Dates are approximate.
Some abbreviations:
SBU: Sensitive but unclassified,
AMB: Ambassador
DCM: Deputy Chief of Mission,
HMG: Her Majesty's Government,
USG: United States Government,
GoG (GOE, GOI etc): Government of Georgia (Estonia, Indonesia etc),
MFA: Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
FM: Foreign Minister,
MAP: Membership Action Plan,
NAC: North Atlantic Council,
NRC: NATO Russia Council,
GAERC: General Affairs and External Relations Council,
CIS: Commonwealth of Independent States,
IDP: Internally Displaced Person,
BTC: Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (oil pipeline)
Cables 08TBILISI1336 and 08TBILISI1337, sent on 2008-08-07 at 12:26 and 12:27, are identical.
| 2008-08-07 | 08TBILISI1336 | SITREP 1: FIGHTING IN SOUTH OSSETIA ESCALATES Intense fighting began in South Ossetia the evening of August 6 and continued into the daylight hours August 7. |
| 2008-08-08 | 08TBILISI1341 | SITREP 2: GEORGIA CLAIMS TO CONTROL MUCH OF
SOUTH OSSETIA, FIGHTING CONTINUES President Saakashvili in an August 8 conversation with the Ambassador, and Foreign Minister Eka Tkeshelashvili in a briefing to the diplomatic corps, claimed that Georgia now controlled most of South Ossetia |
| 2008-08-08 | 08USNATO274 | NATO PRESS STATEMENT ON EVENTS IN SOUTH OSSETIA The NATO Secretary General, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, is seriously concerned about the events that are taking place in the Georgian region of South Ossetia |
| 2008-08-08 | 08USNATO275 | GEORGIAN NATO MISSION STATEMENT ON SITUATION IN SOUTH OSSETIA "According to available data, hundred of armed personnel and heavy military equipment have crossed from Russia to Georgia through the Roki tunnel." |
| 2008-08-08 | 08USNATO276 | NATO STRUGGLES TO REACT TO SOUTH OSSETIA FIGHTING 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. |
| 2008-08-08 | 08RIGA463 | LATVIA ON GEORGIA/SOUTH OSSETIA - BLAME RUSSIA he and the GOL lay the blame squarely at the feet of the Russians. He noted with amusement, though, that the Georgian ambassador, in describing the GOG's own operations, used the term that Georgian forces were "occupying" South Ossetia |
| 2008-08-08 | 08USNATO277 | RUSSIAN NATO AMBASSADOR DECRIES "TREACHEROUS" GEORGIAN USE OF FORCE "We would like to draw your attention to grim and alarming realities of the situation in South Ossetia." |
| 2008-08-08 | 08TBILISI1342 | GEORGIA: AUGUST 8 EAC REPORT the EAC recommended the issuance of a warden notice and a travel warning with regard to travel in the separatist regions and within Georgia |
| 2008-08-08 | 08USNATO278 | NATO/GEORGIA: SITUATION AT NATO HQ AS OF COB ON AUGUST 8 The French Charge said Paris was cautious about the role NATO could or should play in the crisis. ... Russian Charge Ivan Soltanovskiy claimed that Georgia was perpetrating ethnic cleansing and that Russia was only protecting Russian citizens. |
| 2008-08-08 | 08USUNNEWYORK720 | GEORGIA CHALLENGES RUSSIA, SECURITY COUNCIL 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. |
| 2008-08-09 | 08TBILISI1343 | SITREP 3: RUSSIAN BOMBS FALL THROUGHOUT GEORGIA Multiple bases, airports, and Georgia's port of Poti were all bombed overnight |
| 2008-08-09 | 08STATE85598 | GEORGIA TASK FORCE SITUATION REPORT NO. 2 Embassy Tbilisi reports Georgian air defense supplies are depleted, making their forces vulnerable to Russian air attacks, and President Saakashvili likely will attempt the urgent procurement of additional man-portable air defense systems from Azerbaijan or Ukraine. |
| 2008-08-09 | 08TBILISI1348 | SITREP 4: GEORGIANS DECLARE MARTIAL LAW,
CLOSE BATUMI AIRPORT Vashadze said that the country is now facing full scale war |
| 2008-08-09 | 08STATE85614 | GEORGIA TASK FORCE SITUATION REPORT NO. 03 Georgian authorities will escort Embassy dependants by road to Yerevan August 10. Embassy Moscow informed the Russian MFA and demanded Russian aircraft avoid the convoy route. |
| 2008-08-09 | 08USNATO279 | GEORGIA REQUESTS FORMAL NATO CONSULTATIONS NEXT WEEK the U.S. Mission to NATO received a copy of a letter dated August 9 from Georgian Ambassador to NATO Revaz Beshidze to NATO Deputy Secretary General Claudio Bisogniero in which Georgia requests a "NAC plus Georgia Emergency Meeting at the earliest convenience ... "I would like to draw your attention to the fact of serious deterioration of the situation in the Tskhinvali Region of Georgia." |
