Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09MOSCOW2843
2009-11-23 07:51:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Moscow
Cable title:
GEORGIA: RUSSIAN MFA ON GENEVA TALKS
how-toVZCZCXRO5492 PP RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHNP RUEHROV RUEHSL RUEHSR DE RUEHMO #2843 3270751 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 230751Z NOV 09 FM AMEMBASSY MOSCOW TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5467 INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHXD/MOSCOW POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L MOSCOW 002843
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/20/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV RS GG
SUBJECT: GEORGIA: RUSSIAN MFA ON GENEVA TALKS
Classified By: Acting Pol M/C Eric Green for reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L MOSCOW 002843
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/20/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV RS GG
SUBJECT: GEORGIA: RUSSIAN MFA ON GENEVA TALKS
Classified By: Acting Pol M/C Eric Green for reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
1. (C) Summary. MFA 4th CIS Department Deputy Director
Dvinyanin said there would be no more progress in the Geneva
Talks on Georgia until Georgia agreed to sign non-use of
force agreements with its breakaway regions South Ossetia and
Abkhazia. In variance with DFM Karasin's public
characterization of the November 11 talks as a wasted effort,
Dvinyanin described the November meeting as normal and
routine, and underscored Russia's intention to continue
meeting in that format. End Summary
--------------
Non-use of force
--------------
2. (C) MFA 4th CIS Department Deputy Director Alexei
Dvinyanin told POLOFF November 19 that there would be no more
progress in the Geneva Talks on Georgia until Georgia agreed
to sign non-use of force agreements with its breakaway
regions South Ossetia and Abkhazia. He clarified that this
assessment applied to both working groups--on security and on
humanitarian assistance--and underlined that Russia's
position on this issue was "quite tough."
3. (C) Dvinyanin disagreed with the U.S. point of view that
it was first necessary to fulfill existing obligations
stemming from the Sarkozy-Medvedev agreements. He argued
that Georgia was not abiding by those agreements, not Russia.
--------------
Lack of progress
--------------
4. (C) Dvinyanin disagreed that the lack of progress in the
talks was due to South Ossetian intransigence. Instead, he
accused Georgia of obstructing productive talks. In the MFA
statement on the meetings that Dvinyanin had drafted
(protect),Russia charged Georgia with using "politicized
rhetoric designed for rejection of the realities" resulting
from the August 2008 conflict.
5. (C) In variance with DFM Karasin's public
characterization of the November 11 talks as a wasted effort,
Dvinyanin described the November meeting as normal and
routine. Russia did not intend to give up the Geneva format
of meetings, noting the agreement to meet again in January.
--------------
Comment
--------------
6. (C) Russia is dutifully participating in the
international talks and affirming its support to continue
them. But by blocking all useful progress, Moscow may be
calculating that others will eventually throw in the towel.
Beyrle
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/20/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV RS GG
SUBJECT: GEORGIA: RUSSIAN MFA ON GENEVA TALKS
Classified By: Acting Pol M/C Eric Green for reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
1. (C) Summary. MFA 4th CIS Department Deputy Director
Dvinyanin said there would be no more progress in the Geneva
Talks on Georgia until Georgia agreed to sign non-use of
force agreements with its breakaway regions South Ossetia and
Abkhazia. In variance with DFM Karasin's public
characterization of the November 11 talks as a wasted effort,
Dvinyanin described the November meeting as normal and
routine, and underscored Russia's intention to continue
meeting in that format. End Summary
--------------
Non-use of force
--------------
2. (C) MFA 4th CIS Department Deputy Director Alexei
Dvinyanin told POLOFF November 19 that there would be no more
progress in the Geneva Talks on Georgia until Georgia agreed
to sign non-use of force agreements with its breakaway
regions South Ossetia and Abkhazia. He clarified that this
assessment applied to both working groups--on security and on
humanitarian assistance--and underlined that Russia's
position on this issue was "quite tough."
3. (C) Dvinyanin disagreed with the U.S. point of view that
it was first necessary to fulfill existing obligations
stemming from the Sarkozy-Medvedev agreements. He argued
that Georgia was not abiding by those agreements, not Russia.
--------------
Lack of progress
--------------
4. (C) Dvinyanin disagreed that the lack of progress in the
talks was due to South Ossetian intransigence. Instead, he
accused Georgia of obstructing productive talks. In the MFA
statement on the meetings that Dvinyanin had drafted
(protect),Russia charged Georgia with using "politicized
rhetoric designed for rejection of the realities" resulting
from the August 2008 conflict.
5. (C) In variance with DFM Karasin's public
characterization of the November 11 talks as a wasted effort,
Dvinyanin described the November meeting as normal and
routine. Russia did not intend to give up the Geneva format
of meetings, noting the agreement to meet again in January.
--------------
Comment
--------------
6. (C) Russia is dutifully participating in the
international talks and affirming its support to continue
them. But by blocking all useful progress, Moscow may be
calculating that others will eventually throw in the towel.
Beyrle