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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 USOSCE 000156 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR VCI/CCA, VCI/NRRC, EUR/RPM, EUR/PRA, EUR/CARC, 
SCA/CEN, SCA/RA, PM/WRA 
JCS FOR J5 
OSD FOR ISA (PERENYI) 
NSC FOR DOWLEY 
USUN FOR LEGAL, POL 
CENTCOM FOR CCJ5-C, POLAD 
UNVIE FOR AC 
GENEVA FOR CD 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PARM PREL OSCE KCFE XG GG RU
SUBJECT: OSCE FSC/PC: RUSSIA AND GEORGIA AGAIN EXCHANGE 
BARBS ON ABKHAZIA, RUSSIA REMAINS IN DENIAL ON UAV 
 
REF: A. A. USOSCE DAILY REPORTS MAY 30 - JUNE 11 
     ¶B. B. USOSCE 148 
 
¶1.  (SBU) Summary:  In a series of three Joint FSC-PC 
meetings held on June 11 in response to requests by Georgia 
and Russia to further address tensions based on recent events 
in Abkhazia, both sides traded now familiar accusations on 
Abkhazia.  Russia categorically denied its involvement in the 
April 20 shootdown of a Georgian UAV while Georgia, and 
others cited the UNOMIG report which concluded the 
interceptor aircraft belonged to the Russian Air Force. 
Russia again complained of Georgia's "massive violations" of 
the Moscow Agreement, and that Georgia had yet to provide the 
complete UAV video and radar data necessary to verify the 
Georgian interpretation of the incident; Georgia replied that 
it had done so six weeks ago at the UNSC.  The Georgian 
Deputy Minister of Interior and the Commander of the Georgian 
Air Force participated in the final meeting providing 
technical expertise, but also raising the rhetoric ante. 
 
¶2. (SBU) The U.S., EU, Moldova, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Norway, 
and Canada each took the floor with all, inter alia, 
reiterating support for Georgia's sovereignty and territorial 
integrity as well as calling for restraint, conformity with 
international law, and continued dialogue to reach a 
political settlement.  The FSC Chairman will submit a report 
of the proceedings to the CiO and likely refer the matter to 
the PC for further discussion.  Additionally, CiO Finland 
intends to address existing OSCE mechanisms in the upcoming 
July 1-2 ASRC. End Summary. 
 
RUSSIA,S LAUNDRY LIST OF ALLEGED GEORGIAN VIOLATIONS 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
 
¶3. (SBU) The first two meetings of the 3-part series were 
focused on issues raised in the two Russian Notes Verbales 
(FSC-PC.DEL/11/08 and FSC-PC.DEL/12/08) invoking the Vienna 
Document Chapter III mechanism.  As regards UAV flights over 
the security zone, Russian Chief Arms Control Delegate 
Ulyanov repeated the elements outlined in the relevant 
Russian Note Verbale and deflected some of the blame for 
increased tensions to those nations that allocate funds which 
enable Georgia to purchase UAVs, the very source of an 
additional irritant.  Ulyanov characterized Georgia's May 30 
announced intention to cease UAV flights as heartening, but 
noted it was offset by Georgia's June 1 Note Verbale 
(FSC-PC.DEL/13/08) which insisted on the legitimacy of UAV 
flights and reserved the right to resume flights, which the 
May 26 UNOMIG report had qualified as an unequivocal 
violation of the 1994 Moscow Agreement.  Russia appealed to 
Georgia to affirm it would desist from future UAV flights 
over Abkhazia in the interest of minimizing tensions, 
normalizing relations and achieving a political settlement. 
 
¶4. (SBU) In the second meeting, Russia reiterated its 
position that Georgia is in flagrant violation of the 1994 
Moscow Agreement, citing many of the alleged violations 
listed in its note and specified in the additional reference 
material a laundry list to ensure all pS had a "balanced 
view" of the current situation.  Ulyanov remarked that 
Georgia's numerous actions were "throwing fuel on the fire" 
and called on Georgia ) better equipped than Abkhazia to 
move the process forward ) to demonstrate the political will 
to cease these violations, restore the Upper Kodori to the 
 
USOSCE 00000156  002 OF 004 
 
 
status quo of 28 July 2006, and sign a non-use of force 
agreement and security guarantee as called for by UNSCR 1808. 
 
¶5. (SBU) Georgian Ambassador Dolidze retorted that Russia had 
activated the OSCE security mechanisms to divert attention 
from the April 20 UAV incident, which Georgia views as a 
violation of its territorial integrity and sovereignty.  He 
called on Russia to stop turning the OSCE into a "comedy 
club" but rather focus on the serious incident at hand and 
related Russian actions in order to enable a productive 
dialogue. 
 
RUSSIA REMAINS IN DENIAL AS GEORGIAN RHETORIC SHARPENS 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
 
¶6. (SBU) Noting that the April 20 UAV incident ) open 
aggression on a sovereign state on the eastern flanks of 
Europe ) was the real reason for this gathering, Dolidze 
provided a thorough presentation on the UAV incident to 
include the video footage, radar data, terrain analysis 
showing location of the UAV, and a photo comparison of the 
SU-27, MiG-29 and L-39 as well as recounting Georgia's 
specific actions as a "responsible state" in response to the 
event.  Considering the UNOMIG report findings which 
confirmed the interceptor aircraft belonged to Russia and the 
authenticity of materials provided by Georgia, Dolidze was 
surprised by Russia's egregious refusal to take this incident 
seriously and respond in kind. 
 
