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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 07 STATE 088308 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: MARR OIIP PBTS PREL RU GG
SUBJECT: RUSSIA - GEORGIA CONFLICT: REMARKS BY PRESIDENT 
BUSH, SECRETARY GATES, AND SECRETARY RICE, AND PUBLIC 
DIPLOMACY GUIDANCE 
 
¶1.      IN REFERENCE TO RUSSIA'S ACTIONS IN GEORGIA, 
PRESIDENT BUSH STATED THE FOLLOWING: (QUOTE) "WITH ITS 
ACTIONS IN RECENT DAYS RUSSIA HAS DAMAGED ITS 
CREDIBILITY AND ITS RELATIONS WITH THE NATIONS OF THE 
FREE WORLD. BULLYING AND INTIMIDATION ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE 
WAYS TO CONDUCT FOREIGN POLICY IN THE 21ST CENTURY. ONLY 
RUSSIA CAN DECIDE WHETHER IT WILL NOW PUT ITSELF BACK ON 
THE PATH OF RESPONSIBLE NATIONS, OR CONTINUE TO PURSUE A 
POLICY THAT PROMISES ONLY CONFRONTATION AND ISOLATION. 
TO BEGIN TO REPAIR ITS RELATIONS WITH THE UNITED STATES 
AND EUROPE AND OTHER NATIONS, AND TO BEGIN RESTORING ITS 
PLACE IN THE WORLD, RUSSIA MUST RESPECT THE FREEDOM OF 
ITS NEIGHBORS." 
 
¶2. "A MAJOR ISSUE IS RUSSIA'S CONTENTION THAT THE 
REGIONS OF SOUTH OSSETIA AND ABKHAZIA MAY NOT BE A PART 
OF GEORGIA'S FUTURE.   BUT THESE REGIONS ARE PART OF 
GEORGIA AND THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY HAS REPEATEDLY 
MADE IT CLEAR THAT THEY WILL REMAIN SO.  GEORGIA IS A 
MEMBER OF THE UNITED NATIONS AND SOUTH OSSETIA AND 
ABKHAZIA LIE WITHIN ITS INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED 
BORDERS.  GEORGIA'S BORDERS SHOULD COMMAND THE SAME 
RESPECT AS EVERY OTHER NATION'S." 
 
"WE WILL CONTINUE TO STAND BEHIND GEORGIA'S DEMOCRACY, 
WE WILL CONTINUE TO INSIST THAT GEORGIA'S SOVEREIGNTY 
AND INDEPENDENCE AND TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY BE RESPECTED" 
(END QUOTE). 
 
¶3. IN THEIR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY OUTREACH, AND IN RESPONSE 
TO PUBLIC INQUERIES, POSTS MAY DRAW FROM THE FOLLOWING 
QUOTES  AND POINTS, BELOW. 
 
WHAT THE UNITED STATES IS DOING 
 
DIPLOMATIC: 
 
WHEN CONSIDERING A COUNTRY'S PARTICIPATION IN A RULES- 
BASED INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION, MEMBERS OF THAT 
ORGANIZATION NECESSARILY TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE EXTENT TO 
WHICH THAT COUNTRY HAS DEMONSTRATED A WILLINGNESS TO 
PLAY BY INTERNATIONAL RULES. THAT FACTOR UNDOUBTEDLY 
WILL INFLUENCE THINKING ABOUT RUSSIA'S PARTICIPATION IN 
A VARIETY OF INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTIONS. 
 
RUSSIA'S BEHAVIOR OVER THE PAST WEEK HAS CALLED INTO 
QUESTION THE ENTIRE PREMISE OF THAT DIALOGUE AND HAS 
PROFOUND IMPLICATIONS FOR OUR SECURITY RELATIONSHIP 
GOING FORWARD, BOTH BILATERALLY AND WITH NATO. IF RUSSIA 
DOES NOT STEP BACK FROM ITS AGGRESSIVE POSTURE AND 
ACTIONS IN GEORGIA, THE U.S.-RUSSIAN RELATIONSHIP COULD 
BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED FOR YEARS TO COME. 
 
YESTERDAY SECRETARY RICE CONDUCTED A LENGTHY MEETING 
WITH PRESIDENT SAAKASHVILI IN GEORGIA, DURING WHICH SHE 
OBTAINED PRESIDENT SAAKASHVILI'S SIGNATURE ON THE 
FRENCH-BROKERED CEASEFIRE ACCORD.  PRESIDENT MEDVEDEV 
HAS NOW SIGNED ON TO THIS AGREEMENT AND NOW MUST HONOR 
THIS COMMITMENT AND CEASE MILITARY OPERATIONS. 
 
