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

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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