C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BRUSSELS 001256 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/13/2018 TAGS: PREL, PGOV, EUN, GG, RU SUBJECT: TFGG01: EU FOREIGN MINISTERS SUPPORT FRENCH MEDIATION REF: BRUSSELS 1245 Classified By: USEU POLMC Chris Davis for reasons 1.4 (a) and (d) 1. (C) Summary: EU Foreign Ministers issued formal Conclusions at the GAERC August 13 on Georgia welcoming the Russian-Georgia agreement as presented by the French presidency. In the press briefing following the GAERC, French FM Kouchner, EUHR Solana, and Commissioner Rehn repeatedly celebrated the role the EU had played in mediating between Russia and Georgia. FM Kouchner emphasized the EU's readiness to deploy an observer or monitoring mission. At the request of UK Foreign Minister Miliband and others, the French presidency agreed to put broader EU - Russia relations on the agenda for the informal EU Foreign Ministers Gymnich meeting in early September. End Summary. 2. (C) The GAERC Council Conclusions welcomed the agreement between the parties announced by the French presidency. Prior to the meeting, however, the Georgian Ambassador to the EU told Ambassador Silverberg that the Georgians were not endorsing the plan and, in particular, had objected to the provision allowing the Russian government to put in place "additional security measures" prior to deployment of an international mechanism. The Georgian Ambassador reported that the Georgians had asked for an audience with the EU to present their concerns. Council secretariat officials also raised concerns regarding point five of the "principles," noting that it would give the Russians sufficient incentive to resist establishment of a follow-on replacement force. Following the meeting, the Georgian Ambassador onfirmed that the Georgian FM had not been allowed to present their concerns to the Council. According to Council Secretariat contacts, there was support from some member states for a discussion with the Geor gians, but the French presidency and others objected. Member state contacts told USEU that the UK and Swedish Foreign Ministers questioned the fourth and fifth principles of the mediation plan during the meeting, suggesting they could be deliberately misinterpreted by the Russians in their favor. Even some countries favoring a moderate approach to Russia (eg., Austria and Belgium) felt that point five of the principles gave Russia too much leeway. The French Presidency argued that some of the points were intentionally ambiguous in order to get the agreement of both parties. 3. (U) In a press briefing following the GAERC, French FM Kouchner noted that the agreed six principles would have to be incorporated into a UN Security Council resolution in order to be legally binding. 4. (C) Foreign Ministers also reached general agreement on the necessity of deploying observers or monitors to Georgia, according to contacts inside the meeting. The first step should be to enhance the OSCE mission already in Georgia, and secondarily to increase the EU's own presence on the ground. According to member state contacts, Finnish FM Stubb, acting in his role as OSCE chair, pressed strongly for EU member states to increase the field presence of the OSCE by 200 people, arguing that they could accomplish their objectives more quickly through the OSCE than with their own EU mission. It was not clear from the Conclusions whether the EU will insist on UN authorization for a mission. Contacts told USEU that while Foreign Ministers viewed a UNSC resolution as essential for the EU to send peacekeepers, it might not be an essential predicate to an observer mission. FMs believed that any Mission, however, would require the agreement of the parties. Contacts noted that while the timeline for sending obs ervers was not clear, Foreign Ministers had conveyed a sense of urgency, and the Council Secretariat would be further discussing details later August 13. Other Insiders' Views --------------------- 5. (C) Italian Political and Security Committee (PSC) Ambassador Andrea Meloni commented to us that Italy was "reasonably satisfied" with the outcome because it reinforced French mediation efforts. The Council's paragraph 1 language on independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity did not represent agreed positions of Georgia or Russia; however, the six "principles" did, he contended. The EU's highest priority, he said, was to sustain a cease-fire. Regarding a monitoring mechanism, Meloni said Finnish Foreign Minister Stubb commented that an EU presence could forestall the Russians asserting their right to patrol in "Georgia proper." Meloni said the role and area of operation of an EU monitoring force could be discussed in New York. He said Italy, as well as several other member states, announced their willingness to contribute personnel. BRUSSELS 00001256 002 OF 002 6. (C) Meloni said the wider aspects of the crisis would be taken up at the Avignon informal meeting of foreign ministers in early September. Meloni told the DCM that Italy supported the French Presidency in declining to offer the floor to the Georgians for the sake of evenhandedness. At the post-Council press conference, Council President and French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner told journalists that a Georgian senior official was present in the conference room and anyone should feel free to ask questions of the Georgian. 7. (C) Although the French Presidency wanted to avoid using the conclusions of the meeting to attribute blame to either party, there was frank discussion in the Council about Russia's disproportionate use of force, particularly aimed at civilians. The Romanian PSC Ambassador told us the implications for Russian-EU relations would be further discussed in formal and informal (i.e., Gymnich) meetings. 8. (C) Comment: The Council deliberately avoided condemnation of Russian action in this document to avoid disrupting mediation efforts. It remains to be seen whether the EU will take steps to show consequences to the Russians for their actions. The task now falls to the Council Secretariat and the Commission to make proposals in time for the informal (Gymnich) meeting in early September in Avignon, and the follow-on GAERC of September 15. End Comment. SILVERBERG.