| 2008-08-09 | 08STATE85615 | AUTHORIZED DEPARTURE FROM TBLISI, GEORGIA Effective the date of this telegram August 9, 2008 I hereby approve authorized departure of eligible family members from Tbilisi to Yerevan. |
| 2008-08-10 | 08TBILISI1349 | SITREP 5: GEORGIANS NEARLY EXHAUSTED;
PULL BACK FROM SOUTH OSSETIA Georgia has suffered huge casualties. The FM described the situation as no longer about South Ossetia |
| 2008-08-10 | 08STATE85663 | GEORGIA TASK FORCE SITUATION REPORT NO. 05 Contradicting earlier Georgian reports, Russian forces had not attacked Zugdidi, in Georgia proper ... Russia's General Staff confirmed the withdrawal of Georgian troops from South Ossetia. |
| 2008-08-10 | 08USUNNEWYORK721 | TOUGH DAY FOR RUSSIA IN SECURITY COUNCIL Many Council Members said the Russian response to Georgia's August 7 military action in South Ossetia was a disproportionate response to the Georgian operation in South Ossetia |
| 2008-08-10 | 08STATE85678 | U.S. PROPOSAL FOR STRONG NAC STATEMENT
CONDEMINING RUSSIAN ACTIONS IN GEORGIA posts in all NATO capitals should brief host governments at appropriately senior levels to urge support for a strong NAC statement condemning Russian actions in Georgia. |
| 2008-08-11 | 08BEIJING3080 | CHINESE POSITION ON THE CONFLICT IN SOUTH OSSETIA China calls upon relevant parties to keep restraint and cease fire immediately |
| 2008-08-11 | 08TBILISI1355 | GEORGIA: SOUTH OSSETIA, SITREP 6 The Embassy's second convoy of Embassy dependents and more than 100 private Amcits departed Tbilisi for Yerevan at 1330 local time. It is increasingly difficult to get an accurate analysis of the military situation because of the fog of war and the fact that the Georgian command and control system has broken down. |
| 2008-08-11 | 08YEREVAN639 | FUEL, FOOD SHORTAGES PREDICTED
DUE TO GEORGIA-RUSSIA CONFLICT; MFA ASKS OUR HELP Armenian authorities are quite concerned about meeting their own critical food and fuel needs in the event of a protracted crisis in Georgia, given that a majority of Armenia's food and fuel consumption is imported via Georgia. |
| 2008-08-11 | 08BUDAPEST807 | U.S. PROPOSAL FOR STRONG NAC STATEMENT CONDEMNING RUSSIAN ACTIONS
IN GEORGIA Hamikus agreed that the Russian response is entirely out of proportion. Hungary would not object to tough language in either a NAC or GAERC statement. However, Hamikus expected objections to aggressive language against Russia would come from the typical quarters, namely Italy and Germany. |
| 2008-08-11 | 08STATE85725 | GEORGIA TASK FORCE SITUATION REPORT NO. 6 Georgian forces have lost command and control capabilities country-wide. |
| 2008-08-11 | 08ANKARA1423 | TURKEY'S REACTION TO GEORGIA/SOUTH OSSETIA CRISIS Opinion makers in major Turkish media outlets generally blamed Georgian President Saakashvili's for triggering the conflict by deciding to attack South Ossetia on August 7. |
| 2008-08-11 | 08COPENHAGEN427 | DANES SUPPORT NAC STATEMENT ON GEORGIA PM Rasmussen condemned the Russian military action August 9 as "unjustified," and an "unacceptable" violation of Georgian territory. |
| 2008-08-11 | 08TBILISI1356 | GEORGIA: SOUTH OSSETIA SITREP 7 President Saakashvili has signed a cease-fire agreement in the presence of the French and Finnish Foreign Ministers; this will be taken by the French and Finnish FM's to Moscow for consideration by the Russian Government. |
| 2008-08-11 | 08ANKARA1426 | NAC STATEMENT ON GEORGIA DEMARCHE DELIVERED The Turks do not seem to be in a mood to confront the Russians directly and will likely be reluctant to support a robust NAC statement condemning Russian actions in Georgia. |
| 2008-08-11 | 08OSLO452 | NORWAY ON NAC STATEMENT ON GEORGIA MFA North American Coordinator Morten Aaslund expressed support for a NAC statement on Russian actions in Georgia but was noncommittal on language. |
| 2008-08-11 | 08BERLIN1095 | GERMANY CITES FRENCH-LED "PROGRESS" AUGUST 11, CAUTIOUS ON
NAC STATEMENT Nikel objected to the word "condemn" in U.S. key points for a NAC statement. He said that "naming and shaming" the Russians would undercut Sarkozy's and Kouchner's efforts at a time when France believed progress was possible. |
| 2008-08-11 | 08VILNIUS657 | LITHUANIA SUPPORTS NAC LANGUAGE ON GEORGIA Presidents of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland issued a joint declaration August 10 calling on their respective governments to question several Russia-related issues in EU and NAC settings |
| 2008-08-11 | 08OTTAWA1064 | CANADA SUPPORTS STRONG NAC
