GEORGIA - URGENT DEMARCHE REQUEST REGARDING

C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 009400 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/02/2019 TAGS: UNSC PREL GG SUBJECT: GEORGIA - URGENT DEMARCHE REQUEST REGARDING UNOMIG MATTERS REF: A. STATE 6467 ¶B. 08 STATE 100791 ¶C. USUN 70 Classified By: IO Acting A/S James B. Warlick for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) THIS IS AN ACTION REQUEST. On January 29, 2009, during a meeting with USUN, Russian Permrep Churkin explained that Russia will likely call for an invitation by the Security Council to Abkhaz separatist leaders to participate in a formal Council meeting regarding the UN Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG) under Rule 39. The United States does not support such an invitation under Rule 39. Posts should approach host country government at Foreign Minister/NSA or appropriately high level as soon as possible to urge them to oppose participation by de facto separatist leaders of Abkhazia in UN Security Council discussions on Georgia under Rule 39, and to ascertain their positions regarding an Arria-style meeting as an alternative, noting that the U.S. would prefer to avoid an Arria-style meeting. Posts should draw from the background in paras 4-5 below when delivering this demarche. Please report responses no later than February 3. Objectives -------------- ¶2. (C) Post should approach host country governments as soon as possible with the following objectives in mind: -- Secure host government,s commitment to oppose the participation of de facto representatives of separatist Abkhazia in an official Security Council meeting under Rule ¶39. We do not want to in any way legitimize Russia's recognition of the independence of Abkhazia (or South Ossetia). -- Seek host government,s views on Abkhaz participation at an Arria-style meeting in NY, noting our strong preference to avoid any such meeting. Reporting Deadline -------------- ¶3. Department requests that posts report by email (IO/UNP Kristian G. Moore in the GAL) or front channel cable by close of business on February 3. Department apologizes about the quick turnaround but action is imminent in New York. Background -------------- 4.(C) Under Rule 39 of the Security Council Rules of Procedure, the Council "may invite members of the Secretariat or other persons, whom it considers competent for the purpose, to supply it with information or to give other assistance in examining matters within its competence." Nine affirmative votes are required to issue the invitation and P-5 members of the Council may not veto. (Note: Kosovar representatives were invited to the Council under Rule 39). Based on the information available to us to date, if the Abkhaz were invited under Rule 39 the United States would likely be obligated under the UN Headquarters Agreement to issue visas for participation of such leaders in an official Security Council meeting. The United States is not obligated to issue visas to the separatist leaders to facilitate their participation in an Arria-style meeting because it is not an official UN meeting. ¶5. (SBU)Suggested talking points: -- The United States strongly opposes Abkhaz participation in UN Security Council meetings under Rule 39. We hope that your government will also oppose this. -- Russia may suggest that as an alternative, the Abkhaz de facto leaders be invited to an "Arria-style" meeting. The United States would stongly prefer not to have an Arria-style meeting , but would like to know whether your government would support or oppose an Arria-style meeting to secure a technical rollover of UNOMIG, and whether your government believes support for such a meeting would undermine Georgia,s territorial integrity. -- The U.S. continues to believe that the appropriate venue to hear the concerns of Georgia's separatist leaders via the Geneva process, which will in reconvene on February 17-18. UN Security Council discussions are not the appropriate venue in which to hear from the Abkhaz and South Ossetian de facto leaders. -- The Council must maintain a unified message on supporting Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Department Point of Contact -------------- ¶6. (U) Please contact IO/UNP K.G. Moore, 202-647-0042, moorekg@state.gov for additional background or with questions. ¶7. (U) The Department appreciates posts, efforts. CLINTON