TFGG01: GEORGIA TASK FORCE SITUATION REPORT NO. 9

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 086603

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/11/2018
TAGS: AEMR, ASEC, CASC, KFLO, MARR, PREL, PINR, AMGT, GG
SUBJECT: TFGG01: GEORGIA TASK FORCE SITUATION REPORT NO. 9
CLASSIFIED BY THOMAS T. JUNG, SENIOR WATCH OFFICER,
S/ES-O, FOR REASONS 1.4(B) AND (D)

MILITARY SITUATION ON THE GROUND
--------------

1. (C) Embassy Tbilisi confirms that Russian aircraft
bombed Gori on the morning of August 12, targeting Gori
University, the Post Office, and the military hospital.
Two blasts were reported in Tbilisi, including one at
the SU-25 factory near the airport. (Tbilisi 1362)

2. (C) OSCE reports Russian troops pulled out of Gori
toward South Ossetia. UNOMIG confirms Russian troops
left Senaki military base after destroying its
infrastructure. Russian troops remain in Zugdidi.
(Tbilisi 1362)

3. (SBU) The port of Poti is open, but Russian naval
vessels are turning ships away. (TF/Embassy Tbilisi
telcon)

4. (SBU) The Georgian Embassy reports Russian and
South Ossetian forces are arresting ethnic Georgians in
the village of Mereti in South Ossetia. (TF/Georgian
Embassy telcon)

5. (U) Georgia filed a lawsuit alleging ethnic
cleansing by Russia at the International Court of
Justice. (Reuters)

6. (U) British Petroleum shut the Baku-Supsa pipeline
as a precaution. (Reuters)

DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS
--------------

7. (U) Russian and French presidents announced a six-
point plan: 1) Russian agreement to conclude military
operations; 2) the return of Russian armed forces to the
line preceding the beginning of operations; 3) a no-
first-use- of-force pledge in Georgia; 4) a return of
Georgian armed forces to their pre-conflict locations;
5) free access for humanitarian assistance; and 6)
international consideration of the South Ossetia and
Abkhazia issues. (CNN)

HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE
--------------
8. (SBU) PM Gurgenidze presented a reconstruction
package to Embassy Tbilisi. The proposal seeks $1
billion to create a five-year loan facility for the
National Bank of Georgia to rehabilitate the port of
Poti, roads, and agribusiness, and to develop a
settlement facility for internally displaced persons
(IDPs). (Tbilisi 1367)

9. (SBU) The Minister of Health stated he must
personally approve all humanitarian shipments; flight
clearance will be tied to his authorization.
(TF/Embassy Tbilisi telcon)

STATE 00086603 002 OF 002

10. (SBU) Embassy Tbilisi will submit a formal request
for a Disaster Assistance Response Team on August 13;
60,000 IDPs are expected from the conflict. (TF/Embassy
Tbilisi telcon)

11. (SBU) Two C-17s and two C-130s with an ESAT team
and humanitarian assistance will arrive in Tbilisi
within the next couple of days. Embassy Moscow
demarched the Russian MFA on the flights. (TF/Embassy
Moscow e-mail)

12. (SBU) One French-sponsored EU humanitarian flight
arrived August 11, delivering bedding and medical
supplies, and removing 300 EU nationals. A second
flight is expected August 13. (TF/Embassy Tbilisi
telcon)

13. (SBU) UNHCR will request $12-$15 million to
protect and assist IDPs. (Geneva 688)

14. (SBU) The Red Cross briefed Geneva missions on its
$7.4 million preliminary appeal for South Ossetia.
Sweden contributed $740,000 to the appeal. (Geneva 687)

15. (C) Embassy Ankara reports Turkey has provided
humanitarian assistance through the Turkish Red Crescent
Society, including 150 tents, bedding, and drinking
water, and is considering a request for a field hospital
in Gori. (Ankara 1442)

STATUS OF AMCITS
--------------

16. (SBU) Embassy Tbilisi reports more than 100 AmCits
registered for the August 13 convoy to Yerevan. Embassy
Yerevan reports shortages of hotel rooms and seats on
flights from Yerevan. (TF/Embassy Tbilisi/Yerevan
telcon)

17. (U) Minimize considered.
RICE