STATEMENT CONDEMNING RUSSIAN ACTIONS IN GEORGIA The Canadian government agrees that the NATO North Atlantic Council (NAC) must move quickly to issue a strong statement condemning Russian actions in Georgia |
| 2008-08-11 | 08ROME1018 | ITALIANS NOT LIKELY TO BE HELPFUL ON NAC STATEMENT Italy had not decided whether to support a NAC statement on the situation in Georgia and added that Italy's position was likely to be more "balanced" than that of other NATO countries |
| 2008-08-11 | 08WARSAW947 | GOP RALLIES NEIGHBORS, EU TO CONDEMN RUSSIAN ACTIONS IN GEORGIA FM Sikorski had to overcome significant opposition within the EU even to schedule a foreign minister level meeting on Georgia August 13. Kremer said a number of EU member states believed Georgian President Saakashvili was responsible for the conflict |
| 2008-08-11 | 08REYKJAVIK166 | NAC STATEMENT ON RUSSIAN ACTIONS IN GEORGIA Gunnarsdottir noted that the security and welfare of civilians was a particular concern of the government of Iceland, and was pleased to see the commitment to humanitarian assistance in the proposed language. |
| 2008-08-11 | 08THEHAGUE680 | NETHERLANDS/GEORGIA: SEEKING "BALANCED" NAC STATEMENT The Dutch MFA has not reached a final position on the August 12 NAC statement but the first reaction is to seek a more balanced, less Russia-focused document. In other developments, the EU will hold a special GAERC session on Georgia on August 13 ... Asked whether the Russians were more at fault, De Hoogh stated that Georgia started the conflict |
| 2008-08-11 | 08LISBON1999 | PORTUGAL NOT PLANNING TO SUPPORT STRONG NAC STATEMENT Portugal would not support a strong NAC statement tomorrow because it would preempt the French efforts and would be based on incomplete information. |
| 2008-08-11 | 08USNATO281 | NATO ALLIES LACK COHESION DURING FIRST MEETING ON GEORGIA At the August 11 NATO Political Committee meeting on the fighting in Georgia, Allies unanimously deplored the Aug 8-11 developments but differed on how these events should affect NATO's relations with Russia. |
| 2008-08-11 | 08USNATO282 | GEORGIA APPEALS AT NATO FOR IMMEDIATE MILITARY ASSISTANCE AGAINST
RUSSIA "request the immediate military assistance against the Russian direct and uncovered aggression" |
| 2008-08-11 | 08STATE86156 | GEORGIA TASK FORCE SITUATION REPORT NO. 7 Embassy Tbilisi reports Russian troops have taken Gori and OSCE observers confirm the troops are moving in the direction of Tbilisi. |
| 2008-08-11 | 08BAKU761 | AZERBAIJAN SCALES BACK PRODUCTION, LOOKS FOR ALTERNATE OIL
EXPORT ROUTES BP and SOCAR acknowledged sharp declines in offshore oil and gas production at the ACG and Shah Deniz fields. BP Azerbaijan expects BTC repair work in Turkey to begin as soon as tomorrow |
| 2008-08-11 | 08PRAGUE535 | CZECHS ENGAGED ON SITUATION IN SOUTH OSSETIA Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg feels strongly that a tough message needs to be conveyed to Russia |
| 2008-08-12 | 08TOKYO2216 | ACCS KAWAI ON OUTCOME OF PM FUKUDA'S MEETINGS IN BEIJING the DCM shared a copy of the G-7 draft statement on Georgia and explained that it is very important to have Japan's cooperation on this. Secretary Rice is trying to arrange a call among G-7 ministers to urge Russia to consider the political cost of continuing the conflict |
| 2008-08-12 | 08JAKARTA1532 | URGING INDONESIAN SUPPORT ON GEORGIA SITUATION GOI officials agreed that the situation was very serious and promised to work with us on the matter in New York. |
| 2008-08-12 | 08RIGA472 | LATVIAN FM WANTS STRONG NATO AND EU STATEMENTS BUT NOT OPTIMISTIC Latvian FM Riekstins supports strong statements by the EU and NATO in support of Georgia and in opposition to Russian actions, but he is skeptical that consensus can be achieved in either organization |
| 2008-08-12 | 08TBILISI1362 | SITREP 8: RUSSIANS PULL BACK, BUT BOMBING CONTINUES
UNTIL MEDVEDEV SAYS IT IS OVER UNOMIG confirmed that Russian troops had left Senaki military base after destroying it. Russian troops remained in Zugdidi. |
| 2008-08-12 | 08TALLINN279 | ESTONIA SUPPORTS STRONG NAC STATEMENT Estonia would be looking for a strong statement from the NAC or the Secretary General condemning Russian actions ... The GOE feels strongly that NATO should send a message that both Georgia and Ukraine remain applicants and their progress toward membership will continue. |
