VZCZCXRO6640
OO RUEHIK RUEHLN RUEHPOD RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHNO #0277 2211635
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 081635Z AUG 08
FM USMISSION USNATO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2133
INFO RUEHXD/MOSCOW POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHKV/AMEMBASSY KYIV PRIORITY 0144
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PRIORITY 6041
RUEHSI/AMEMBASSY TBILISI PRIORITY 5632
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0756
RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY
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