Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09STATE5565
2009-01-22 00:31:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Secretary of State
Cable title:
OSCE PERMANENT COUNCIL: RESPONSE TO SPECIAL
VZCZCXRO1957 PP RUEHAST RUEHFL RUEHLA RUEHMRE RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSK RUEHSR DE RUEHC #5565 0220040 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P R 220031Z JAN 09 FM SECSTATE WASHDC TO RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE PRIORITY 7245 INFO ORG FOR SECURITY CO OP IN EUR COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS STATE 005565
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM OSCE GG
SUBJECT: OSCE PERMANENT COUNCIL: RESPONSE TO SPECIAL
REPRESENTATIVE CHRISTOPOULOS
UNCLAS STATE 005565
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM OSCE GG
SUBJECT: OSCE PERMANENT COUNCIL: RESPONSE TO SPECIAL
REPRESENTATIVE CHRISTOPOULOS
1. Post is authorized to make the following statement at the
January 22, 2009, meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council in
Vienna:
Begin Text:
Thank you, Madam Chairwoman.
The United States welcomes Special Representative
Christopoulos to the Permanent Council. We appreciate the
Greek Chairmanship's ongoing efforts to restore stability
now, to protect Georgia's territorial integrity in the
future, and to find a way to maintain an OSCE presence there.
We believe the OSCE plays a critical role in Georgia, and
fills a unique niche that would make it difficult to replace.
Its recent work to help restore gas deliveries to Tskhinvali
is just one example of the OSCE's valuable contributions,
which demonstrates its ability to produce results. Its
monitoring officers provide information on the situation on
the ground, with special emphasis on security around the
South Ossetian region of Georgia, helping to deter
destabilizing actions and promote dialogue. Its staff offer
direct assistance in democracy, human rights, rule of law,
and economic development activities, and represent the
collective wisdom of all 56 participating States in
implementing fundamental OSCE commitments. The OSCE's
extensive experience and contacts allow it not only to offer
insight on the immediate and long-term impact of the
conflict, but also to provide input in the search for lasting
reconciliation and comprehensive solutions.
If the OSCE no longer had a presence in Georgia, its vital
role as mediator, monitor, project implementer, and policy
advisor would be sorely missed. Its absence would remove an
important intermediary voice, possibly increasing the
likelihood of direct confrontation in a still-tense
atmosphere, and would limit our ability to build confidence
and resolve what remains an ongoing conflict.
We remain concerned about repeated incidents of violence in
the South Ossetian and Abkhaz regions of Georgia, which
underscore the need for an OSCE monitoring presence with
uninhibited access throughout Georgia. As recently as
January 16, a Georgian policeman was shot and killed in the
Georgian-administered village of Knolevi, gunned down from
South Ossetian territory under Russian control. At least 10
other Georgian policemen have been killed, and many others
wounded, subsequent to the August conflict, and kidnappings,
banditry, ethnic cleansing, and attacks on Georgian officials
and property continue. Credible reports suggest some of
these attacks have involved rocket-propelled grenades and
highly specialized sniper equipment ) an alarming indication
of the potential for further violence. These actions are
unacceptable. We call on Russia to use its strong military
presence in Abkhazia and South Ossetia, despite this
violation of the August 12 and September 8 cease fire
agreements, to help to prevent these destabilizing actions.
In this environment, a continued OSCE presence in Georgia is
especially important, not only to help deter violence,
promote human rights and encourage dialogue and
reconciliation, but also to monitor the implementation of the
August 12 and September 8 agreements brokered by French
President Sarkozy. We continue to urge Russia to implement
fully its commitments under these agreements, which clearly
state that Russian forces are to withdraw to pre-conflict
positions. In particular, Russia continues to maintain
forces near the town of Perevi, in the Akhalgori region, and
in the Upper Kodori Valley, areas that were never controlled
by Russia or the separatists prior to the August war. We
note that Russia reiterated these commitments to withdraw
even after its destabilizing decision to recognize the
Georgian territories of South Ossetia and Abkhazia as
independent.