| 2008-08-12 | 08RIGA478 | MFA STATE SECRETARY UNUSUALLY BLUNT IN CRTICISM OF RUSSIA He stated that Russia had "violated Georgia's territorial integrity and sovereignty," committed "aggression, including through its massive and disproportionate response." Commenting on Medvedev's reference to Georgia as the aggressor, Penke termed this "crazy." |
| 2008-08-12 | 08STOCKHOLM565 | SWEDEN SHARES U.S. POSITION ON GEORGIA-RUSSIA CONFLICT the key was to get EU members to agree on a strong common position |
| 2008-08-12 | 08VILNIUS666 | LITHUANIA TO PUSH EU VISA FACILITATION FOR GEORGIANS FM Vaitiekunas expects to brief his EU counterparts at the August 13 GAERC on what he witnessed in Georgia August 10-11 and invite them to go to Tbilisi themselves to "form a human shield" to help prevent further Russian aggression. |
| 2008-08-12 | 08ATHENS1156 | GREEKS WILL FOLLOW FRENCH LEAD ON GEORGIA CRISIS The GOG has still not announced an official position on the crisis in Georgia, probably due to its concerns about alienating either the Russians or Georgians, with both of whom Greece maintains close ties. |
| 2008-08-12 | 08THEHAGUE684 | NETHERLANDS/GEORGIA:
SUPPORTING CONDEMNATION OF RUSSIA'S EXCESSIVE USE OF FORCE Pronk responded that the Dutch have not seen EU draft conclusions but support a "strong, unified condemnation" of violence. The "use of force is excessive and unacceptable." The conclusions should not comment on the impact on EU-Russia relations at this time -- "that would go too far." |
| 2008-08-12 | 08BRATISLAVA377 | SLOVAK MFA EXPRESSES DEEP CONCERN REGARDING RUSSIAN ACTIONS IN GEORGIA characterized Russia's actions and rhetoric as unacceptable, obfuscatory and reminiscent of the Communist era. |
| 2008-08-12 | 08STATE86603 | GEORGIA TASK FORCE SITUATION REPORT NO. 9 Russian aircraft bombed Gori ... British Petroleum shut the Baku-Supsa pipeline as a precaution. ... One French-sponsored EU humanitarian flight arrived August 11, delivering bedding and medical supplies, and removing 300 EU nationals. |
| 2008-08-12 | 08PARIS1561 | WORKING WITH FRANCE TO ADVANCE A SOLUTION TO THE CONFLICT IN GEORGIA France's goal for the August 13 extraordinary GAERC meeting is a demonstration of EU unity. Regarding the U.S. hopes for an EU statement, as expressed in State 86108, Vulic expressed broad agreement on the five points. He described the first two points, on Georgia's sovereignty and humanitarian concerns, as non-controversial. ... We were struck by the French view that the UNSCR resolution could avoid a Russian veto. |
| 2008-08-12 | 08BERLIN1108 | German Out-Of-Area Deployment Update As of July 30, Germany had 6,750 military personnel in out-of-area deployments, plus 2,500 on stand-by for the NATO Response Force and an additional 1,000 on stand-by for the EU's Battle Groups. ... Germany has been part of the UN Observer Mission in the Abkhazian region of Georgia (UNOMIG) since 1998 and currently has 12 personnel stationed there |
| 2008-08-13 | 08BEIJING3107 | CHINA WILLING TO ENGAGE IN UNSC DISCUSSIONS ON GEORGIA-RUSSIA CONFLICT China looks forward to receiving the texts of the six-point agreement prepared by the EU Presidency and agreed to by Georgia and Russia and a new draft UNSC resolution |
| 2008-08-13 | 08VILNIUS668 | BELARUS: SPAT WITH RUSSIA OVER GEORGIA At the beginning, the Russians gave us to understand: 'We'll be fine without you.' That's understandable. And then they get upset: 'Why have you abandoned us?' This is silly." |
| 2008-08-13 | 08TBILISI1372 | SITREP 9: RUSSIAN TROOPS REMAIN IN GEORGIA;
SAAKASHVILI, ALLIES DEFIANT As of mid-afternoon August 13, Georgian officials report that Russians destroyed the Georgian military base in Gori ... the Presidents of Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Ukraine, and the PM of Estonia called for Georgians to unite, and expressed solidarity with the country in its bid for freedom and democracy. |
| 2008-08-13 | 08WARSAW953 | POLAND'S CHOD ON GEORGIA, UKRAINE, AND MISSILE DEFENSE Polish CHOD criticized Georgian President Saakashvili for playing into Russian hands, leaving in ruins both his army as well as Georgia's MAP candidacy. |
| 2008-08-13 | 08BAKU768 | AZERBAIJAN'S LOW-PROFILE RESPONSE TO RUSSIAN-GEORGIAN CLASH Azerbaijan's more cautious approach to Russia is more sensible than Tbilisi's confrontational style. |
| 2008-08-13 | 08BRUSSELS1257 | AMBASSADOR SILVERBERG MEETS EU POLICY PLANNING CHIEF Helga Schmid urged that the EU and U.S. coordinate efforts on Georgia and together convince Russia of Georgia's importance to us. Schmid reviewed measures to be taken regarding Georgia and Abkhazia, including a proposal that the EU act as an observer, as was done with Moldova and Transnistria, which, she thought, the Abkhaz would welcome. |
