C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 085678
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/10/2018
TAGS: NATO, PARM, KCFE, RU, GG
SUBJECT: ACTION REQUEST: U.S. PROPOSAL FOR STRONG NAC STATEMENT
CONDEMINING RUSSIAN ACTIONS IN GEORGIA
Text classified by Jennifer Laurendeau, Coordinator, Georgia Task Force. 
Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

1. (C)
Summary and Action Request. As early as 
possible on Monday, August 11, posts in all NATO capitals should brief 
host governments at appropriately senior levels to urge support for a 
strong NAC statement condemning Russian actions in Georgia. In the 
political committee USNATO should indicate our desire for a formal NATO 
statement and outline key elements, and work with the NATO International
Staff and key allies to promote the following elements for a North 
Atlantic Council (NAC) statement to be issued Tuesday, August 12, 
following the G-7 statement on this topic. Posts should indicate that 
the U.S. believes the NAC-and not merely the Secretary General-should 
agree Tuesday to a firm Alliance statement addressing the current 
situation in Georgia and condemning Russia's role. We believe it is 
important that the NAC itself issue such a statement, not merely the 
Secretary General. Posts may indicate that we expect the U.S. to be 
represented at the August 12 NAC meeting by Ambassador Kurt Volker. 
Points follow at para. 2. End Summary and Action Request.

2. (SBU)
Begin
points: - As we all know, Russian actions in Georgia have gone beyond 
any reasonable steps to ensure the safety of civilians and peacekeepers,
and escalated to open hostilities with Georgia. - The U.S. believes it 
is important for Tuesday's NAC discussion of events in Georgia to result
in a firm NATO message condemning Russian actions. - We believe the key
points for such a message are that: - We regret the loss of life, 
civilian casualties, and damage to civilian structures that has resulted
from this re-emergence of armed conflict on European soil. - The 
aggressive Russian military action we have witnessed during the past 
several days is out of proportion with events in South Ossetia. We 
condemn Russia's ongoing military action and call for an immediate 
cease-fire. We note that Georgian military forces ceased fire and 
withdrew from South Ossetia on Sunday. Thus ongoing Russian military 
action is unjustifiable. - Russian actions are inconsistent with its 
peacekeeping role under the 1994 Moscow Agreement peacekeeping mandate 
and with the principles of cooperative security and peaceful resolution 
of conflicts that are reflected in the NATO-Russia founding act, the 
Rome NATO-Russia Council Summit statement, and the OSCE Charter for 
European Security. - Russia must now be considered a party to the 
conflict and is acting outside of international law. - We reaffirm our 
support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia. - We 
underscore that our governments will work together to ensure that 
Georgia has all the assistance it needs to meet immediate humanitarian 
needs and, over the longer term, to rebuild its country and repair the 
damage done by this assault. - We demand an end to hostilities and the 
full, immediate withdrawal of all Russian military personnel from 
Georgian territory. - We demand an end to military actions in and around
Abkhazia. - We urge immediate negotiations to put in place a lasting 
ceasefire and to renew efforts to achieve a political solution to the 
conflict that respects Georgia's territorial integrity. - We request the
Secretary General to remain in direct contact with Russian and Georgian
authorities.

3. (SBU) Department thanks Posts for their quick action. 

RICE