GEORGIA DOWNPLAYS NAURU'S RECOGNITION OF ABKHAZIA

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TBILISI 002240 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/16/2019 TAGS: PREL PGOV PBTS XM AS NR RS GG SUBJECT: GEORGIA DOWNPLAYS NAURU'S RECOGNITION OF ABKHAZIA REF: A. TBILISI 1765 ¶B. TBILISI 1739 ¶C. TBILISI 1735 Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Kent Logsdon for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary and comment. Georgian officials downplayed the significance of Nauru's apparent December 14 recognition of Abkhazia's "independence," which Russia reportedly encouraged with an offer of $50 million to the island nation. Although officials are discussing with Australian counterparts whether the recognition is actually final, Reintegration Minister Yakobashvili joked in public about Russia's apparent purchase of the recognition, calling it a "comedy," while Deputy Foreign Minister Bokeria told us privately the step was not so important, even if it was true. The relaxed approach represents a welcome shift from Georgia's more manic reaction to previous recognitions by Venezuela and Nicaragua, an approach that we have actively encouraged with our Georgian counterparts. Georgia has also recognized and expressed appreciation for successful U.S. efforts to discourage additional recognitions from Latin American countries, and our efforts may have contributed to helping the Georgians keep these individual steps in perspective. End summary and comment. NAURU RECOGNIZES -- OR DOES IT? ¶2. (SBU) According to the website of the Abkhaz de facto authorities and press reports, Nauru sent Foreign Minister Kieren Keke to visit Abkhazia, Georgia December 14, after a weekend visit to South Ossetia, Georgia. During the stop in Sukhumi, he reportedly signed an agreement on the establishment of diplomatic relations with Abkhazia, thereby effectively recognizing its so-called independence. Both de facto "president" Sergey Bagapsh and de facto "foreign minister" Sergey Shamba took a triumphant tone in public, noting that Nauru was a full-fledged member of the UN and that the size of a country did not undermine the legitimacy of its bestowal of recognition. Shamba noted that Abkhazia now had secured the recognition of both the largest country in the world (Russia) and the smallest, with Abkhazia considering itself a "medium-sized country" on that spectrum. Keke told journalists that he hoped that the step would help establish stability and peace between two countries; that other countries would follow suit; and that relations between the two countries would become close, "even though Abkhazia and Nauru are geographically far apart from each other." Shamba added that Keke had promised to promote recognition of Abkhazia among its neighbors in the Pacific region. ¶3. (C) Deputy Foreign Minister Giga Bokeria told us privately that Georgian government officials were discussing the situation with Australian counterparts. According to their initial information, Nauru's recognition was not a final, irreversible step. Furthermore, it appeared puzzling to the Australians, because Nauru typically follows Australia's lead on foreign policy issues; the Australian officials told the Georgians they would be in contact about their concerns with Nauru. Bokeria indicated the Georgian government did not intend to issue a formal statement on Nauru's recognition, for two reasons. First, since there was a possibility that Nauru's recognition could be reversed, Georgia did not want QNauru's recognition could be reversed, Georgia did not want to risk angering the Nauruans with a public statement condemning the move. Second, and more fundamentally, Georgia did not consider Nauru's recognition significant, and therefore did not want to confer any undeserved significance to the step with a public statement of concern. ¶4. (SBU) In public comments, Reintegration Minister Temuri Yakobashvili dismissed the step as insignificant, even laughable: "It seems there was a New Year's Sale, and the Russians bought this recognition for 50 million dollars. I think that, if we take a serious look at this, it more resembles a comedy. . . This changes nothing in international politics, and if someone is happy that Nauru -- which two days ago no one had ever heard of --has joined Nicaragua and Venezuela, then let them be happy. I believe this changes nothing in reality." SITUATION LOOKS GOOD IN LATIN AMERICA ¶5. (C) MFA American Division Director Otar Berdzenishvili recently told us about a trip senior MFA officials took to Latin American capitals in November in order to gauge the TBILISI 00002240 002 OF 002 likelihood of additional recognitions following Venezuela's step in September. They discovered more support for Georgia's position than expected, which Berdzenishvili attributed to assistance rendered by U.S. officials in the region. Costa Rican officials said they not only supported non-recognition, but would lobby other countries on Georgia's behalf. Bolivian officials told him their country would not recognize the breakaway regions, despite Russian pressure to do so; Cuba said the same thing, adding that it was happy with the current "thaw" in U.S.-Cuban relations and did not feel obligated to take marching orders from Moscow. Colombian officials said they would not recognize, as did Panamanian officials, although they expressed concerns about Nicaragua's intentions. Brazilian officials said they were committed to a non-recognition policy. The Argentines said they were disappointed with the U.S. position in Honduras, but would nevertheless urge the Venezuelans to revoke their recognition; they would also work with their Bolivian counterparts, and they believed Uruguay would not recognize. Ecuadorian officials had no plans to recognize, although they appeared to Berdzenishvili to be less supportive. Berdezenishvili expressed sincere gratefulness for U.S. efforts to promote Georgia's position in the region. COMMENT: A WELCOME CHANGE ¶6. (C) After Venezuela recognized Abkhazia's "independence," and stories spread about possible recognition by Belarus, Georgian officials generally reacted swiftly and with great trepidation, concerned lest any one such step lead to a subsequent "cascade of recognitions" (see reftels). After repeated interventions by U.S. officials at various levels that overreacting to individual countries' decisions does more harm than good, it appears that Georgia is getting the message. Our efforts in Latin America have also helped convince Georgia that we continue to back Georgia's position in the international arena and seem to have helped calm the Georgian impulse to react strongly to a perceived piece of bad news. BASS