UN REVISES GEORGIA PROPOSAL, WANTS USG REACTION

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 USUN NEW YORK 000326 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV UNOMIG UNSC RS GG SUBJECT: UN REVISES GEORGIA PROPOSAL, WANTS USG REACTION REF: USUN 266 ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY AND ACTION REQUEST. David Harland, chief of the UN Department of Peacekeeping (DPKO) Europe Office, passed to dpolcouns on March 26 a paper entitled "NON-PAPER: Elements for a Security Regime and UN Role." The paper is a revised version of the nonpaper reported reftel. This draft, which Harland said was being passed to Russia by SYG Ban, adds specificity regarding the proposed restricted access zones and incorporates agreements reached in Geneva (i.e., the "Penta-Partite Mechanism). Harland said DPKO would welcome U.S. bilateral discussion of the draft with Russia and looks forward to our comments. He said the UN plans to go to press with its proposal in late April in order to meet the May 15 deadline of UNSCR 1866. USUN asks Department's guidance on an appropriate response to the new draft. Text is contained in paragraph 2. END SUMMARY AND ACTION REQUEST. ¶2. (SBU) BEGIN TEXT OF NON-PAPER: The Secretary-General was requested by the Security Council to submit his recommendations on a future UN presence in the region by 15 May (resolution 1866, 13 February 2009). Any meaningful presence would have to be based on some agreement or shared understanding as to the security regime that will apply on the ground, and this would have to be concluded by late April. ¶1. ELEMENTS OF A SECURITY REGIME - A strict observation of the ceasefire on land, at sea and in the air; - A zone A on both sides of the ceasefire line where no presence of armed forces and military equipment will be allowed: - Width - (6) km; no armed forces; limit on law enforcement/security personnel not exceeding (800) with side/personal arms; possible limited number of unarmed armoured personnel carriers (8-10); distance of at least 700 m between posts and the ceasefire line; UN monitoring (observation and patrolling) in the zone. - A zone B on both sides of the ceasefire line with restrictions on presence of armed forces and heavy military equipment: - Width - (6-8) km (beyond zone A); restriction on the number of armed forces (500-600); no artillery and mortars above 80 mm; no anti-aircraft artillery; no tanks; no missile systems; no storage of heavy weapon ammunition; a limited number of armoured personnel carriers (8-10); UN monitoring (observation and patrolling); static UN observation post/s on the entry point/s to zone B. - Restrictions on over flights by aircraft and on naval activities: - No presence of military and reconnaissance aircraft, including unmanned aerial vehicles, in zones A and B; no naval activities within a zone of (12) nautical mi long and (8-12) km wide on each side; a limited number of coast guard patrol boats. - Rules for notification of movements of personnel and equipment within the zones; - Arrangements for monitoring the Kodori valley: - No heavy weapons, as for zone B; a limited number of troops not exceeding (500-600); a limited number of armoured personnel carriers (8-10); UN regular patrolling of the area. - Arrangements for monitoring of areas adjacent to the boundary outside the current UN area of responsibility: - UN monitoring of areas (6) km-wide on each side of the boundary line north of the current UN area of responsibility. - Arrangements for access, subject to the consent of the parties, to installations and locations in areas adjacent to the current UN area of responsibility for transparency purposes; - Provision of information to the UN on Senaki and Ochamchira bases (strength; weapon systems; ad hoc monitoring). - Investigation and reporting of incidents and alleged violations. - Involvement of the Penta-Partite Mechanism. - UN fact finding/investigation/reporting. - UN police presence on both sides. ¶2. THE UN ROLE AND ACTIVITIES USUN NEW Y 00000326 002 OF 002 Security - monitoring of the above zones; or, pending an agreement on a security regime, monitoring of the respect for paragraph 2 (a) of the Moscow Agreement in accordance with Resolution 1866 (2009); - investigation and reporting; - facilitation of contacts on security matters; - promotion of transparency and prevention of tensions. Humanitarian/human security - continuation of UN police and human rights activities; - facilitation of freedom of movement for the civilian population; - facilitation of provision of humanitarian assistance by UN agencies and other international actors. Confidence-building/dialogue between the parties - facilitation of cooperation within the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism ("Penta-Partite Mechanism"); - facilitation of contacts on practical matters, such as health, education, energy; - broader confidence-building contacts, when possible. UN area of responsibility/activity -- remains as at present, with the addition of any zones to be agreed under a revised security regime; the UN will continue to enjoy full freedom of movement and security guarantees from the parties. END TEXT OF NON-PAPER. Wolff