Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08USNATO275
2008-08-08 11:30:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Mission USNATO
Cable title:
GEORGIAN NATO MISSION STATEMENT ON SITUATION IN
how-toVZCZCXRO6403 OO RUEHIK RUEHPOD RUEHYG DE RUEHNO #0275 2211130 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 081130Z AUG 08 FM USMISSION USNATO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2130 INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD PRIORITY 0605 RUEHKV/AMEMBASSY KYIV PRIORITY 0143 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PRIORITY 6038 RUEHSI/AMEMBASSY TBILISI PRIORITY 5629 RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0753 RHMFIUU/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE PRIORITY 0492 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY
UNCLAS USNATO 000275
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: MOPS NATO PREL GG RS
SUBJECT: GEORGIAN NATO MISSION STATEMENT ON SITUATION IN
SOUTH OSSETIA
UNCLAS USNATO 000275
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: MOPS NATO PREL GG RS
SUBJECT: GEORGIAN NATO MISSION STATEMENT ON SITUATION IN
SOUTH OSSETIA
¶1. (SBU) On August 8, the Georgian Mission to NATO
distributed the following statement to Allies:
Statement of the Government of Georgia regarding the
situation in the South Ossetia region of Georgia
Over the last several hours, separatist rebels in South
Ossetia have undertaken a series of military attacks against
unarmed civilians and peacekeeping forces in several villages
near Tskhinvali. Their actions constitute an extreme
escalation of an already dangerous situation.
These latest attacks took place after President Mikheil
Saakashvili announced a unilateral ceasefire by Georgia and
appealed for peace talks.
The separatist rebels, in defiance of this call, subsequently
attacked several villages near Tskinvali. On August 7, at
22:30 local time, they attacked the village of Prisi, which
was followed one hour later by an attack on the village of
Tamarasheni. Civilians and peacekeepers came under massive
shelling. The attacks resulted in several dead and wounded.
According to available data, hundred of armed personnel and
heavy military equipment have crossed from Russia to Georgia
through the Roki tunnel.
To protect peaceful civilian populations and to prevent
further military attacks, the Government of Georgia has been
forced to take adequate measures.
Despite this most recent escalation, the Government of
Georgia once again reiterates its readiness to immediately
begin peace talks aimed at resolving the conflict in South
Ossetia and calls on the separatist rebels to cease their
military actions and come to the negotiation table.
08.08.2008
END TEXT
¶2. (SBU) The Georgian Mission attached additional information
to the statement, including the text of a special address of
the President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili. We have e-mail
this additional information to EUR/RPM.
WEINROD