Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09MOSCOW3032
2009-12-17 15:12:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Moscow
Cable title:
RUSSIA ACCUSES GEORGIA OF MILITARY PREPARATIONS
how-toVZCZCXRO9283 PP RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHNP RUEHROV RUEHSL RUEHSR DE RUEHMO #3032 3511512 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 171512Z DEC 09 FM AMEMBASSY MOSCOW TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5687 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 003032
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/16/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV RS GG
SUBJECT: RUSSIA ACCUSES GEORGIA OF MILITARY PREPARATIONS
REF: A. MOSCOW 2918
B. 12/14/09 BEYRLE-BASS E-MAILS
Classified By: Ambassador John Beyrle for reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L MOSCOW 003032
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/16/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV RS GG
SUBJECT: RUSSIA ACCUSES GEORGIA OF MILITARY PREPARATIONS
REF: A. MOSCOW 2918
B. 12/14/09 BEYRLE-BASS E-MAILS
Classified By: Ambassador John Beyrle for reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
1. (C) Summary. DFM Karasin expressed to Ambassador Beyrle
concern over Georgian "military preparations" near Bazaleti,
southeast of Akhalgori. Ambassador Beyrle responded that the
U.S. did not see any reason for concern, as these were
routine redeployments, which were observed and verified by
the EU Monitoring Mission. End Summary.
2. (C) On December 14, DFM Grigoriy Karasin called
Ambassador Beyrle to express concern over Georgian "military
preparations" near Akhalgori. Karasin claimed Georgia was
using the winter period to build up its military forces,
alleging that the Georgians had moved motorized strike
battalions and artillery units near Bazaleti, southeast of
Akhalgori on undisputed Georgian territory. He accused
Georgia of preventing the EU monitoring mission (EUMM) from
observing the area of the buildup.
3. (C) On November 26 (ref A),Karasin had earlier voiced
similar concerns about "provocative Georgian actions,"
without giving specifics. He called upon the U.S. to "use
its influence" with the Georgians to get them to "cool it."
The Russian military, he warned, was getting nervous about
this activity.
4. (C) After conferring with EMBASSY Tbilisi (ref B),on
December 16, Ambassador Beyrle passed the following points in
a non-paper to Karasin:
-- We have looked into the subject you raised in your call to
me on December 14, 2009, and do not see any reason for
concern.
-- These are fairly routine redeployments that do not amount
to any net increase in forces.
-- All the movements were reported to, and observed and
verified by, the EUMM.
-- We would welcome more transparency on Russian military
plans, given the work underway on permanent bases and
operating locations close to the administrative boundary line.
5. (C) In a brief exchange at a reception December 16,
Karasin expressed appreciation for these points, confirming
he had passed them to the military and saying they were "just
what I needed."
6. (C) Our quad (UK, France, Germany) counterparts told us
that they have not received similar communications from the
GOR. Karasin probably raised the Russian allegations with EU
Special Representative Pierre Morel in a December 16 meeting
under the rubric of "issues of security at the Georgian-South
Ossetian border", but we have not yet gotten a readout of
that discussion.
7. (SBU) On December 15, Vedomosti cited unnamed diplomatic
and military sources in the Russian government charging
Georgia with planning to retake the Akhalgori region of South
Ossetia, whose population is predominantly Georgian. The MOD
source said that Georgia was "intensively" rotating its
troops in the region, while Western instructors were training
Georgian forces in mountain warfare techniques useful for
that area.
8. (C) Comment: Russia, by constantly raising Georgian
military activities as an international issue, is in essence
advancing the view that the GOG has forfeited its right to
take such decisions independently. Periodic chest thumping
may also serve to remind those in the breakaway regions that
Moscow remains committed to their defense.
Beyrle
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/16/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV RS GG
SUBJECT: RUSSIA ACCUSES GEORGIA OF MILITARY PREPARATIONS
REF: A. MOSCOW 2918
B. 12/14/09 BEYRLE-BASS E-MAILS
Classified By: Ambassador John Beyrle for reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
1. (C) Summary. DFM Karasin expressed to Ambassador Beyrle
concern over Georgian "military preparations" near Bazaleti,
southeast of Akhalgori. Ambassador Beyrle responded that the
U.S. did not see any reason for concern, as these were
routine redeployments, which were observed and verified by
the EU Monitoring Mission. End Summary.
2. (C) On December 14, DFM Grigoriy Karasin called
Ambassador Beyrle to express concern over Georgian "military
preparations" near Akhalgori. Karasin claimed Georgia was
using the winter period to build up its military forces,
alleging that the Georgians had moved motorized strike
battalions and artillery units near Bazaleti, southeast of
Akhalgori on undisputed Georgian territory. He accused
Georgia of preventing the EU monitoring mission (EUMM) from
observing the area of the buildup.
3. (C) On November 26 (ref A),Karasin had earlier voiced
similar concerns about "provocative Georgian actions,"
without giving specifics. He called upon the U.S. to "use
its influence" with the Georgians to get them to "cool it."
The Russian military, he warned, was getting nervous about
this activity.
4. (C) After conferring with EMBASSY Tbilisi (ref B),on
December 16, Ambassador Beyrle passed the following points in
a non-paper to Karasin:
-- We have looked into the subject you raised in your call to
me on December 14, 2009, and do not see any reason for
concern.
-- These are fairly routine redeployments that do not amount
to any net increase in forces.
-- All the movements were reported to, and observed and
verified by, the EUMM.
-- We would welcome more transparency on Russian military
plans, given the work underway on permanent bases and
operating locations close to the administrative boundary line.
5. (C) In a brief exchange at a reception December 16,
Karasin expressed appreciation for these points, confirming
he had passed them to the military and saying they were "just
what I needed."
6. (C) Our quad (UK, France, Germany) counterparts told us
that they have not received similar communications from the
GOR. Karasin probably raised the Russian allegations with EU
Special Representative Pierre Morel in a December 16 meeting
under the rubric of "issues of security at the Georgian-South
Ossetian border", but we have not yet gotten a readout of
that discussion.
7. (SBU) On December 15, Vedomosti cited unnamed diplomatic
and military sources in the Russian government charging
Georgia with planning to retake the Akhalgori region of South
Ossetia, whose population is predominantly Georgian. The MOD
source said that Georgia was "intensively" rotating its
troops in the region, while Western instructors were training
Georgian forces in mountain warfare techniques useful for
that area.
8. (C) Comment: Russia, by constantly raising Georgian
military activities as an international issue, is in essence
advancing the view that the GOG has forfeited its right to
take such decisions independently. Periodic chest thumping
may also serve to remind those in the breakaway regions that
Moscow remains committed to their defense.
Beyrle