MOD ON AID DELIVERIES INTO SECURITY ZONES IN

UNCLAS MOSCOW 002823 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV RS GG MARR PBTS SUBJECT: MOD ON AID DELIVERIES INTO SECURITY ZONES IN GEORGIA ¶1. (U) On September 16, the Russian MOD delivered to Embassy Moscow's Defense Attache Office a response to U.S. Note 570, dated August 27, 2008, on the security zones in Georgia, South Ossetia, and Abkhazia that are controlled by Russian peacekeeping forces. The MOD reiterates that travel to the "security zones" requires prior notification and permission. We faxed English and Russian versions of the note to EUR/RUS. Below is the MOD's English translation of the Russian note. ¶2. (U) Begin Text: FOREIGN LIAISON DIRECTORATE RUSSIAN FEDERATION MINISTRY OF DEFENSE Moscow, Russia Dated 16 September 2008 Note # 3672 Response to Note 570 dated the 27th of August 2008 The Foreign Liaison Directorate of the Russian Federation Ministry of Defense presents its compliments to the Defense Attache Office of the United States Embassy to the Russian Federation and has the honor to report that the Russian peacekeeping forces' rules of engagement, in their areas of operation (security zones) on the territory of Georgia, Abkhazia, and South Ossetia, are governed by current standard international legal basis for the reconciliation of the Georgian-Abkhazian and Georgian-Ossetian armed conflicts. The layout and size of the aforementioned zones were determined in strict accordance with agreements between the conflicting parties, and thus far have not changed. Entry into Russian peacekeeping forces' areas of operation to deliver humanitarian aid is granted at the zone commander's discretion based on requests, which must be submitted no later than 24 hours before the intended trip. The request will contain: the goal of the trip, the route, the number of vehicles and their plate numbers, the number of people and their information, the type and amount of cargo, and the number and serial numbers of the escort's weapons. Russian peacekeeping troops have the right to use armed force in the following instances: -for the purpose of ensuring their security and safety against any threat to their life and well-being, service members retain the irrevocable right to self defense. -in the event of an attempt to forcefully prevent them from carrying out their assigned tasks. -to repel overt armed assaults. -to protect the civilians against violent threats to their lives or well-being. The Foreign Liaison Directorate of the Russian Ministry of Defense avails itself of the opportunity to renew to the Defense Attache Office assurances of its highest consideration. End Text. BEYRLE