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Viewing cable 10STATE17282, OSCE PERMANENT COUNCIL: STATEMENT ON "BILATERAL

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Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
10STATE17282 2010-02-24 22:37 2011-08-30 01:44 UNCLASSIFIED Secretary of State
VZCZCXYZ0004
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHC #7282 0552240
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O R 242237Z FEB 10
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE IMMEDIATE 7796
INFO RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 7634
RUEHSI/AMEMBASSY TBILISI 2476
UNCLAS STATE 017282 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OSCE PGOV PREL GG RF
SUBJECT: OSCE PERMANENT COUNCIL: STATEMENT ON "BILATERAL 
AGREEMENTS" BETWEEN RUSSIA AND ABKHAZIA 
 
ΒΆ1. Post is authorized to make the following statement at the 
February 25, 2010, Permanent Council meeting in Vienna: 
 
Begin text: 
 
Thank you, Mr. Chair. 
 
The United States strongly regrets the February 17 signing of 
so-called "bilateral agreements" between the Russian 
Federation and the Abkhazia region of Georgia.  We are 
particularly concerned by an apparent agreement to allow the 
Russian Federation to build a military base in Gudauta. 
Furthermore, there are media reports of plans for further 
bases for Russian airborne troops and the Russian navy. 
 
These actions clearly violate Georgia's sovereignty and 
territorial integrity and contravene Russia's commitments 
under the August 12 cease-fire agreement.  They also 
undermine principles and commitments agreed by OSCE 
participating States and enshrined in the Helsinki Final Act, 
the Charter for European Security, and other OSCE documents. 
 
The United States remain committed to a long-term, peaceful 
resolution to the conflict.  We have repeatedly called on 
Russia to honor the terms of its cease-fire agreement with 
Georgia, and we once again urge Russia to withdraw its troops 
to positions held prior to the start of hostilities and to 
provide free access for humanitarian assistance to the 
Abkhazia and South Ossetia regions of Georgia.  Russia's 
characterization of these regions as independent does not 
relieve it of these commitments. 
 
We reiterate our full support for Georgia's sovereignty and 
territorial integrity within its internationally recognized 
borders.  We also reiterate our firm belief that the OSCE and 
other international actors can play a valuable role in 
resolving ongoing problems and providing critical monitoring 
of human rights and humanitarian conditions, and we once more 
urge the re-establishment of an OSCE presence in Georgia, 
along with continued efforts to make concrete progress on 
issues of concern through the Geneva discussions and the 
Joint Incident Prevention and Response Mechanisms.  In this 
regard, we are particularly concerned that the South Ossetia 
IPRM has not been functioning for several months because of a 
boycott by the South Ossetian participants. 
 
As we have said before, Mr. Chair, progress on the conflicts 
in Georgia would help build confidence, protect civilians, 
and represent a tangible contribution to improving European 
security.  We sincerely hope to see positive steps forward. 
 
Thank you, Mr. Chairman 
 
END TEXT 
CLINTON