UNCLAS USNATO 000277 SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: MOPS, PREL, NATO, GG, RS
SUBJECT: RUSSIAN NATO AMBASSADOR DECRIES "TREACHEROUS" GEORGIAN USE OF FORCE
REF: A. USNATO 274 B. USNATO 275 C. USNATO 276

1. (SBU)
Late on the afternoon of August 8, the Russian Mission
distributed a letter addressed to Deputy Secretary General
Bisogniero on the unfolding crisis in Georgia.

2. (SBU)
The text of the letter is as follows:
Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to NATO
Brussels, 8 August 2008 Dr. Mr. C. Bisogniero, We would like
to draw your attention to grim and alarming realities of the
situation in South Ossetia. On the night of August 7-8, just
several hours after the agreement had been reached to hold
talks to settle the new round of the South Ossetia conflict
Georgian military units undertook a treacherous, massive
attack on Tskhinvali. A use-of-force scenario was resorted to
by the Georgian leadership, despite all the diplomatic efforts
that had been undertaken in contacts among Moscow, Tbilisi,
Tskhinvali, Washington and other concerned capitals. The
fighting is going on, the number of civilian victims in South
Ossetia is sharply rising. The Russian peacekeepers were also
attacked by the Georgian forces, several were killed, three
wounded. The credibility of the Georgian leadership as a
responsible participant of the negotiation process and of the
international intercourse corresponding to the principles of
the United Nations Charter in general has been completely
undermined as a result. The Russian Federation will continue
its efforts directed at preventing any further bloodshed and
at getting the situation in South Ossetia back into its
peaceful course. We kindly ask you to make the substance of
this note known to the NRC and partner countries. Sincerely
yours, signed D. Rogozin H.E. Mr. Claudio BISOGNIERO Deputy
NATO Secretary General North Atlantic Treaty Organization
Brussels, Belgium

WEINROD