VZCZCXRO6438
PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHBW RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA
RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHSI #0754 1271405
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 061405Z MAY 08
FM AMEMBASSY TBILISI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9405
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY

UNCLAS TBILISI 000754 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT. FOR EUR/CARC 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV MOPS GG
SUBJECT: GEORGIA WITHDRAWS FROM AIR DEFENSE COOPERATION 
AGREEMENT WITH RUSSIA 
 
¶1.  (U) Summary:  The Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs 
announced on May 5 that Georgia was withdrawing from a 1995 
Air Defense Cooperation Agreement with Russia.  Deputy 
Defense Minister Batu Kutelia explained to the media that the 
1995 treaty was politically and technically incompatible with 
Georgia's airspace monitoring cooperation with NATO and 
Georgia's policy toward further integration with the 
alliance.  Separately, Abkhaz de-facto foreign minister 
Sergei Shamba made a statement on May 6 that Abkhazia was 
ready to sign an agreement on military cooperation with 
Russia in exchange for security guarantees.  Abkhaz de-facto 
officials also claimed that another Georgian unmanned aerial 
vehicle (UAV) had been observed flying over the Gali 
district.  UNOMIG patrols did not observe any UAV flight and 
could not confirm the Abkhaz claim.  Abkhaz de-facto 
authorities held a large pro-Russia rally in Sukhumi and Gali 
on May 6 as a show of support for Russian President Putin's 
recent initiatives in support of Abkhazia.  UNOMIG reported 
that schools in the ethnic Georgian Gali region were 
instructed to attend the Gali rally.  End Summary. 
 
Georgia Withdraws from Air Defense Agreement 
-------------------------------------------- 
¶2.  (U) The Georgian Foreign Ministry announced on May 5 that 
Georgia was withdrawing from a 1995 Air Defense Cooperation 
Agreement with Russia.  Deputy Defense Minister Kutelia 
explained at a press conference that the agreement was no 
longer technically or politically compatible with Georgia's 
airspace monitoring cooperation with NATO and Georgia's 
policy toward further integration into the alliance.  He said 
Georgia has signed an agreement with NATO on the exchange of 
airspace monitoring information which contradicted Georgia's 
obligations under the 1995 agreement with Russia.  He added 
that the Georgian decision to withdraw from the agreement had 
been made at the beginning of 2008, but had taken several 
months to finalize. 
 
Shamba calls for military cooperation agreement with Russia 
--------------------------------------------- -------------- 
¶3.  (U) Abkhaz de-facto foreign minister Sergei Shamba said 
on May 6 that Abkhazia was ready to give Russia the "broadest 
possible" military cooperation in exchange for security 
guarantees, calling for an agreement similar to one the U.S. 
has with Taiwan (Note:  Russian FM Lavrov was quoted as 
saying that Russia has not received a formal proposal from 
the Abkhaz on this issue.  End note).  Shamba said that 
Putin's April 16 instructions opens opportunities for 
cooperation not only on social and economic projects, but 
also military projects.  He said Abkhazia could also provide 
military bases and "take into account" Russia's other 
military interests in Abkhazia. 
 
Pro-Russia rally in Sukhumi, Gali 
--------------------------------- 
¶4.  (U) Abkhaz de-facto officials organized a pro-Russia 
rally on May 6 in support of Russian President Putin's recent 
steps toward strengthening ties with Abkhazia, apparently 
timed to coincide with Putin's last day in office.  Rallies 
were organized in Sukhumi and Gali, and included de-facto 
president Bagapsh.  UNOMIG told us that schools in the 
predominantly ethnic-Georgian Gali district were "instructed" 
to attend the Gali rally, but UNOMIG observers have not seen 
evidence of forced participation of other Gali residents, as 
had been earlier claimed in Georgian media reports.  De-facto 
foreign minister Shamba said that the rally was a way for the 
Abkhaz people to "thank Russia and its President" for its 
recent steps in support of the Abkhaz people. 
 
TEFFT