CORRECTED COPY FSC-PC FEBRUARY 11: EU AND OSCE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 USOSCE 000036

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR VCI/CCA, VCI/NRRC, EUR/RPM, EUR/PRA, EUR/CARC,
SCA/CEN, SCA/RA, PM/WRA
JCS FOR J-5
OSD FOR ISA (PERENYI)
NSC FOR HAYES
USUN FOR LEGAL, POL
EUCOM FOR J-5
CENTCOM FOR J-5
UNVIE FOR AC
GENEVA FOR CD

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PARM PREL KCFE OSCE RS GG XG
SUBJECT: CORRECTED COPY FSC-PC FEBRUARY 11: EU AND OSCE
MISSIONS TO GEORGIA COMPLAIN TO RUSSIA


1. (SBU) This corrected copy changes only the format.

SUMMARY: EU Monitoring Mission head Haber told the joint
Forum for Security Cooperation-Permanent Council that the EU
was make reasonable progress on its goals of stabilization,
normalization, and confidence building in the conflict zones
of Georgia. Both Haber and OSCE Conflict Prevention Center
head Salber reported that EU cooperation with the smaller
OSCE military monitoring mission was good. Both said that
their missions need access to both sides of the conflict zone
boundaries and will try to arrange this with Russian military
representatives. They regretted continuing "incidents" in
the region, including the detention of two OSCE observers on
February 10 by South Ossetian militia.


2. (SBU) In the FSC working groups, Germany and Austria
proposed to extend the deadline for submission of Code of
Conduct questionnaire responses from April 15 until June 15
in hopes that the update of the questionnaire will be
approved shortly. Many delegations supported the idea. END
SUMMARY.

Monitoring Missions in Georgia
--------------


3. (SBU) At the February 12 joint FSC-PC meeting, EU
Monitoring Mission (EUMM) head Hansjoerg Haber urged
discussion in the medium to long term of the "architecture"
of the international presence in Georgia, noting this would
be especially crucial if UNOMIG and the OSCE mission in
Georgia cease operations. Haber pledged that the EUMM would
remain visible for the foreseeable future (later telling U.S.
Charge Scott that Brussels had instructed him to cease
further mention of an exit strategy),but said the mission's
effectiveness was limited by South Ossetian, Abkhaz, and
Russian authorities' lack of cooperation. Haber urged Russia
to be more constructive, and to consider reciprocating the
January 26 memorandum of understanding between the EUMM and
the Georgian Ministry of Defense. He also called for access
to South Ossetia.


4. (SBU) OSCE Conflict Prevention Center head Herbert Salber,
in a supporting presentation after Haber, highlighted the
critical role of the OSCE and the EUMM in strengthening
security on the ground. He also called for access to South
Ossetia.


5. (SBU) Georgia, the UK, Switzerland, Norway, Canada,
Turkey, Ukraine, and the United States echoed these comments,
and condemned the February 10 detention of two OSCE military
monitoring officers (MMOs) by South Ossetian militia that
Salber had mentioned.

Russia Takes the Offensive
--------------


6. (SBU) Striking with his usual belligerent tone, Russian
PermRep Azimov accused the EUMM of failing to "guarantee"
Georgia's non-use of force, and argued the Georgia-EU
memorandum of understanding was of little use, as it called
only for notification of Georgian military movements without
imposing restrictions on Georgian actions. Azimov reiterated
calls for Georgia to sign binding non-use of force agreements

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with the "independent republics" of South Ossetia and
Abkhazia and again urged an embargo on arms for Georgia.

