TFGG01: TEXT OF THE INITIAL NATO SUPPORT PACKAGE

CONFIDENTIAL USNATO 000294 NATO CONFIDENTIAL SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/18/2018 TAGS: PREL MARR NATO MOPS PREF GG RU SUBJECT: TFGG01: TEXT OF THE INITIAL NATO SUPPORT PACKAGE FOR GEORGIA REF: USNATO 283 Classified By: Acting DCM W.S. Reid III for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (SBU) The North Atlantic Council (NAC) meeting at ministerial level on August 19 approved the following package of measures in response to the ongoing crisis in Georgia. This constitutes an initial reply to Georgia's August 12 formal request for assistance in eight specific areas (reftel). The NATO International Staff is working to declassify this list, and hopes to be able to produce a publicly releasable text within a few days. ¶2. (C) Begin text: The NAC has decided to undertake the following measures in response to Georgian requests for assistance within the framework of Georgia's Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP) with NATO: -- 1. The NAC authorizes the deployment of a CEP Advisory Support Team to Georgia to help the Georgian Government in assessing the damage to civil critical infrastructure and advise on the mitigating measures, and tasks the SCEPC to closely monitor the situation in Georgia and advise the Council on possible further actions. (USNATO comment: CEP is Civil-Emergency Planning. End comment). -- 2. The NAC tasks the NATO Military Authorities together with NATO Office of Security and the NATO BICES Agency, as a matter of priority, to explore the conditions for the establishment of a secure communication system between NATO HQ and Tbilisi for the exchange of classified information, bearing in mind that the decision to release classified information remains with the originating nation/body. -- 3. The NAC tasks the Defense Policy and Planning Division of the NATO International Staff to establish contacts with Georgia to begin the assessment of the state of the Georgian MOD and Armed Forces. -- 4. The NAC tasks the Defense Investment Division of the NATO International Staff to conduct an assessment of the current state of the Georgian air picture to ensure the safety of civilian air traffic. On the basis of these recommendations, the NADC and NATMC should consider further steps. -- 5. The NAC urges the earliest possible implementation of the ASDE with Georgia, to support the safety of air traffic (Note: ASDE is the Air Situation Data Exchange. End note). -- 6. The NAC tasks the NATO Cyber Defense Management Authority to respond positively to the Georgian request for assistance in cyber defense. -- 7. The NAC will continue political support to UN, EU, and OSCE efforts in Georgia. The NAC recognizes that the Secretary General, under his authority, will send his Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia to Georgia in the immediate future to consult with the Georgian Government and keep Allies informed. End text. ¶3. (SBU) NATO International Staff inform USNATO that SYG Caucasus and Central Asia Special Representative Bob Simmons, accompanied by staffer James Mackey, depart Brussels for Tbilisi this evening. VOLKER