TFGG01: GEORGIA TASK FORCE SITUATION REPORT NO. 20

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 088304 NOFORN, SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/17/2018 TAGS: AEMR ASEC CASC KFLO MARR PREL PINR AMGT CD SUBJECT: TFGG01: GEORGIA TASK FORCE SITUATION REPORT NO. 20 CLASSIFIED BY: MMESQUITA/DCSCHNEIDER, S/ES-O, REASON 1.4(D) RUSSIAN FORCE MOVEMENTS -------------- ¶1. (SBU) Embassy Moscow reports the Russian Deputy Chief of the General Staff said preparations for a withdrawal are underway. (TF/Embassy Tbilisi telcon). ¶2. (S/NF) Georgian forces established a checkpoint north of Kaspi within 1 km of Russian troops. (TF/EUCOM e-mail) ¶3. (S/NF) Turkey scrambled fighters in response to a Russian bomber near the Turkish coast. (TF/EUCOM telcon) HUMANITARIAN ISSUES AND RESOURCES -------------- ¶4. (SBU) UNHCR estimates the total number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) will reach 100,000. (TF/USAID e-mail) ¶5. (SBU) Authorization is pending for release of MREs at Poti for transfer to the UN for distribution. (TF/USAID e-mail) ¶6. (SBU) Senator Biden visited an IDP center and met with the crew of one of the C-130s bringing assistance. (TF/Embassy Tbilisi e-mails) ¶7. (S/NF) Three daily C-130 flights of rations and bedding, and an additional daily C-17 flight of rations, are scheduled August 18-26. (TF/EUCOM telcon) STATUS OF DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS -------------- ¶8. (SBU) Embassy Tbilisi reports Russian President Medvedev told French President Sarkozy Russia will begin a phased withdrawal August 18. Media report Medvedev emphasized the need for Georgia unconditionally to return its units to their original bases. (TF/Embassy Tbilisi e-mails, Interfax) ¶9. (SBU) NATO's political committee will meet August 18 to discuss a response to Georgian requests for assistance and a potential ministerial statement. (TF/USNATO telcon) ¶10. (SBU) France, the UK and the United States called for swift adoption of a draft UNSCR. USUN noted a resolution must account for the lack of clarity in the Sarkozy-brokered agreement and the evident failure of Russia to withdraw. (TF/USUN e-mail) ¶11. (SBU) Pending a Russian request, Finland will table a draft on expanding OSCE monitors at an OSCE Special Political Committee meeting August 18. The request likely will be to transport 10 armored personnel STATE 00088304 002 OF 002 carriers for an initial 40-50 observers next week. (TF/USOSCE e-mails) ¶12. (SBU) OSCE SYG De Brichambaut told reporters "the fate of South Ossetia should be decided by the people of South Ossetia themselves" and that a decision "needs to take into account history and reality." (Interfax) ¶13. (SBU) Richard Holbrooke told post Georgians were discontented with their government. Post assesses no imminent danger to the Saakashvili government, but the government needs to cope with popular discontent. (TF/Embassy Tbilisi telcon) CONSULAR UPDATE -------------- ¶14. (SBU) The Evans children's aunt, Josie Evans, and Rep. Chris Smith's office inquired into the safety of routes out of Chiatura. (TF/Embassy Tbilisi e-mails) ¶15. (SBU) Post issued a warden message advising Amcits in the vicinity of the forest fires to consider leaving, and to avoid all travel on the highways between Khashuri and Gori and to the north and west of Kutaisi. (TF/Embassy Tbilisi e-mail) ¶16. (U) Minimize considered. RICE