 0664
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 1204
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 1338
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LONDON 000089 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/12/2019
TAGS: PROV PREL MOPS GG RS EZ SW UN UK
SUBJECT: UK VIEWS ON WAY FORWARD ON THE SEPARATIST REGIONS
OF GEORGIA

REF: A. STATE 134559

B. PALMER-EUR 01/09/2009 EMAIL AND UK NONPAPER
(NOTAL)

Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Greg Berry for
reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LONDON 000089

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/12/2019
TAGS: PROV PREL MOPS GG RS EZ SW UN UK
SUBJECT: UK VIEWS ON WAY FORWARD ON THE SEPARATIST REGIONS
OF GEORGIA

REF: A. STATE 134559

B. PALMER-EUR 01/09/2009 EMAIL AND UK NONPAPER
(NOTAL)

Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Greg Berry for
reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) Summary. The UK seeks a strategy in regard to the
separatist regions of Georgia that will maintain EU consensus
but will also have substance, Michael Davenport, the Director
of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's (FCO) Russia, South
Caucasus, and Central Asia Directorate, told the Political
Minister Counselor January 9 during a discussion of U.S.
strategies in regard to the separatist regions (Ref A). HMG
wants to "maintain the focus" so that the Sarkozy-Medvedev
agreement can be "implemented in full" by "keeping the
spotlight on Russia," Davenport stressed. Although Davenport
was cool to some specific points of the U.S. strategy, he
agreed on the shared goal of finding a way "to not allow the
status quo to become developed." Davenport expressed support
for steps that will encourage the separatist areas to have
"connections with the outside world" rather than encourage
them to rely on Russia alone. He shared a copy of a British
nonpaper, which the UK will table during Quad discussions
January 12 in Berlin (provided to EUR per Ref B). Davenport
advised that the UK supports renewal and possible
strengthening of the UNOMIG mandate in February. He said the
FCO has issued a stronger travel advisory in regard to the
separatist regions. End Summary.


2. (C) The Political Minister Counselor met January 9 with
Michael Davenport, Director of the FCO's Russia, South
Caucasus, and Central Asia Directorate, to discuss the way
forward on the separatist regions of Georgia, per Ref A.
Davenport was cool regarding some points of the U.S.
strategy; he stated that during January 12 Quad discussions
in Berlin he would share a non-paper outlining HMG
perspectives (Ref B). Polmincouns underscored the importance
of strengthening Georgian institutions and not permitting the
status quo in regard to the separatists' "independence" to
become an entrenched, accepted reality.

Keeping the Spotlight on Russia
--------------


3. (C) Davenport expressed support for these objectives,
commenting that our shared goal is to find a way "to not
allow the status quo to become developed," which he
characterized as Russia's goal. He stated that the UK seeks
a way forward that will maintain EU consensus but will have
some substance. The UK has "looked at sanctions" on the
separatist regions and has concluded that the most effective
path is to take steps that will encourage the separatist
areas to have "connections with the outside world" rather
than encourage them to rely on Russia alone. Davenport
observed that he was mindful of the "not helpful precedents"
of Belarus and Uzbekistan, stressing that the UK does not
want to follow a path within the EU that would permit Russia
to "exploit EU differences." Davenport stated that the UK's
goal is to "maintain the focus" so that the Sarkozy-Medvedev
agreement will be "implemented in full" and the way to do
that is "to keep the spotlight on Russia." He predicted that
the Czech and Swedish EU Presidencies would take a "robust
line" with the Russians, which the UK welcomes.

The Importance of UNOMIG
--------------


4. (C) The UK "attaches a lot of importance" to UNOMIG
renewal in February and UNOMIG is also valued by Abkhazia, as
it provides the "only access to the outside world," Davenport
said. Davenport stated that one option might be to let
UNOMIG continue its mission but to concede changes to its
name (for example, to a "UN Mission in Abkhazia, Georgia") so
long as there are no concessions on the issues of sovereignty
and territorial integrity. Any change would be coupled with
greater access for UNOMIG, particularly in South Ossetia.
(Note: Ref B outlines British thinking on possible ways ahead
regarding UNOMIG, the OSCE Mission, and the EU Mission. End
Note.)

Other Steps
--------------


5. (C) Davenport noted that the FCO has issued a ramped-up

LONDON 00000089 002 OF 002


travel advisory, discouraging investment in and travel to the
separatist regions -- and is encouraging other European
countries to do the same. The UK also continues to encourage
the Georgians to "think constructively" about engagement
within the Geneva process -- and the FCO is encouraged "so
far" by signs from the Georgians, Davenport said. He noted
that Georgia's current NSC Secretary and former Foreign
Minister Ekaterine Tkeshelashvili would be in the UK the week
of January 12 to discuss crisis management. Davenport
expressed appreciation for the excellent communication on the
ground between the U.S. and UK Embassies in Georgia.

Visit London's Classified Website:
http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Unit ed_Kingdom

TUTTLE