Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08TBILISI1136
2008-07-01 08:32:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Tbilisi
Cable title:  

GEORGIAN POLICE BLOCK CIS PKF TRUCK FROM ENTERING

Tags:  PREL PGOV GG 
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VZCZCXRO7078
PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN
RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHSI #1136 1830832
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 010832Z JUL 08
FM AMEMBASSY TBILISI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9706
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
UNCLAS TBILISI 001136 

SIPDIS

DEPT. FOR EUR/CARC

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV GG
SUBJECT: GEORGIAN POLICE BLOCK CIS PKF TRUCK FROM ENTERING
ZUGDIDI

REF: TBILISI 1031

UNCLAS TBILISI 001136

SIPDIS

DEPT. FOR EUR/CARC

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV GG
SUBJECT: GEORGIAN POLICE BLOCK CIS PKF TRUCK FROM ENTERING
ZUGDIDI

REF: TBILISI 1031


1. Georgian media reported on June 27 that Georgian police
had prevented a CIS peacekeeping truck, accompanied by an
armored personnel carrier, from entering the Georgian side of
the security zone. The truck was headed to the CIS PKF
checkpoint in the Georgian village of Urta, south of Zugdidi.
The United Nations Observer Mission to Georgia (UNOMIG)
reported that following the June 17 seizure of a peacekeeping
truck transporting anti-tank missiles to the PKF checkpoint
at Urta (reftel),CIS PKF commander Chaban has decided that
all future PKF supply trucks will be escorted by BTR-2
armored personnel carriers. On June 26, a PKF supply truck
and BTR prepared to cross the Inguri river into Zugdidi when
Georgian police moved a truck to block their way. The sides
remained at a standoff until Deputy Special Representative of
the Secretary General (D/SRSG),Ivo Petrov, convinced Chaban
to withdraw the vehicles. The Georgians and Russians later
agreed to allow peacekeeper supply trucks to be escorted by
BTRs as long as they did not travel through Zugdidi.


2. More alarmingly, Chaban informed UNOMIG Chief Military
Observer Khattak that he has authorized peacekeepers to fire
"warning shots" if they encounter threats or intimidation by
Georgian police or military forces. Chaban did not elaborate
on specific rules of engagement that would trigger these
warning shots, though he made it clear that he was growing
impatient with the ongoing Georgian harassment of
peacekeepers operating on the Georgian side of the security
zone. He claimed to be receiving phone calls from concerned
parents following Russian media reports showing Russian
peacekeepers being beaten and arrested by Georgian police.

TEFFT