S E C R E T USNATO 000276
NOFORN SIPDIS
E.O. 12958:
DECL: 07/09/2018 
TAGS: PREL, MARR, NATO, MOPS, GG, RU
SUBJECT: NATO STRUGGLES TO REACT TO SOUTH OSSETIA FIGHTING
REF: USNATO 274
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Bruce Weinrod for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

1. (C)
SUMMARY: As the crisis situation in Georgia unfolded on August 8,
NATO Allies and the International Staff struggled with how to
respond. While the possibility of an emergency meeting of the
North Atlantic Council (NAC) was briefly discussed, NATO
Secretary General de Hoop Scheffer does not support such a
meeting at this time. De Hoop Scheffer did authorize the
release of a statement calling on all sides to end violence.
Unfortunately, the crisis also revealed the continuing
divisions within the Alliance on how to address Georgia's
desire to join NATO's Membership Action Plan, with Germany and
Norway arguing that the upcoming NAC trip should be reconsidered.
On the other hand, Poland--a strong supporter of NATO MAP--had
argued that the crisis only reinforced the need for the NAC to
travel to the region. END SUMMARY

Emergency NAC Idea Floated, but Rejected
----------------------------------------

2. (C)
On August 8, the Czech Mission contacted Charge Weinrod,
proposing that an emergency session of the North Atlantic
Council (NAC) be convened to discuss the developing situation
in Georgia. On a follow-up call, The Czech mission stated that
it was very likely to pursue a special NAC meeting if Russian
forces entered Georgian territory. Weinrod received a similar
call from the Dutch Mission, except the Dutch had asked
whether a meeting of the NATO-Russia Council might be
appropriate. The Charge learned from Deputy Secretary General
(D/SYG) Claudio Bisogniero, however, that Secretary General
(SYG) Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, who is traveling at the moment,
opposed quickly convening an emergency session of the NAC,
believing that such a meeting might only contribute to the
escalation of tensions. (Note: NATO's Political Committee had
already been scheduled to have an instructed discussion of the
situation in Georgia during its August 11 meeting. End note.)

3. (C)
De Hoop Scheffer had also directed the release of a press
statement in his name calling on all sides to end the violence
(reftel).

4. (C)
Senior NATO staff are speaking this afternoon with the
Georgian Deputy PM and have been asked to meet with the
Russian NATO Charge.

Unfortunately, Allied Divisions Continue to Play Out
----------------------------------------------------

5. (C)
According to an American contact on the NATO International
Staff (strictly protect), the German Mission had already used
the unfolding crisis to argue that the upcoming NAC trip to
Georgia (which had only just been reconfirmed late yesterday
in a SYG-Saakashvili telcon for September 15-16) should be
cancelled. Norway had argued that at the very least Allies
should discuss whether the NAC should still travel to the
region. On the other hand, Poland had argued that the crisis
only provided an additional reason for the trip. (Note: The
U.S. is reaching out to senior Americans on the IS, providing
them with appropriate information as it becomes available to
us.)

6. (S/NF)
USNATO has received no questions about the status of Georgian
forces in Iraq.

Comment
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7. (C)
Georgia, as a member of the Partnership for Peace, has a right
to consult with NATO on any perceived direct threat to its
territorial integrity, political independence, or sovereignty.
This right is guaranteed in Paragraph 8 of the Partnership for
Peace: Framework Document. The Georgians have consulted with
NATO on these topics before, most recently in the Senior
Political Committee, and may do so during the current crisis.
If they do seek such a meeting, we will urge them to do so
only after they have had time to properly prepare for it. NATO
DASG Simmons anticipated the Georgian Deputy PM would raise
this issue this afternoon. They will need to be prepared to
answer the questions of those who might suspect that Tbilisi
is less than completely innocent in how this has played out.
In the short run, USNATO will undoubtedly receive further
inquiries regarding U.S. thinking on this matter.

WEINROD