We are prepared to support the basic approach advanced in the
Greek package, and look forward to receiving more details of
the three elements of the proposal.
We stand ready to work with the Chairmanship on a means to
ensure a continued OSCE presence in Georgia. The United
States will continue to support Georgia,s sovereignty,
independence, and territorial integrity within its
internationally recognized borders, and will help in all ways
to find a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
Thank you, Madame Chairwoman.
CLINTON
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM OSCE GG
SUBJECT: OSCE PERMANENT COUNCIL: RESPONSE TO SPECIAL
REPRESENTATIVE CHRISTOPOULOS
1. Post is authorized to make the following statement at the
January 22, 2009, meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council in
Vienna:
Begin Text:
Thank you, Madam Chairwoman.
The United States welcomes Special Representative
Christopoulos to the Permanent Council. We appreciate the
Greek Chairmanship's ongoing efforts to restore stability
now, to protect Georgia's territorial integrity in the
future, and to find a way to maintain an OSCE presence there.
We believe the OSCE plays a critical role in Georgia, and
fills a unique niche that would make it difficult to replace.
Its recent work to help restore gas deliveries to Tskhinvali
is just one example of the OSCE's valuable contributions,
which demonstrates its ability to produce results. Its
monitoring officers provide information on the situation on
the ground, with special emphasis on security around the
South Ossetian region of Georgia, helping to deter
destabilizing actions and promote dialogue. Its staff offer
direct assistance in democracy, human rights, rule of law,
and economic development activities, and represent the
collective wisdom of all 56 participating States in
implementing fundamental OSCE commitments. The OSCE's
extensive experience and contacts allow it not only to offer
insight on the immediate and long-term impact of the
conflict, but also to provide input in the search for lasting
reconciliation and comprehensive solutions.
If the OSCE no longer had a presence in Georgia, its vital
role as mediator, monitor, project implementer, and policy
advisor would be sorely missed. Its absence would remove an
important intermediary voice, possibly increasing the
likelihood of direct confrontation in a still-tense
atmosphere, and would limit our ability to build confidence
and resolve what remains an ongoing conflict.
We remain concerned about repeated incidents of violence in
the South Ossetian and Abkhaz regions of Georgia, which
underscore the need for an OSCE monitoring presence with
uninhibited access throughout Georgia. As recently as
January 16, a Georgian policeman was shot and killed in the
Georgian-administered village of Knolevi, gunned down from
South Ossetian territory under Russian control. At least 10
other Georgian policemen have been killed, and many others
wounded, subsequent to the August conflict, and kidnappings,
banditry, ethnic cleansing, and attacks on Georgian officials
and property continue. Credible reports suggest some of
these attacks have involved rocket-propelled grenades and
highly specialized sniper equipment ) an alarming indication
of the potential for further violence. These actions are
unacceptable. We call on Russia to use its strong military
presence in Abkhazia and South Ossetia, despite this
violation of the August 12 and September 8 cease fire
agreements, to help to prevent these destabilizing actions.
In this environment, a continued OSCE presence in Georgia is
especially important, not only to help deter violence,
promote human rights and encourage dialogue and
reconciliation, but also to monitor the implementation of the
August 12 and September 8 agreements brokered by French
President Sarkozy. We continue to urge Russia to implement
fully its commitments under these agreements, which clearly
state that Russian forces are to withdraw to pre-conflict
positions. In particular, Russia continues to maintain
forces near the town of Perevi, in the Akhalgori region, and
in the Upper Kodori Valley, areas that were never controlled
by Russia or the separatists prior to the August war. We
note that Russia reiterated these commitments to withdraw
even after its destabilizing decision to recognize the
Georgian territories of South Ossetia and Abkhazia as
independent.
We are prepared to support the basic approach advanced in the
Greek package, and look forward to receiving more details of
the three elements of the proposal.
We stand ready to work with the Chairmanship on a means to
ensure a continued OSCE presence in Georgia. The United
States will continue to support Georgia,s sovereignty,
independence, and territorial integrity within its
internationally recognized borders, and will help in all ways
to find a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
Thank you, Madame Chairwoman.
CLINTON