C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 086603 SIPDIS E.O. 
12958: DECL: 08/11/2018 TAGS: AEMR, ASEC, CASC, KFLO, MARR, PREL, PINR, 
AMGT, GG SUBJECT: TFGG01: GEORGIA TASK FORCE SITUATION REPORT NO. 9 
CLASSIFIED BY THOMAS T. JUNG, SENIOR WATCH OFFICER, S/ES-O, FOR REASONS 
1.4(B) AND (D)

MILITARY SITUATION ON THE GROUND 
------------------------------------------ 

1. (C) Embassy Tbilisi 
confirms that Russian aircraft bombed Gori on the morning of August 12, 
targeting Gori University, the Post Office, and the military hospital. 
Two blasts were reported in Tbilisi, including one at the SU-25 factory 
near the airport. (Tbilisi 1362) 

2. (C) OSCE reports Russian troops 
pulled out of Gori toward South Ossetia. UNOMIG confirms Russian troops 
left Senaki military base after destroying its infrastructure. Russian 
troops remain in Zugdidi. (Tbilisi 1362) 

3. (SBU) The port of Poti is 
open, but Russian naval vessels are turning ships away. (TF/Embassy 
Tbilisi telcon) 

4. (SBU) The Georgian Embassy reports Russian and South 
Ossetian forces are arresting ethnic Georgians in the village of Mereti 
in South Ossetia. (TF/Georgian Embassy telcon) 

5. (U) Georgia filed a 
lawsuit alleging ethnic cleansing by Russia at the International Court 
of Justice. (Reuters) 

6. (U) British Petroleum shut the Baku-Supsa 
pipeline as a precaution. (Reuters)

DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS 
------------------- 

7. (U) Russian and French presidents announced a 
six- point plan: 1) Russian agreement to conclude military operations; 
2) the return of Russian armed forces to the line preceding the 
beginning of operations; 3) a no- first-use- of-force pledge in Georgia;
4) a return of Georgian armed forces to their pre-conflict locations; 
5) free access for humanitarian assistance; and 6) international 
consideration of the South Ossetia and Abkhazia issues. (CNN) 

HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE
----------------- 

8. (SBU) PM Gurgenidze 
presented a reconstruction package to Embassy Tbilisi. The proposal 
seeks $1 billion to create a five-year loan facility for the National 
Bank of Georgia to rehabilitate the port of Poti, roads, and 
agribusiness, and to develop a settlement facility for internally 
displaced persons (IDPs). (Tbilisi 1367) 

9. (SBU) The Minister of Health
stated he must personally approve all humanitarian shipments; flight 
clearance will be tied to his authorization. (TF/Embassy Tbilisi telcon)

STATE 00086603 002 OF 002 

10. (SBU) Embassy Tbilisi will submit a 
formal request for a Disaster Assistance Response Team on August 13; 
60,000 IDPs are expected from the conflict. (TF/Embassy Tbilisi telcon) 

11. (SBU) Two C-17s and two C-130s with an ESAT team and humanitarian 
assistance will arrive in Tbilisi within the next couple of days. 
Embassy Moscow demarched the Russian MFA on the flights. (TF/Embassy 
Moscow e-mail) 

12. (SBU) One French-sponsored EU humanitarian flight 
arrived August 11, delivering bedding and medical supplies, and removing
300 EU nationals. A second flight is expected August 

13. (TF/Embassy 
Tbilisi telcon) 13. (SBU) UNHCR will request $12-$15 million to protect 
and assist IDPs. (Geneva 688) 

14. (SBU) The Red Cross briefed Geneva 
missions on its $7.4 million preliminary appeal for South Ossetia. 
Sweden contributed $740,000 to the appeal. (Geneva 687) 

15. (C) Embassy 
Ankara reports Turkey has provided humanitarian assistance through the 
Turkish Red Crescent Society, including 150 tents, bedding, and drinking
water, and is considering a request for a field hospital in Gori. 
(Ankara 1442)

STATUS OF AMCITS
----------------- 

16. (SBU) Embassy 
Tbilisi reports more than 100 AmCits registered for the August 13 convoy
to Yerevan. Embassy Yerevan reports shortages of hotel rooms and seats 
on flights from Yerevan. (TF/Embassy Tbilisi/Yerevan telcon) 

17. (U) 
Minimize considered.

RICE