URUGUAY: NO PLANS TO RECOGNIZE ABKHAZIA AND SOUTH

C O N F I D E N T I A L MONTEVIDEO 000166 SIPDIS FOR EUR/RUS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/25/2019 TAGS: PREL MOPS PBTS GG RS UY SUBJECT: URUGUAY: NO PLANS TO RECOGNIZE ABKHAZIA AND SOUTH OSSETIA REF: A. A) STATE 024186 AND PREVIOUS ¶B. B) MVD 0488 Classified By: CDA ROBIN MATTHEWMAN, FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) and (D) ¶1. (C) Emboff made Ref A points to MFA Europe director Minister Alfaro Malmierca March 25. Malmierca stressed that Uruguay's position has not changed since the issue arose. Uruguay does not plan on recognizing the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states, in defense of its positive relations with the Russian Federation. However, Malmierca stressed that Uruguay's relative silence to date -- the MFA's only public reaction has been a statement in August deploring violence and calling for a peaceful solution that respects Georgia's sovereignty -- does not in any way signify approval of violations of Georgia's territorial integrity. Matthewman