Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09STATE79325
2009-07-29 22:32:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Secretary of State
Cable title:
OSCE PERMANENT COUNCIL: STATEMENT ON ANNIVERSARY
how-toVZCZCXRO9668 PP RUEHAST RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHLA RUEHMRE RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSK RUEHSL RUEHSR DE RUEHC #9325/01 2102248 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P R 292232Z JUL 09 FM SECSTATE WASHDC TO RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE PRIORITY 2421 INFO ORG FOR SECURITY CO OP IN EUR COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 079325
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OSCE PREL PGOV GG
SUBJECT: OSCE PERMANENT COUNCIL: STATEMENT ON ANNIVERSARY
OF GEORGIA CONFLICT
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 079325
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OSCE PREL PGOV GG
SUBJECT: OSCE PERMANENT COUNCIL: STATEMENT ON ANNIVERSARY
OF GEORGIA CONFLICT
1. Should Russia make a statement on the Georgia conflict at
the July 30, 2009, meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council in
Vienna, Post is authorized to make the following statement:
Begin text:
Thank you, Madam Chairwoman.
We listened carefully to today,s statement by the Russian
Ambassador which looked back over the events of last year.
We believe, however, today should be an opportunity to look
ahead. The United States believes this topic and these
issues have an important bearing on our gathering efforts to
take a fresh look at European security. The conclusion
stressed by almost all OSCE foreign ministers at the informal
ministerial at Corfu was quite clear: we need a strengthened
international role on the ground in Georgia
Last week we participated in a thought-provoking
discussion in the Forum for Security Cooperation, also
initiated by our Russian colleagues. In that discussion, we
considered how OSCE tools and mechanisms could have been used
more effectively to prevent and contain it.
In our view, August 2008 showed the need:
- to respect the principle of territorial integrity and
internationally recognized borders.
- for countries to refrain from acting as "peacekeepers"
in countries where they have previously been party to a
conflict.
- for more transparency on movements of troops and
equipment in crisis situations.
- for transparency, including military monitors and human
rights/humanitarian observers.
- for humanitarian access.
- to fully implement ceasefire agreements.
- for a robust international monitoring presence in
support of conflict resolution and confidence building.
- to deal with the question of a participating State
establishing military bases on the internationally-recognized
territory of a participating State without that state,s
consent.
- for better conflict prevention mechanisms and/or
political will to avoid a repetition of this kind of conflict.
We believe both our Russian and Georgian partners would
agree, at least in the abstract, with most if not all of
these observations.
As for an OSCE role in avoiding future conflict, it remains
unfortunate that the Russian Federation did not accept the
Greek Chairmanship's status-neutral proposal for a continued
OSCE presence in Georgia. Russia's rejection of the
Chairmanship's artfully crafted compromise followed a similar
move last year, when Russia blocked consensus on a
constructive proposal by the Finnish Chairmanship, even
though both proposals were supported by the overwhelming
majority of participating States.
Ongoing incidents along the administrative boundary lines
underscore the need for effective mechanisms to prevent these
incidents from escalating. Uninhibited access for
international monitors to the whole of Georgia, including its
South Ossetia and Abkhazia regions, is critically important
to prevent violence and promote respect for human rights.
We reaffirm our strong support for the sovereignty,
independence, and territorial integrity of Georgia within its
internationally recognized borders. We urge Russia to honor
the commitments it made in the August 12 cease-fire agreement
and the September 8 implementing measures.
We support the provisions of the 12 August and 8 September
agreements, and remain deeply concerned by the fact that
these provisions have not been fully implemented. Although
Russia committed in those agreements to withdraw its troops
to the positions held prior to the start of hostilities, it
STATE 00079325 002 OF 002
has instead built up its presence with additional troops and
new facilities while taking on a new, broader set of
involvements in those Georgian regions.
Mr. Chairman, Russia is not relieved of its international
commitments by unilaterally characterizing the Abkhazia and
South Ossetia regions as independent. We call on Russia to
provide free and unhindered humanitarian access to these
Georgian regions. We urge respect for the human rights of
all individuals in the conflict areas, and call for the safe,
dignified, and voluntary return of internally displaced
persons and refugees.
Thank you, Madame Chairwoman.
CLINTON
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OSCE PREL PGOV GG
SUBJECT: OSCE PERMANENT COUNCIL: STATEMENT ON ANNIVERSARY
OF GEORGIA CONFLICT
1. Should Russia make a statement on the Georgia conflict at
the July 30, 2009, meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council in
Vienna, Post is authorized to make the following statement:
Begin text:
Thank you, Madam Chairwoman.
We listened carefully to today,s statement by the Russian
Ambassador which looked back over the events of last year.
We believe, however, today should be an opportunity to look
ahead. The United States believes this topic and these
issues have an important bearing on our gathering efforts to
take a fresh look at European security. The conclusion
stressed by almost all OSCE foreign ministers at the informal
ministerial at Corfu was quite clear: we need a strengthened
international role on the ground in Georgia
Last week we participated in a thought-provoking
discussion in the Forum for Security Cooperation, also
initiated by our Russian colleagues. In that discussion, we
considered how OSCE tools and mechanisms could have been used
more effectively to prevent and contain it.
In our view, August 2008 showed the need:
- to respect the principle of territorial integrity and
internationally recognized borders.
- for countries to refrain from acting as "peacekeepers"
in countries where they have previously been party to a
conflict.
- for more transparency on movements of troops and
equipment in crisis situations.
- for transparency, including military monitors and human
rights/humanitarian observers.
- for humanitarian access.
- to fully implement ceasefire agreements.
- for a robust international monitoring presence in
support of conflict resolution and confidence building.
- to deal with the question of a participating State
establishing military bases on the internationally-recognized
territory of a participating State without that state,s
consent.
- for better conflict prevention mechanisms and/or
political will to avoid a repetition of this kind of conflict.
We believe both our Russian and Georgian partners would
agree, at least in the abstract, with most if not all of
these observations.
As for an OSCE role in avoiding future conflict, it remains
unfortunate that the Russian Federation did not accept the
Greek Chairmanship's status-neutral proposal for a continued
OSCE presence in Georgia. Russia's rejection of the
Chairmanship's artfully crafted compromise followed a similar
move last year, when Russia blocked consensus on a
constructive proposal by the Finnish Chairmanship, even
though both proposals were supported by the overwhelming
majority of participating States.
Ongoing incidents along the administrative boundary lines
underscore the need for effective mechanisms to prevent these
incidents from escalating. Uninhibited access for
international monitors to the whole of Georgia, including its
South Ossetia and Abkhazia regions, is critically important
to prevent violence and promote respect for human rights.
We reaffirm our strong support for the sovereignty,
independence, and territorial integrity of Georgia within its
internationally recognized borders. We urge Russia to honor
the commitments it made in the August 12 cease-fire agreement
and the September 8 implementing measures.
We support the provisions of the 12 August and 8 September
agreements, and remain deeply concerned by the fact that
these provisions have not been fully implemented. Although
Russia committed in those agreements to withdraw its troops
to the positions held prior to the start of hostilities, it
STATE 00079325 002 OF 002
has instead built up its presence with additional troops and
new facilities while taking on a new, broader set of
involvements in those Georgian regions.
Mr. Chairman, Russia is not relieved of its international
commitments by unilaterally characterizing the Abkhazia and
South Ossetia regions as independent. We call on Russia to
provide free and unhindered humanitarian access to these
Georgian regions. We urge respect for the human rights of
all individuals in the conflict areas, and call for the safe,
dignified, and voluntary return of internally displaced
persons and refugees.
Thank you, Madame Chairwoman.
CLINTON