GEORGIA CHALLENGES RUSSIA, SECURITY COUNCIL

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000720

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

PASS TO SECRETARY RICE AND NSC HADLEY

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: GG PGOV PREL RS
SUBJECT: GEORGIA CHALLENGES RUSSIA, SECURITY COUNCIL


1. (SBU) SUMMARY. The UN Security Council failed on August 8
to reach a consensus on a press statement in reaction to the
developing conflict in South-Ossetia, Georgia. In a dramatic
public session, the Georgian PermRep asked the Russian
PermRep whether Russia was prepared to call off the bombers
he said were about to pummel Georgian cities. He also
pointedly asked the Security Council what it was prepared to
do to stop the conflict. Russian PermRep Churkin claimed
Georgia was the aggressor and Russia was only defending its
citizens in South Ossetia. The Belgian Security Council
Presidency announced plans to call for further closed
consultations on August 9, in another attempt to reach
consensus on a press statement. End Summary.


2. (SBU) The Security Council suspended its consultation on
the South-Ossetia, Georgia conflict late in the day on August
8 after it failed to reach consensus on a press statement.
Various versions of the draft press statement -- expressing
concern over the escalating violence and casualties, calling
for immediate cessation of hostilities and resumption of
negotiations -- broke down over the course of the afternoon,
primarily over U.S.-Russia differences over whether the
statement should reaffirm Georgia's territorial integrity,
refer to more than two parties, or call for a ceasefire
before or after a return to the status quo ante.


3. (SBU) Notwithstanding Ambassador Khalilzad's harsh
criticism of Russia to the press following the second public
session, several Council members remained enthusiastic enough
about the prospects of reaching consensus that a Saturday
morning session, August 9, will be scheduled after Belgium
circulates a further composite text this evening.


4. (SBU) The consultations were interspersed around a public
session, which was requested by Georgia. It featured a
dramatic exchange between the Russian and Georgian Permanent
Representatives that culminated in the Georgian confronting
the Russian, saying Russian bombers are in the air and are
about to bomb Georgia, and asking, "will you stop?"
Ambassador Khalilzad noted in his statement that the Georgian
PermRep had committed in his statement to a ceasefire,
whereas the Russian PermRep had been silent on that point.
The Georgian PermRep also pointedly asked the Council what it
was willing to do in the face of Russian aggression.


5. (SBU) Russian Ambassador Churkin deflected calls by
several Council members to respect the territorial integrity
and sovereignty of Georgia, and instead focused his comments
on accusing Georgia of engaging in "ethnic cleansing" in
South Ossetia. He claimed that Georgia was targeting Russian
peacekeepers and he said firmly that Russia would not allow
actions against Russian nationals to go unpunished.
Khalilzad