| 2008-08-13 | 08USNATO287 | DEBATE ON RUSSIAN ROLE IN OAE
FORESHADOWS DIVIDING LINES ON NATO-RUSSIA POLICY the U.S., Poland, the Balts, UK, and Czech Republic, and Canada, giving teeth to the "no business-as-usual" approach to NATO relations with Russia, opposed participation of the Russian ship Ladniy in Operation Active Endeavor ... Germany, however, as the standard bearer for pro-Russia camp, expressed its dismay over the negative decision and urged Allies to reconsider it in light of the effect on NATO's long-term relationship with Russia |
| 2008-08-13 | 08BRUSSELS1256 | EU FOREIGN MINISTERS SUPPORT FRENCH MEDIATION EU Foreign Ministers issued formal Conclusions at the GAERC August 13 on Georgia welcoming the Russian-Georgia agreement as presented by the French presidency. ... It remains to be seen whether the EU will take steps to show consequences to the Russians for their actions. |
| 2008-08-14 | 08STATE87210 | GEORGIA TASK FORCE SITUATION REPORT NO. 11 EMBASSY TBILISI HAS RECEIVED NUMEROUS REPORTS OF NORTH CAUCASUS IRREGULARS BETWEEN GORI AND TSKHINVALI PARTICIPATING IN LOOTING AND ETHNIC VIOLENCE. ... RUSSIAN TANK CREWS HAVE OCCUPIED THE COAST GUARD STATION IN THE PORT CITY OF POTI, SEIZING THREE GEORGIAN COAST GUARD CUTTERS AND ORDERING PERSONNEL TO LEAVE. |
| 2008-08-14 | 08BEIJING3122 | GEORGIA DISAPPOINTED WITH CHINA'S RESPONSE TO RUSSIA-GEORGIA CONFLICT Regarding the six-part EU cease-fire agreement, Kalandia acknowledged that Georgia has serious concerns about the points that leave the status of South Ossetia and Abkhazia open to discussion and allow Russian peacekeepers to "implement additional security measures." |
| 2008-08-14 | 08STATE87260 | GEORGIA TASK FORCE SITUATION REPORT NO. 12 Russian forces sank the Georgian Coast Guard vessels near Poti and destroyed some structures at the port, including a radar station. |
| 2008-08-14 | 08RIGA492 | PM GODMANIS ON VISIT TO GEORGIA Godmanis said that the most important thing for Georgia is "verification." Noting Russian claims of 2,000 dead in South Ossetia he asked "Where are the bodies?" |
| 2008-08-14 | 08BRATISLAVA382 | SLOVAKIA WILL URGE RUSSIAN WITHDRAWAL BUT NOT ASSIGN BLAME Buzek lamented that there is a lack of confirmable information coming out of the region and said that his main sources for news are CNN and the BBC. Buzek implied Georgian actions had caused the immediate conflict, but said it would be necessary to look back more than two hundred years to find out who started it. |
| 2008-08-14 | 08HELSINKI374 | FINNISH COMMENTS ON AUGUST 13 GEORGIA GAERC the GoF is especially grateful for Stubb's access to the Secretary and other USG officials during the course of this crisis |
| 2008-08-14 | 08LONDON2112 | HMG AGREES ON NEED TO PRESSURE RUSSIA TO WITHDRAW FROM GEORGIA Hopton told us that UK Embassy Tbilisi and the UK seconded monitor to the OSCE Mission both confirmed press reports that Russian troops were withdrawing from the center of Gori. |
| 2008-08-14 | 08ROME1045 | DEBUNKING THE ITALIAN MYTH OF "BALANCE" ON GEORGIA As originally predicted by post in the early days of the Berlusconi government, the GOI's close relationship with Russia could soon become a point of friction in the otherwise very close U.S.-Italy relationship. |
| 2008-08-14 | 08ROME1046 | AMB URGES ITALY TO PUSH FOR RUSSIAN WITHDRAWAL The Ambassador told Letta that Washington was "not happy" with the Italian response thus far |
| 2008-08-14 | 08OSLO458 | NORWAY ON RUSSIAN PRESENSE IN GORI Stoere criticised Georgia for starting the conflict with an attack on rebel positions in South Ossetia. Stoere's harshest criticism was for Russia, saying that the Russian incursion into Georgian territory is a violation of international law. |
| 2008-08-14 | 08MOSCOW2411 | EFFECTS OF RUSSIA-GEORGIA CONFLICT ON GOR RELATIONS WITH UKRAINE The war of words between Russia and Ukraine has intensified with the war in Georgia. Russia has decried Ukrainian announcements, including a presidential decree, calling for the Russian Black Sea Fleet command to notify Ukraine about ships and aircraft returning to the Ukrainian border. FM Lavrov said President Yushchenko's August 13 decree could damage all aspects of Russian-Ukrainian relations. |
