DEMARCHE DELIVERED: QUAD DEMARCHE ON GEORGIAN SHIP

UNCLAS MOSCOW 002360 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR RS GG GM FR UK SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED: QUAD DEMARCHE ON GEORGIAN SHIP SEIZURES REF: STATE 94922 ¶1. (SBU) We delivered reftel points to MFA 4th CIS Department Deputy Director Alexei Dvinyanin September 14 -- Quad partners had been instructed to deliver the points separately. Dvinyanin welcomed the U.S. engagement with Georgian authorities, and confirmed that the GOR had been weighing on the Abkhaz authorities -- both directly and through its "embassy" in Sukhumi -- not to exacerbate the situation. The Abkhaz, he assured us, had no intention to "unilaterally repeat the pirate action." ¶2. (SBU) Noting the latest Abkhaz Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism meeting had already discussed the ship seizures, Dvinyanin announced that the Abkhaz, not Russia, would "harshly" raise the issue again at the September 17 Geneva Talks. He invited the international community, especially the U.S., to raise its voice at that venue in opposition to Georgia's recent activities. Beyrle