February 10 Incident
--------------


7. (SBU) Azimov cautioned delegations not to get too "wound
up" over the recent detention of two OSCE monitors. Although
they had crossed the South Ossetian border illegally and were
arrested, once this was explained and "proper formalities
observed," they were released. Azimov insinuated further
discussion of the February 10 incident would hinder progress
in renewing the MMOs' mandate, due to expire February 18.
Mandate of MMOs Still in Play


8. (SBU) Azimov said Russia was willing to consider renewing
the MMOs' mandate ) but only for the areas adjacent to South
Ossetia, and only for the 20 monitors deployed in August, as
the original eight "should have gone home" weeks ago. CPC
head Salber had earlier called on participating States to
extend the MMO mission, noting they still lacked access to
both sides of the conflict zone boundaries.

Azimov's Complaints
--------------


9. (SBU) Azimov complained that Georgia's intervention was
like WWII propaganda and that the OSCE was biased and
supported "Georgian propaganda." He further objected to the
language of Georgian rep Gaprindashvili as too harsh, noting
that the OSCE was a diplomatic arena, "not a boxing ring,"
and called on the Greek CiO to "have a talk with the
Georgians and get them to tone down their language."

Russian Basing Plans
--------------


10. (SBU) Czech ambassador Pocuch, on behalf of the EU,
expressed concern over reports of Russia's plans to open a
naval base in Abkhazia (Ochamchire) and additional military
bases in South Ossetia. Pocuch said new bases would violate
Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity and the
spirit of the ceasefire agreements. U.S. Charge Scott had
earlier made the same points.


11. (SBU) Russian PermRep Azimov retorted that any new
facilities would be based on agreements with the relevant
independent states and were an aspect of Russia's role as the
guarantor of peace and stability in the region. UK
ambassador Cliff replied that 55 participating States did not
recognize the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia and
reiterated the EU position that new bases would violate
Georgian territorial integrity and the ceasefire agreements.


Code of Conduct Deadline Extension
--------------


12. (SBU) In the FSC working groups, Germany and Austria
proposed to extend the deadline for the submission of
responses to the Code of Conduct questionnaire to June 15;
the current deadline is April 15 (FSC.DEL/13/09). Germany
(Schweizer) explained that a later deadline would not prevent

USOSCE 00000036 003 OF 003


States from using the current questionnaire, but it would
allow more time for delegations to agree on the draft update
of the questionnaire (FSC.DD/14/08) that has been under
negotiation for almost two years. Austria, the Czech
Republic, Luxembourg, Georgia, Ireland, Hungary Portugal,
Sweden, the UK, Denmark, Italy, Slovenia, Cyprus, and Poland
support this proposal.


13. (SBU) Belarus (Krayushkin) doubted the extension was
necessary. One state (Estonia) had already submitted its
2009 information based on the current questionnaire, and
Belarus was preparing its own data for submission on April

15. Even if the update were approved shortly, Krayushkin
recommended, States should have the discretion to answer
either version in 2009. Austria (Eischer) noted that the
information solicited by the current questionnaire is also
required by the update, so any responses already prepared
would not go to waste were the update adopted soon.


14. (SBU) Russia (Ulyanov) liked the proposal: it had made a
similar suggestion earlier. Ulyanov echoed Krayushkin's
comment that 2009 should be seen as a transitional year, with
States free to respond to either version of the questionnaire
should the update be adopted. Ulyanov saw no reason,
however, to immediately decide on the extension as he hoped
to receive instructions late the week of February 15.

OSCE Document on SALW
--------------


15. (SBU) German rep Schweizer, the chair of the Informal
Group of Friends of SALW, reminded that the Helsinki
Ministerial had requested a review of the OSCE Document on
SALW (MC.DEC/11/08). He will call a meeting on this tasking
after the Annual Implementation Assessment Meeting (March 4)
and appealed to delegations to raise ideas and
recommendations with him for use at a wider discussion.
Schweizer will chair a panel at the AIAM on SALW and is
preparing a paper to stimulate discussion of the Helsinki
tasking.

Next Meeting
--------------


16. (SBU) The joint FSC-PC meeting on February 18 will
feature Russian DFM Grushko discussing "ways and means to
improve the European security architecture."
SCOTT