| 2008-08-14 | 08YEREVAN649 | ARMENIAN PM RAISES ALARM ON FUEL, GRAIN SHIPMENTS THROUGH GEORGIA Georgian transport companies that ship to Armenia from Georgian ports announced two weeks ago a huge increase (more than three-fold) in transport fees. |
| 2008-08-14 | 08MOSCOW2414 | RUSSIA DEFIANT FM Lavrov questioned Georgia's territorial integrity and said Washington would need to choose between "an illusory project called Georgian leadership" and a "real partnership" with Russia. The MFA challenged Georgia's NATO aspirations, saying the decision would be "a test of political maturity and seriousness" of the Alliance. |
| 2008-08-14 | 08LJUBLJANA371 | GORI DEMARCHE: SLOVENIANS STRESS EU UNITY He acknowledged differences within the EU about relations with Russia, explaining that "some member states depend quite heavily on Russian energy supplies." |
| 2008-08-14 | 08ANKARA1472 | GOT URGED TO DEMAND RUSSIAN WITHDRAWAL FROM GORI; ERDOGAN GOES
TO MOSCOW AND TBILISI Based on only a preliminary readout, Berk said that in Moscow Erdogan met with Medvedev privately, and the two were joined by Putin for a working lunch. Russian protocol was "impressive," with Russian authorities closing the Moscow airport road to facilitate Erdogan's short-notice travel. |
| 2008-08-14 | 08BUDAPEST821 | DEMARCHE DELIVERED: RUSSIA RESPONSIBILITIES Russian Ambassador Igor Savolskiy visited the MFA earlier in the day to state that Russia was "not happy with facts or timing" of the recent GoH statement but, overall, considered it "moderate" |
| 2008-08-14 | 08MADRID897 | SPAIN FOLLOWS EU LEAD ON GEORGIA CRISIS Spain's view is that strong statements against Russia are counter-productive. |
| 2008-08-14 | 08REYKJAVIK173 | ICELAND ON RUSSIAN ACTIVITIES IN GEORGIA Although we suspect the GOI is trying to avoid irritating the Russians in advance of the October vote on Iceland's bid for a UNSC seat, we want to point out that stepping up in a necessary cause is the type of behavior the U.S. looks for in a UNSC member. |
| 2008-08-14 | 08USNATO290 | UKRAINE, MAP, AND THE GEORGIA-RUSSIA CONFLICT if the Kremlin achieves all of its objectives in Georgia with few consequences and its international reputation intact - as Germany and others would have it - this may only embolden Russia to increase its bullying behavior towards Ukraine |
| 2008-08-14 | 08USNATO291 | AMBASSADOR VOLKER'S MEETING WITH GEORGIAN FM TKESHELASHVILI AT NATO Tkeshelashvili asserted that Russian forces began to flow into South Ossetia before the Georgian attack on Tskhinvali, proving that Russia had provoked, rather than responded to, the Georgian action. |
| 2008-08-14 | 08OTTAWA1090 | CANADA STRONGLY SUPPORTS U.S. POSITION ON GORI Ambassador Wilkins spoke by phone with Deputy Foreign Minister Len Edwards and urged Canada to demand that Russia withdraw from Gori, take responsibility to end atrocities in South Ossetia and Gori, and allow immediate inspection of these areas. |
| 2008-08-14 | 08STATE87776 | GEORGIA TASK FORCE SITUATION REPORT NO. 15
GEORGIA REPORTS MORE RUSSIAN MOVEMENTS The Ministry of the Interior reports 100 Russian tanks and trucks moving towards Poti and Abasha in an attempt to control the East-West corridor and terrorize the Georgian population. ... the French and Russians will conduct limited joint naval exercises despite the United States and the UK pulling out of the annual FRUCKUS military training. |
| 2008-08-15 | 08TALLINN282 | Estonian President Ilves Issues for Discussion with President Bush In contrast to the French mediation plan, the Baltic/Polish plan calls for "full support for Georgia's territorial integrity." |
| 2008-08-15 | 08RIGA496 | WHAT GEORGIA MEANS TO LATVIA Latvians, at least ethic Latvians, look at Georgia and think that this could easily be them. As the EU and NATO have been unable to respond forcefully to Russia -- and many members advocate for a balanced approach -- Latvians are beginning to worry if membership in these two organizations provides them the assurances of their security that they had hoped for when they joined. |
| 2008-08-15 | 08STOCKHOLM571 | DEMARCHE DELIVERED--SWEDEN CONDEMNS RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE INTO GEORGIA Unless the situation in Georgia worsens, the EU is unlikely to offer a stronger statement until after Sept. 6, when the foreign ministers will meet informally. Sweden wants international peacekeepers and observers to replace the Russian "peacekeepers" and will press the EU to send a mission. |
| 2008-08-15 | 08BERLIN1130 | MERKEL "WILL TALK TOUGH" IN SOCHI; FOREIGN OFFICE AND
