GEORGIA ACTION REQUEST: VOTING INSTRUCTIONS FOR

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 USUN NEW YORK 000123 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV UNSC RS GG SUBJECT: GEORGIA ACTION REQUEST: VOTING INSTRUCTIONS FOR DRAFT RESOLUTION REF: A. USUN 102 ¶B. SECSTATE 6467 ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY AND ACTION REQUEST. Subsequent to USUN's Ref A Action Request, USUN has engaged in further negotiations with the Russian Federation, United Kingdom, France, Croatia and Germany ("Group of Friends") on the text of a Security Council resolution that would extend the UN Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG) for four months, until June 15, 2009. These negotiations resulted in the text contained in paragraph 6. The text, which contains the essential elements outlined in Ref B instructions, would extend the mission under its current mandate for four months, (i.e., a technical rollover) while reinforcing Georgia's territorial integrity by reference to Resolution 1808. It contains most of the additional elements proposed by the French that were outlined in Ref B instructions including: reinforcement of the need for a security zone to be respected pending agreement on a new security regime; a call for intensification of efforts to address security and stability issues and the return of refugees and IDPs through the discussions underway in Geneva; reference to the August 12, 2008 ceasefire agreement and subsequent implementing measures of September 8, 2008. In negotiating with Russia, USUN has held firm to redlines on participation of Abkhaz de facto authorities in New York, and has made certain that the agenda item for adoption will be, "The Situation in Georgia." USUN requests Department concurrence to co-sponsor the draft text with other members of the Group of Friends and to vote in favor of adoption. USUN needs Department concurrence for co-sponsorship by OOB on February 12, 2009. END SUMMARY AND ACTION REQUEST. ¶2. (SBU) Per Ref B instructions, USUN has secured agreement among the Group of Friends on a resolution that provides for an extension of the current UNOMIG mandate to continue beyond its February 15, 2009 expiration date. USUN moved the negotiations along with minimum conflict and successfully blocked Russian attempts to weaken the Council's support for Georgia's territorial integrity by changing the name of the agenda item or inviting Abkhaz de facto authorities to appear in New York. ¶3. (SBU) A draft resolution was informally circulated by France on February 10, and USUN expects the Secretariat to put the draft in blue (i.e., formally introduce it) during the morning of February 12 in advance of a scheduled February 13 adoption. The text of the draft resolution is contained in paragraph 6. ¶4. (SBU) The draft resolution will allow UNOMIG to continue its valuable work as the only international presence in Abkhazia. It contains the essential elements of the French proposal outlined in Ref B: it reinforces the need for the security zone outlined in paragraph 2(a) of the former Moscow Agreement-- which is the basis for the UNOMIG mandate-- to be respected; it calls for the intensification of efforts to address security and stability issues and the return of refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) through the discussions underway in Geneva; it reinforces the August 12, 2008 ceasefire agreement and subsequent implementing measures of September 8, 2008; and it calls on the Secretary-General to engage with the parties through the Geneva process to reach agreement on a comprehensive security regime, which could serve as the basis of a new mandate. ¶5. (SBU) ACTION REQUEST. USUN requests Department concurrence to co-sponsor the draft resolution outlined in paragraph 6 and to vote in favor of its adoption. USUN requests a Department response by OOB on Thursday February 19, since resolutions are typically put in blue 24 hours in advance of adoption. END ACTION REQUEST. ¶6. (U) BEGIN TEXT. The Security Council, PP1 Recalling its previous resolutions, including resolutions 1808 (2008) of 15 April 2008 and 1839 (2008 of 9 October 2008, PP2 Considering the report of the Secretary-General of 4 February 2009 (S/2009/69), PP3 Welcoming the six-point agreement of 12 August 2008, and subsequent implementing measures of 8 September 2008, PP4 Taking note of the Geneva discussions commenced on 15 October 2008 and encouraging the participants USUN NEW Y 00000123 002 OF 002 to reach practical results, PP5 Underlining the importance of the peaceful resolution of disputes, ¶1. Recalls the arrangements entered into under the agreements of 12 August 2008 and of 8 September 2008; ¶2. Calls for the provisions that were set out in paragraph 2 (a) of the Agreement on a Cease-fire and Separation of Forces signed in Moscow on 14 May 1994 (S/1994/583) to be respected, pending consultations and agreement on a revised security regime, taking note of the recommendations on the security regime contained in the report of the Secretary-General of 4 February 2009; ¶3. Underlines the need to refrain from the use of force or from any act of ethnic discrimination against persons, groups of persons or institutions, and to ensure, without distinction, the security of persons, the right of persons to freedom of movement and the protection of the property of refugees and displaced persons; ¶4. Calls for facilitating, and refraining from placing any impediment to, humanitarian assistance to persons affected by the conflict, including refugees and internally displaced persons, and further calls for facilitating their voluntary, safe, dignified and unhindered return; ¶5. Calls for the intensification of efforts to address the issue of regional security and stability, and the issue of refugees and internally displaced persons, through the discussions currently underway in Geneva, and requests the Secretary General, through his Special Representative, to continue to fully support this process, and to report on progress thereon; ¶6. Requests the Secretary General to report to the Council on the implementation of this resolution, and on the situation on the ground and the activities of the United Nations mission, including recommendations on future activities by 15 May 2009; ¶7. Expresses its intention to outline the elements of a future UN presence in the region by 15 June 2009, taking into account the recommendations to be contained in the report of the Secretary General referred to in paragraph 6, the Geneva discussions, and developments on the ground; ¶9. Decides to extend the mandate of the United Nations mission for a new period terminating on 15 June 2009; ¶10. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter. END TEXT. Rice