 
STATE 00088308  002 OF 007 
 
SUBJECT: RUSSIA - GEORGIA CONFLICT: REMARKS BY PRESIDENT 
BUSH, SECRETARY GATES, AND SECRETARY RICE, AND PUBLIC 
DIPLOMACY GUIDAN 
NEXT TUESDAY SECRETARY RICE WILL BE IN BRUSSELS TO MEET, 
IN THE WORDS OF PRESIDENT BUSH, "WITH THE FOREIGN 
MINISTERS OF OUR NATO ALLIES AND EU OFFICIALS TO 
CONTINUE OUR EFFORTS TO RALLY THE FREE WORLD IN DEFENSE 
OF A FREE GEORGIA."  SECRETARY RICE EXPECTS THAT THE 
NORTH ATLANTIC COUNCIL (NATO) MEETING WILL RESULT IN "A 
CONFIRMATION OF NATO'S TRANSATLANTIC VISION FOR GEORGIA 
AS WELL AS FOR UKRAINE, OF NATO'S INSISTENCE THAT IT 
WILL REMAIN OPEN TO EUROPEAN DEMOCRACIES THAT MEET ITS 
STANDARDS." 
 
HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE: 
 
THE HUMANITARIAN SITUATION IN GEORGIA REMAINS FLUID, AND 
THE U.S. EMBASSY AND USAID CONTINUE TO WORK CLOSELY WITH 
THE GOVERNMENT OF GEORGIA TO GET ASSISTANCE TO THOSE IN 
NEED, MONITOR THE SITUATION, AND IDENTIFY ADDITIONAL 
NEEDS.  U.S. ASSISTANCE IS CONCENTRATED TOWARDS 
INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS (IDPS) IN ACCESSIBLE AREAS 
OF THE GREATER TBILISI REGION. 
 
THE UNITED STATES HAS PROVIDED CLOSE TO $4 MILLION IN 
ASSISTANCE TO THE PEOPLE OF GEORGIA TO DATE, AND WE 
STAND PREPARED TO PROVIDE FURTHER ASSISTANCE TO THOSE IN 
NEED. 
 
AS OF AUGUST 14, TWO U.S. EUROPEAN COMMAND C-17 FLIGHTS 
HAVE TRANSPORTED U.S. RELIEF AND MEDICAL SUPPLIES TO 
TBILISI.  THE FLIGHTS, WHICH CARRIED COMMODITIES 
INCLUDING 104,000 DOSES OF ANTIBIOTICS REQUESTED BY THE 
GEORGIAN MINISTRY OF HEALTH, ARE VALUED AT MORE THAN 
$1.2 MILLION. 
 
AS OF AUGUST 16, THE US HAS FLOWN IN 7 C130 FLIGHTS WITH 
98.5 SHORT TONS OF HUMANITARIAN AID.  THREE MORE C-130 
FLIGHTS ARE SCHEDULED FOR AUGUST 17. 
 
IN ADDITION, USAID HAS PROVIDED AN INITIAL $250,000 FOR 
THE LOCAL PROCUREMENT AND DISTRIBUTION OF EMERGENCY 
RELIEF SUPPLIES. 
 
ON AUGUST 9, THE U.S. EMBASSY IN TBILISI RELEASED PRE- 
POSITIONED DISASTER PACKAGES WORTH AN ESTIMATED $1.2 
MILLION THAT INCLUDED BASIC MEDICAL SUPPLIES, TENTS, 
BLANKETS, BEDDING, HYGIENE ITEMS, CLOTHING, AND COTS. 
 
WORKING THROUGH NON-GOVERNMENTAL PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS 
ALREADY ON THE GROUND IN THE AFFECTED AREAS, U.S. 
ASSISTANCE IS BEING PROVIDED TO THOSE IN NEED IN 
GEORGIA, INCLUDING SOUTH OSSETIA. 
 
AN 11-MEMBER USAID DISASTER ASSISTANCE RESPONSE TEAM 
(DART) BEGAN ARRIVING IN TBILISI ON FRIDAY (8/15). 
WORKING WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF GEORGIA, THE DART WILL 
CONDUCT RAPID HUMANITARIAN NEEDS ASSESSMENTS AND 
COORDINATE US RELIEF EFFORTS WITH THE LOCAL OFFICIALS, 
OTHER DONORS AND INTERNATIONAL AND NON GOVERNMENTAL 
ORGANIZATIONS. 
 
ECONOMIC/FINANCIAL: 
 
YESTERDAY, DEPUTY SECRETARY OF TREASURY ROBERT KIMMITT 
SPOKE WITH PRIME MINISTER GURGENIDZE TO EXPRESS THE 
UNITED STATES' CONTINUING SUPPORT FOR THE 
DEMOCRATICALLY-ELECTED GOVERNMENT OF GEORGIA AND TO 
REITERATE OUR WILLINGNESS TO JOIN OTHER COUNTRIES TO 
 
STATE 00088308  003 OF 007 
 
SUBJECT: RUSSIA - GEORGIA CONFLICT: REMARKS BY PRESIDENT 
BUSH, SECRETARY GATES, AND SECRETARY RICE, AND PUBLIC 
DIPLOMACY GUIDAN 
SUPPORT DEEPER ENGAGEMENT BY THE INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL 
INSTITUTIONS TO ASSIST GEORGIA'S ECONOMY. 
 