BUNDESTAG DISPLAY MIXTURE OF RESOLVE AND SKEPTICISM Germany had received reports of irregulars from the northern Caucasus, wearing no insignia. It was Russia's responsibility to get them out, in the Chancellery's view. ... Merkel believed emphatically that Medvedev was the appropriate interlocutor. She believed it would needlessly increase Putin's standing if she sought contact with him. |
| 2008-08-15 | 08MOSCOW2426 | ENERGY AND THE CONFLICT IN GEORGIA Pundits around the world have linked Russia's energy ambitions to its actions in Georgia. However, our contacts here largely believe energy is an afterthought. Despite various press reports suggesting Russia has targeted the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline, absolutely none of our contacts believe that to be true. ... Instead, according to Milov, the conflict was largely driven by Putin's personal and long-term animosity toward Saakashvili |
| 2008-08-15 | 08MOSCOW2428 | Russian media declares war over - now what? Most Russian media continued to portray the conflict in South Ossetia and Georgia as one between Washington and Moscow, with Moscow winning this round |
| 2008-08-15 | 08YEREVAN653 | ARMENIAN FRUSTRATION MOUNTS OVER PERCEIVED GEORGIAN SNUBS, IN THE FACE
OF SINCERE ARMENIAN AIMS TO BE HELPFUL The most discourteous, perhaps, was the Georgian FM's refusal even to meet FM Nalbandian for a few minutes in Yerevan airport, as she passed through en route overland to Georgia in the early morning of August 15. |
| 2008-08-15 | 08ANKARA1478 | PM ERDOGAN VISITS MOSCOW AND TBILISI;
SUPPORT FOR GEORGIA'S TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY The Russians responded they have no intention of entering Tbilisi or occupying Georgia, but that Georgia was responsible for the deaths of 2,000 civilians that sparked the current crisis. ... Saakashvili blamed Russia for the crisis and rejected parts of the Sarkozy cease-fire plan |
| 2008-08-15 | 08RIGA497 | LATVIAN NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL MEETS ON GEORGIA Latvia will participate in any credible international effort to monitor/verify/assist in maintaining stability in Georgia |
| 2008-08-15 | 08KYIV1627 | Ukrainian Media on Georgian Conflict Pro-Western and pro-presidential periodicals denounced Russia's support for separatist regions in Georgia and accused Russia of imperialism and indiscriminate use of force. Papers leaning toward the opposition as well as those associated with Prime Minister Tymoshenko claimed the conflict was provoked by Georgia and focused on the suffering of South Ossetia's population. |
| 2008-08-15 | 08BRATISLAVA384 | FM KUBIS: SLOVAK GOVERNMENT NOW UNITED ON GEORGIA In response to the Ambassador's question about Prime Minister Fico's unhelpful comments to the press (in which Fico seemed to accept the Russian view that Georgia was to blame for starting the conflict), Kubis said he doesn't expect any more such statements from his prime minister. |
| 2008-08-14 | 08STATE88216 | GEORGIA -- GUIDANCE ON FRENCH DRAFT RESOLUTION USUN should seek to include a reference to Georgia's territorial integrity among the operative clauses. |
| 2008-08-14 | 08STATE88235 | DEMARCHE TO GAIN SUPPORT FOR ADDITIONAL OSCE MONITORS IN GEORGIA On August 14, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) participating states were unable to reach consensus on a Finnish Chairman-in-Office (CiO) Draft Decision (DD) to increase the number of Military Monitoring Officers (MMOs) for the OSCE's Mission to Georgia by up to 100 (there are currently eight MMOs). |
| 2008-08-16 | 08TBILISI1379 | SITREP 10: RUSSIANS ON MOVE, IN GEORGIAN TANKS? There were reports of Russian troops and Georgian tanks observed traveling through Khashuri the morning of August 16. Media reported ongoing looting and rapes in the town. |
| 2008-08-17 | 08TBILISI1380 | SITREP 11: RUSSIANS HOLD IN PLACE,
CONTROL ROADS WHILE WAITING FOR ORDERS
There were few reports of Russian troops movements on August 17, following a day of conflicting reports on the status, location, and direction of Russian forces in Georgia. It is clear that Russian troops control the east-west corridor through Georgia from Poti north and east and all around Gori. |
| 2008-08-18 | 08TBILISI1385 | SITREP 12: WAITING FOR A RUSSIAN PULLOUT As of mid-day August 18, there is no evidence that Russian troops have begun to withdraw from Georgia. The road from Tbilisi to Gori remains closed and travelers are subject to Russian roadblocks. |
