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