VZCZCXRO9668
PP RUEHAST RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHLA RUEHMRE RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSK RUEHSL
RUEHSR
DE RUEHC #9325/01 2102248
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P R 292232Z JUL 09
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE PRIORITY 2421
INFO ORG FOR SECURITY CO OP IN EUR COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 079325 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OSCE PREL PGOV GG
SUBJECT: OSCE PERMANENT COUNCIL: STATEMENT ON ANNIVERSARY 
OF GEORGIA CONFLICT 
 
¶1. Should Russia make a statement on the Georgia conflict at 
the July 30, 2009, meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council in 
Vienna, Post is authorized to make the following statement: 
 
Begin text: 
 
Thank you, Madam Chairwoman. 
 
We listened carefully to today,s statement by the Russian 
Ambassador which looked back over the events of last year. 
We believe, however, today should be an opportunity to look 
ahead.  The United States believes this topic and these 
issues have an important bearing on our gathering efforts to 
take a fresh look at European security.  The conclusion 
stressed by almost all OSCE foreign ministers at the informal 
ministerial at Corfu was quite clear:  we need a strengthened 
international role on the ground in Georgia 
 
      Last week we participated in a thought-provoking 
discussion in the Forum for Security Cooperation, also 
initiated by our Russian colleagues.  In that discussion, we 
considered how OSCE tools and mechanisms could have been used 
more effectively to prevent and contain it. 
 
 
In our view, August 2008 showed the need: 
 
-     to respect the principle of territorial integrity and 
internationally recognized borders. 
 
-     for countries to refrain from acting as "peacekeepers" 
in countries where they have previously been party to a 
conflict. 
 
-     for more transparency on movements of troops and 
equipment in crisis situations. 
 
-     for transparency, including military monitors and human 
rights/humanitarian observers. 
 
-     for humanitarian access. 
 
-     to fully implement ceasefire agreements. 
 
-     for a robust international monitoring presence in 
support of conflict resolution and confidence building. 
 
-     to deal with the question of a participating State 
establishing military bases on the internationally-recognized 
territory of a participating State without that state,s 
consent. 
 
-     for better conflict prevention mechanisms and/or 
political will to avoid a repetition of this kind of conflict. 
 
We believe both our Russian and Georgian partners would 
agree, at least in the abstract, with most if not all of 
these observations. 
 
  As for an OSCE role in avoiding future conflict, it remains 
unfortunate that the Russian Federation did not accept the 
Greek Chairmanship's status-neutral proposal for a continued 
OSCE presence in Georgia.  Russia's rejection of the 
Chairmanship's artfully crafted compromise followed a similar 
move last year, when Russia blocked consensus on a 
constructive proposal by the Finnish Chairmanship, even 
though both proposals were supported by the overwhelming 
majority of participating States. 
 
Ongoing incidents along the administrative boundary lines 
underscore the need for effective mechanisms to prevent these 
incidents from escalating.  Uninhibited access for 
international monitors to the whole of Georgia, including its 
South Ossetia and Abkhazia regions, is critically important 
to prevent violence and promote respect for human rights. 
 
We reaffirm our strong support for the sovereignty, 
independence, and territorial integrity of Georgia within its 
internationally recognized borders.  We urge Russia to honor 
the commitments it made in the August 12 cease-fire agreement 
and the September 8 implementing measures. 
 
We support the provisions of the 12 August and 8 September 
agreements, and remain deeply concerned by the fact that 
these provisions have not been fully implemented.  Although 
Russia committed in those agreements to withdraw its troops 
to the positions held prior to the start of hostilities, it 
 
STATE 00079325  002 OF 002 
 
 
has instead built up its presence with additional troops and 
new facilities while taking on a new, broader set of 
involvements in those Georgian regions. 
 
Mr. Chairman, Russia is not relieved of its international 
commitments by unilaterally characterizing the Abkhazia and 
South Ossetia regions as independent.  We call on Russia to 
provide free and unhindered humanitarian access to these 
Georgian regions.  We urge respect for the human rights of 
all individuals in the conflict areas, and call for the safe, 
dignified, and voluntary return of internally displaced 
persons and refugees. 
 
Thank you, Madame Chairwoman. 
CLINTON