| 08STATE88329 | GEORGIA TASK FORCE SITUATION REPORT NO. 21
RUSSIAN DEPARTURE UNCONFIRMED; KOKOITY SEEKS ARMY BASE De facto South Ossetian President Kokoity ... told the media `international observers will no longer be present on the territory of South Ossetia,' and indicated he would seek a permanent Russian military base in the disputed region. |
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| 2008-08-18 | 08TBILISI1386 | GEORGIA: DAS BRYZA MEETING WITH DEFENSE MINISTER KEZERASHVILI DAS Bryza urged Kezerashvili to explain publicly how the escalation occurred during the night of August 7. |
| 2008-08-18 | 08TBILISI1387 | GEORGIA: DAS BRYZA MEETING WITH MOIA VANO MERABISHVILI On August 14, Minister of Internal Affairs Vano Merabishvili spoke with DAS Bryza and the Ambassador Tefft about the current situation following Russia's invasion, the status of Georgian troops, and how the attacks unfolded. ... Merabishvili said the situation on the ground was changing every 30 minutes. |
| 2008-08-15 | 08MOSCOW2453 | RUSSIA REACTS TO GEORGIA'S WITHDRAWAL FROM CIS Shortly after Saakashvili's August 12 announcement that Georgia would withdraw from the CIS, Russian MFA Spokesman Andrey Nesterenko told the news service ITAR-TASS that neither the CIS nor the GOR had received official word that Georgia would leave the organization. ... According to Nesterenko, the Georgian leader was "obviously struggling for his own political survival." |
| 2008-08-18 | 08TELAVIV1826 | ISRAEL: MFA DISCUSSES RESPONSE TO CRISIS IN GEORGIA In a separate conversation, Eurasia Director Koren emphasized that the GOI is taking the USG request to continue military support to Georgia very seriously and underlined that the Israeli goal is not Russian "satisfaction", but explained that it is important for Israel to prevent Russian "dissatisfaction" leading potentially to Russian transfers of increasingly sophisticated arms to Iran and Syria. |
| 2008-08-18 | 08CARACAS1160 | BRV BLAMES U.S. FOR GEORGIA CONFLICT The BRV Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued an August 14 press release asserting that the United States "planned, prepared, and ordered" the Georgian military offensive against the break-away region of South Ossetia. |
| 2008-08-18 | 08USNATO292 | RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR ROGOZIN
RESCINDS REQUEST FOR EXTRAORDINARY NRC MEETING "In view of continuing uncertainty regarding our request to convene the NRC extraordinary meeting on events in and around South Ossetia I revoke this application as irrelevant under the present circumstances." |
| 2008-08-18 | 08PARIS1587 | FRENCH EFFORTS TO RESOLVE CRISIS IN GEORGIA Since President Sarkozy and Foreign Minister Kouchner met with Secretary Rice on August 14, President Sarkozy has maintained high-profile efforts to implement the Russia/Georgia six-point cease-fire accord he negotiated in his capacity as EU President -- especially the main point of contention, which is the fifth point that states "Russian military forces should withdraw to positions prior to the outbreak of hostilities" |
| 2008-08-18 | 08BRUSSELS1276 | AMBASSADOR MEETS EU ENLARGEMENT COMMISSIONER REHN ON EVE OF
GAERC ON GEORGIA; RUSSIA, SERBIA AND TURKEY DISCUSSED Rehn said Russia was testing EU resolve, and the big issue was Ukraine. He said Putin had been consistent in warning that independence for Kosovo would have consequences for South Ossetia and Abkhazia. |
| 2008-08-18 | 08STATE88627 | GEORGIA TASK FORCE SITUATION REPORT NO. 22 Russian checkpoints remain on the Gori-Tbilisi highway. ... EUCOM completed 10 flights with humanitarian aid. ... NATO did not achieve consensus on the NAC statement or on responses to Georgia's requests. |
| 2008-08-19 | 08TBILISI1391 | GEORGIA: SITREP 13 As of 1600 August 19, there is still no sign of a Russian withdrawal from Georgian territory, including South Ossetia. To the contrary, Russian troops were reportedly moving around the occupied areas of Georgia, undertaking missions of varying military significance. |
| 2008-08-19 | 08BERLIN1150 | G-7 STATEMENT ON GEORGIA: GERMAN FINANCE MINISTRY AWAITS SIGNAL FROM
CHANCELLERY AND MFA Chancellor Merkel has just returned from a trip to Georgia, where she had met with President Saakashvili |
| 2009-01-07 | 09OSLO9 | NORWAY REACTS TO GEORGIA AND GAZA Norway is more likely to be a follower than a leader on this issue, because of the cautious approach they take to Russia. |