UNCLAS USNATO 000275 SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: MOPS, NATO, PREL, GG, RS
SUBJECT: GEORGIAN NATO MISSION STATEMENT ON SITUATION IN SOUTH OSSETIA

1. (SBU)
On August 8, the Georgian Mission to NATO distributed the
following statement to Allies: Statement of the Government of
Georgia regarding the situation in the South Ossetia region of
Georgia Over the last several hours, separatist rebels in
South Ossetia have undertaken a series of military attacks
against unarmed civilians and peacekeeping forces in several
villages near Tskhinvali. Their actions constitute an extreme
escalation of an already dangerous situation. These latest
attacks took place after President Mikheil Saakashvili
announced a unilateral ceasefire by Georgia and appealed for
peace talks. The separatist rebels, in defiance of this call,
subsequently attacked several villages near Tskinvali. On
August 7, at 22:30 local time, they attacked the village of
Prisi, which was followed one hour later by an attack on the
village of Tamarasheni. Civilians and peacekeepers came under
massive shelling. The attacks resulted in several dead and
wounded. According to available data, hundred of armed
personnel and heavy military equipment have crossed from
Russia to Georgia through the Roki tunnel. To protect peaceful
civilian populations and to prevent further military attacks,
the Government of Georgia has been forced to take adequate
measures. Despite this most recent escalation, the Government
of Georgia once again reiterates its readiness to immediately
begin peace talks aimed at resolving the conflict in South
Ossetia and calls on the separatist rebels to cease their
military actions and come to the negotiation table. 08.08.2008
END TEXT

2. (SBU)
The Georgian Mission attached additional information to the
statement, including the text of a special address of the
President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili. We have e-mail this
additional information to EUR/RPM.

WEINROD