¶7. (SBU) Ulyanov reiterated that this was a matter to be 
resolved between Tbilisi and Sukhumi, while again registering 
serious doubts concerning the Georgian claims and insisting 
Georgia had refused to provide Russia with all the materials 
necessary for its experts to verify the Georgian 
interpretation of the incident.  Remarking that "even the 
best doctor can be prone to medical error," he also expressed 
concerns with the UN inspection team report alleging it was 
biased by Georgia providing the team with the independent 
experts' report in advance and by the inability of the team 
to meet with representatives from Abkhazia.  Despite a direct 
question from the U.S. to Russia as to why it had not turned 
over its own radar data, Ulyanov refused to acknowledge the 
request and simply repeated calls for Georgia to submit all 
of the "evidence" to Russia before discussions could continue. 
 
¶8. (SBU) During the final FSC-PC session, the Georgian Deputy 
Minister of Interior, Ekaterine Zguladze, and the Commander 
of the Georgian Air Force addressed the participating States. 
 The Deputy Minister - excusing her demeanor by noting she 
was no diplomat - sarcastically thanked Russia for its 
decade-long "help" resolving the conflict and stated Georgia 
would be far more grateful for assistance with 
internationalizing the peacekeeping force and achieving a 
peace plan.  Responding to Russia's laundry list of alleged 
Georgian massive violations, she twice cited the "drunken 
Russian peacekeepers" who drive armored vehicles into Zugdidi 
and Tbilisi.  She acerbically responded to the Russian 
request that the Kodori valley be returned to status quo 
ante, saying that would mean a return to lawlessness where 
human trafficking often took place. 
 
¶9. The Air Force Commander explained how the aircraft in the 
video had to be either a MiG-29 or SU-27, given its twin 
fins, and not an L-39, as Russia asserts, since the L-39 
 
USOSCE 00000156  003 OF 004 
 
 
could not be modified to perform such a shoot-down.  He 
further explained that the attacking fighter had made three 
attempts in total to shoot down the UAV.  As a result of two 
failed high speed attempts, the pilot decreased airspeed on 
the third, which caused a loss of altitude enabling the 
capture of the fighter on the UAV video.  Regarding the 
authenticity of Georgia's materials, he emphasized that all 
had been given full access to the radar site and it was 
impossible to manipulate the data.  He then blasted Russia, 
accusing Georgia's "big brother" Russia of both financing and 
developing a technically sophisticated and integrated air 
defense system on the territory of Georgia's "little 
brother," Abkhazia.  Ulyanov retorted that while he 
appreciated the positive statements initially made by 
Georgian Ambassador Dolidze, as they called for greater 
bilateral cooperation, the last two statements clearly 
demonstrated another side to Georgia's rhetoric. 
 
STATES REITERATE SUPPORT FOR GEORGIAN TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY 
--------------------------------------------- -------------- 
 
¶10.  (SBU) Slovenia (EU) read out its June 6 GAERC statement 
in which it expressed its concern over rising tensions in the 
region and urged both sides to calm their public rhetoric and 
take steps to normalize relations.  All additional pS who 
spoke (U.S., Moldova, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Norway, and 
Canada) echoed the EU call to respect the territorial 
integrity and sovereignty of Georgia and the need for 
restraint, conformity with international law and continued 
dialogue to reach a political settlement.  Many welcomed 
President Saakashvili's peace plan and encouraged contacts at 
the highest levels.  Most speakers cited the UNOMIG report 
which fingered Russia as responsible for the UAV shootdown. 
Canada, noting the UNOMIG report finding on UAV flights 
violating the Moscow Agreement, indicated that this was no 
excuse for Russia taking the action it did: Russia should 
have raised the UAV issue in the UN or OSCE rather than 
shooting it down. 
 
¶11. (SBU) The U.S. (Ambassador Finley) reiterated that the 
UNOMIG report had drawn the appropriate conclusions and that 
Russia's failure to consult with Georgia on troop deployments 
was unsuitable for a peacekeeping mission.  She then called 
for further consideration of how the OSCE can contribute to 
easing tensions and proposed confidence building measures 
such as greater cooperation between the OSCE and UNOMIG to 
help provide more transparent information regarding the 
situation on the ground, OSCE pS visits to areas of concern, 
and a Russian pledge to reduce its military presence in 
Abkhazia to the level preceding the recent increase in 
tensions.  She urged the PKO to play a more active role in 
the return of refugees and noted that a de-escalation of 
tensions could reinvigorate the peace process through direct 
negotiations between Abkhazia and Georgia. 
 
NEXT STEPS IN VIENNA 
-------------------- 
 
¶12. (SBU) According to CiO Finland, the FSC Chairman will 
submit a report of the proceedings to the CiO and likely 
refer the matter to the PC for further discussion that should 
focus on measures for stabilizing the situation and halting 
activities that give rise to concerns of the involved Sates. 
Additionally, CiO Finland intends to use Working Session III 
 
USOSCE 00000156  004 OF 004 
 
 
of the upcoming July 1-2 ASRC to assess the efficiency of 
existing OSCE mechanisms and procedures, especially in regard 
to recent experiences. 
FINLEY