S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 085663 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 
08/10/2018 TAGS: AEMR, ASEC, CASC, KFLO, MARR, PREL, PINR, AMGT, GG 
SUBJECT: TFGG01: GEORGIA TASK FORCE SITUATION REPORT NO. 05 Classified 
by Senior Watch Officer Shawn Crowley for reasons 1.4 (B and D). 

RUSSIANS OUTSIDE ZUGDIDI; AIRPORT STILL OPEN 
--------------------------------------------

1. (C) Contradicting 
earlier Georgian reports, Russian forces had not attacked Zugdidi, in 
Georgia proper, the Georgian Embassy tells the Bureau of European and 
Eurasian Affairs. Russian "peacekeepers" are staged outside the city. 
(TF/Embassy Tbilisi e-mail, TF/EUR e- mail)

2. (SBU) A bomb landed one 
kilometer from Tbilisi International Airport; renewed press reports of a
larger attack against the airport appear unsubstantiated. Georgian 
Airways is the only commercial carrier still operating out of Tbilisi. 
(TF/Embassy Tbilisi telcon)

3. (SBU) Embassy Tbilisi is seeking to 
confirm reports a Georgian cruiser was sunk in the Black Sea. According 
to the media, the government of Ukraine reserved the right to bar 
Russian warships dispatched to the Georgian coast from returning to 
their base at Sevastopol. City officials told reporters residents would 
thwart any such Ukrainian attempt. (TF/Embassy Tbilisi telcon, Interfax)

4. (U) Despite earlier denials, Russia's General Staff confirmed the 
withdrawal of Georgian troops from South Ossetia. (Interfax)

UNSC HOLDS EMERGENCY SESSION
----------------------------

5. (SBU) Russian PermRep 
Churkin criticized U/SYG Pascoe's statement that Georgia was prepared to
negotiate, according to USUN, and questioned the Secretariat's 
objectivity. Churkin did not respond to U.S. Ambassador Khalilzad's 
question about whether Moscow had adopted a policy of regime change in 
Georgia. The Georgian representative accused Russia of aiming to 
"destroy the Georgian state," according to the media. (TF/USUN e-mail, 
AP, Interfax)

EMBASSY DEPENDENTS CROSS INTO ARMENIA 
-------------------------------------

6. (SBU) A convoy of 82 family 
members from Embassy Tbilisi and 25 private Amcits safely entered 
Armenia. An additional Tbilisi-Yerevan convoy will depart August 11. 
(TF/Embassy Tbilisi telcon)

GEORGIAN TROOPS RETURN FROM IRAQ 
--------------------------------

7. (S) Post confirms the return of 
Georgian soldiers from Iraq is underway. TRANSCOM plans a total of eight
flights August 10, and to finish the mission with eight additional 
flights August 11. (TF/Embassy Tbilisi

STATE 00085663 002 OF 002

telcon, EUCOM sitrep)

8. (U) Minimize considered. RICE