UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000720 SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
PASS TO SECRETARY RICE AND NSC HADLEY
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: GG, PGOV, PREL, RS
SUBJECT: GEORGIA CHALLENGES RUSSIA, SECURITY COUNCIL

1. (SBU)
SUMMARY. The UN Security Council failed on August 8 to reach a
consensus on a press statement in reaction to the developing
conflict in South-Ossetia, Georgia. In a dramatic public
session, the Georgian PermRep asked the Russian PermRep
whether Russia was prepared to call off the bombers he said
were about to pummel Georgian cities. He also pointedly asked
the Security Council what it was prepared to do to stop the
conflict. Russian PermRep Churkin claimed Georgia was the
aggressor and Russia was only defending its citizens in South
Ossetia. The Belgian Security Council Presidency announced
plans to call for further closed consultations on August 9, in
another attempt to reach consensus on a press statement. End
Summary.

2. (SBU)
The Security Council suspended its consultation on the
South-Ossetia, Georgia conflict late in the day on August 8
after it failed to reach consensus on a press statement.
Various versions of the draft press statement -- expressing
concern over the escalating violence and casualties, calling
for immediate cessation of hostilities and resumption of
negotiations -- broke down over the course of the afternoon,
primarily over U.S.-Russia differences over whether the
statement should reaffirm Georgia's territorial integrity,
refer to more than two parties, or call for a ceasefire before
or after a return to the status quo ante.

3. (SBU)
Notwithstanding Ambassador Khalilzad's harsh criticism of
Russia to the press following the second public session,
several Council members remained enthusiastic enough about the
prospects of reaching consensus that a Saturday morning
session, August 9, will be scheduled after Belgium circulates
a further composite text this evening.

4. (SBU)
The consultations were interspersed around a public session,
which was requested by Georgia. It featured a dramatic
exchange between the Russian and Georgian Permanent
Representatives that culminated in the Georgian confronting
the Russian, saying Russian bombers are in the air and are
about to bomb Georgia, and asking, "will you stop?" Ambassador
Khalilzad noted in his statement that the Georgian PermRep had
committed in his statement to a ceasefire, whereas the Russian
PermRep had been silent on that point. The Georgian PermRep
also pointedly asked the Council what it was willing to do in
the face of Russian aggression.

5. (SBU)
Russian Ambassador Churkin deflected calls by several Council
members to respect the territorial integrity and sovereignty
of Georgia, and instead focused his comments on accusing
Georgia of engaging in "ethnic cleansing" in South Ossetia. He
claimed that Georgia was targeting Russian peacekeepers and he
said firmly that Russia would not allow actions against
Russian nationals to go unpunished. Khalilzad