Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07TBILISI1994
2007-08-10 04:49:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tbilisi
Cable title:
SOUTH OSSETIAN CONCERNS ABOUT SECURITY IN TBILISI
how-toVZCZCXRO6693 OO RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHSI #1994 2220449 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 100449Z AUG 07 FM AMEMBASSY TBILISI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7258 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L TBILISI 001994
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR DAS BRYZA AND EUR/CARC
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/09/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM GG
SUBJECT: SOUTH OSSETIAN CONCERNS ABOUT SECURITY IN TBILISI
STYMIE JCC; CRIMINALS ATTACK BUS IN SOUTH OSSETIA
REF: TBILISI 1940
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Mark X. Perry for reasons 1.4(b&d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L TBILISI 001994
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR DAS BRYZA AND EUR/CARC
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/09/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM GG
SUBJECT: SOUTH OSSETIAN CONCERNS ABOUT SECURITY IN TBILISI
STYMIE JCC; CRIMINALS ATTACK BUS IN SOUTH OSSETIA
REF: TBILISI 1940
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Mark X. Perry for reasons 1.4(b&d).
1. (C) Building on previous accusations that the Georgians
were plotting bombings and assassinations (reftel),South
Ossetian de facto president Kokoity told a meeting of the
"Union of Elders of South Ossetia and North Ossetia" on
August 8 in Tskhinvali that Georgia was planning terrorist
attacks, and claimed that an explosive device had recently
been found in the home of Boris Chochiev, the South Ossetian
co-chair of the Joint Control Commission (JCC). (Note: OSCE
officials have repeatedly told us they consider such
outlandish South Ossetian claims to be propaganda for
internal purposes. End Note.) Kokoity reiterated that the
South Ossetian side had refused to attend a planned JCC
meeting August 9-10 in Tbilisi because of security concerns,
and expressed certainty that a "terrorist act" was being
planned against Chochiev should he attend. At the same time,
Kokoity said he had requested a meeting with Georgian
President Saakashvili to discuss an agreement on
non-resumption of hostilities. The Elders meeting was also
attended by Pantelemon Giorgadze, leader of the Communist
Party of Georgia and father of fugitive former Georgian
Security Minister Igor Giorgadze.
2. (U) Speaking in response to Kokoity's comments, Georgian
State Minister for Conflict Resolution David Bakradze said
Georgia was ready for a JCC meeting, and he called on the
separatist authorities to change their rhetoric. Russian JCC
co-chair Yuri Popov was quoted as saying the timing for the
next JCC meeting had been changed to the second half of
September.
3. (U) In another incident in separatist-controlled
territory, near the village of Kokhati, an apparently
criminal group stopped a passenger bus traveling from Vanati
to the Georgian city of Gori, and physically and verbally
assaulted a total of 12 passengers including children.
Georgian media has given coverage to the incident.
PERRY
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR DAS BRYZA AND EUR/CARC
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/09/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM GG
SUBJECT: SOUTH OSSETIAN CONCERNS ABOUT SECURITY IN TBILISI
STYMIE JCC; CRIMINALS ATTACK BUS IN SOUTH OSSETIA
REF: TBILISI 1940
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Mark X. Perry for reasons 1.4(b&d).
1. (C) Building on previous accusations that the Georgians
were plotting bombings and assassinations (reftel),South
Ossetian de facto president Kokoity told a meeting of the
"Union of Elders of South Ossetia and North Ossetia" on
August 8 in Tskhinvali that Georgia was planning terrorist
attacks, and claimed that an explosive device had recently
been found in the home of Boris Chochiev, the South Ossetian
co-chair of the Joint Control Commission (JCC). (Note: OSCE
officials have repeatedly told us they consider such
outlandish South Ossetian claims to be propaganda for
internal purposes. End Note.) Kokoity reiterated that the
South Ossetian side had refused to attend a planned JCC
meeting August 9-10 in Tbilisi because of security concerns,
and expressed certainty that a "terrorist act" was being
planned against Chochiev should he attend. At the same time,
Kokoity said he had requested a meeting with Georgian
President Saakashvili to discuss an agreement on
non-resumption of hostilities. The Elders meeting was also
attended by Pantelemon Giorgadze, leader of the Communist
Party of Georgia and father of fugitive former Georgian
Security Minister Igor Giorgadze.
2. (U) Speaking in response to Kokoity's comments, Georgian
State Minister for Conflict Resolution David Bakradze said
Georgia was ready for a JCC meeting, and he called on the
separatist authorities to change their rhetoric. Russian JCC
co-chair Yuri Popov was quoted as saying the timing for the
next JCC meeting had been changed to the second half of
September.
3. (U) In another incident in separatist-controlled
territory, near the village of Kokhati, an apparently
criminal group stopped a passenger bus traveling from Vanati
to the Georgian city of Gori, and physically and verbally
assaulted a total of 12 passengers including children.
Georgian media has given coverage to the incident.
PERRY