SECRETARY CLINTON'S REPLY TO FM VASHADZE'S

UNCLAS STATE 051204


E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: GG PREL OSCE
SUBJECT: SECRETARY CLINTON'S REPLY TO FM VASHADZE'S
LETTER


1. (U) Please deliver the following letter to Foreign
Minister Vashadze. The Department does not plan to
release the text of the letter but has no objections if
the GoG wishes to do so. No signed original will
follow.


2. (SBU/REL GG) Begin text:

Dear Mr. Minister:

Thank you for your letter of May 11 regarding the
negotiations in Vienna on the future of an Organization
for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) presence
in Georgia.

The United States shares your desire to see a continued
OSCE presence in Georgia, including a robust monitoring
component with the mandate to operate in the entire
region of the August 2008 conflict. We believe the
status-neutral Greek proposal is the best way to achieve
this outcome. The United States appreciates Georgia's
willingness to accept this proposal in a constructive
spirit.

Like you, we welcome the broad draft mandate, across all
three dimensions, for the Office in Tbilisi and hope
that the OSCE will be able to continue contributing to
Georgia's democratic development and the promoting of
respect for human rights.

We look forward to working closely with your delegation
in Vienna as these negotiations move forward.

Sincerely yours,
Hillary Rodham Clinton

End text.


CLINTON