GEORGIA: RESPONSE ON 3RD COMMITTEE

C O N F I D E N T I A L TBILISI 002004 SIPDIS FOR DRL/MLGA, IO/RHS, EUR/PGI JELDRIDGE E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/13/2019 TAGS: PHUM PREL UNGA IR GG SUBJECT: GEORGIA: RESPONSE ON 3RD COMMITTEE COUNTRY-SPECIFIC RESOLUTIONS REF: A. TBILISI 116262 ¶B. TBILISI 109397 Classified By: DCM Kent Logsdon for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) On November 13 embassy officer delivered points on country-specific resolutions at the UNGA Third Committee session from ref A, as well as more general Third Committee points from ref B, to Alexander Chelidze, MFA International Organizations Department. We focused in particular on the Tbilisi-specific request to consider supporting the Iran resolution, instead of merely abstaining, noting the need for the international community to send a particularly clear message in response to the troubling elements of Iran's recent elections. Chelidze said that he would be sure to convey the U.S. position to his leadership, but that the Georgian position would likely be decided by the minister himself. He noted that the Iranian DCM had visited the MFA the week before and made a strong request for Georgia to oppose the Iran resolution. Saying "we want you to protect us," the Iranian DCM threatened that support for the resolution would have a significantly negative impact on all elements of the Georgian-Iran relationship. Chelidze also said a Georgian representative of the local Bahai community had recently urged the MFA to support the resolution because of the difficult situation facing the Bahai community in Tehran. ¶2. (C) COMMENT. Georgia lives in a complicated neighborhood, and voting for the Iran resolution would make Georgia's regional relations even more complicated. An abstention may be as much as we can hope for unless we are willing to engage at a 7th floor level. END COMMENT. BASS