DURING THE CONVERSATION KIMMITT NOTED THAT THE TREASURY 
DEPARTMENT CONTINUES TO BELIEVE GEORGIA'S SOUND 
MACROECONOMIC AND FISCAL POLICIES - AS WELL AS ITS 
EXCELLENT PROGRESS TRANSITIONING TO A MARKET ECONOMY - 
MAKE IT WELL-PLACED TO WEATHER THE CURRENT CRISIS." 
 
OUR FINANCIAL OFFICIALS ARE WORKING WITH THE 
INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND GEORGIAN 
OFFICIALS TO EXPLORE ECONOMIC SUPPORT TO REINFORCE 
GEORGIA'S ECONOMIC REFORMS AND PROMOTE FINANCIAL 
STABILITY. 
 
WE WILL ALSO BE WORKING WITH OUR G-7 COUNTERPARTS AS WE 
LOOK THROUGH THE OPTIONS OF SUCH A PROGRAM. 
 
WE ARE MONITORING CLOSELY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS IN 
GEORGIA AND EVALUATING AREAS IN WHICH FUTURE ENGAGEMENT 
MAY BE NEEDED. 
 
 
MILITARY: 
 
SECRETARY GATES STATED THE FOLLOWING: (QUOTE) "WE HAVE 
CANCELLED OUR PARTICIPATION IN A MULTINATIONAL NAVAL 
EXERCISE WITH RUSSIA (DUE TO RUN AUGUST 15-23). WE HAVE 
ALSO CANCELLED A U.S.-CANADIAN-RUSSIAN EXERCISE, 
VIGILANT EAGLE, THAT WAS TO HAVE BEGUN ON AUGUST 
20TH. IN THE DAYS AND WEEKS AHEAD, THE DEPARTMENT OF 
DEFENSE WILL REEXAMINE THE ENTIRE GAMUT OF OUR MILITARY- 
TO-MILITARY ACTIVITIES WITH RUSSIA AND WILL MAKE CHANGES 
AS NECESSARY AND APPROPRIATE, DEPENDING ON RUSSIAN 
ACTIONS IN THE DAYS AHEAD. 
 
THE MISSION THE PRESIDENT HAS GIVEN US AT THIS POINT IS 
HUMANITARIAN RELIEF TO ASSIST THE PEOPLE OF GEORGIA. AND 
THAT IS OUR FOCUS AT THIS POINT. THE UNITED STATES 
GOVERNMENT THEN WILL TURN TO QUESTIONS OF BOTH ECONOMIC 
RECONSTRUCTION AND ALSO WHAT TO DO TO HELP THE GEORGIAN 
SECURITY FORCES, AND TO THE LONGER TERM FUTURE. 
 
RIGHT NOW, THE ONLY PEOPLE WE WILL HAVE ON THE GROUND 
ARE THOSE THAT ARE REQUIRED TO DELIVER THE HUMANITARIAN 
MISSION AND A HANDFUL OF TRAINERS WHO HAVE BEEN IN 
GEORGIA FOR SOME PERIOD OF TIME."  (END QUOTE) 
 
GENERAL CARTRIGHT STATED THE FOLLOWING: (QUOTE) "FROM 
THE STANDPOINT OF THE ASSESSMENTS AND WHAT WE MIGHT DO, 
THE INTENT OF THE TEAM THAT EUROPEAN COMMAND PUT IN IS 
TO LOOK AT THE SECURITY SITUATION IN THE CONTEXT OF 
HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE -- SO WHAT ROADS ARE OPEN; WHERE 
IS HELP NEEDED; WHAT KIND OF HELP IS NEEDED IN THOSE 
AREAS; IS IT MEDICAL; IS IT COMMUNICATIONS -- REBUILDING 
INFRASTRUCTURE, THINGS LIKE THAT -- SO THAT WE CAN DO 
THE RIGHT THINGS." (END QUOTE) 
 
THE U.S. HAS SEEN ALARMING REPORTS BY HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH 
OF RUSSIAN USE OF CLUSTER MUNITIONS. SUCH REPORTS 
UNDERSCORE THE IMPORTANCE OF AN IMMEDIATE END TO THE 
VIOLENCE AND FOR INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS AND 
HUMANITARIAN WORKERS TO DEPLOY INTO CONFLICT AREAS 
WITHOUT DELAY. THE UNITED STATES IS PREPARING TO PROVIDE 
ASSISTANCE FOR THE POST-CONFLICT CLEARANCE OF EXPLOSIVE 
REMNANTS OF WAR.  IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THESE ACTIVITIES 
 
STATE 00088308  004 OF 007 
 
SUBJECT: RUSSIA - GEORGIA CONFLICT: REMARKS BY PRESIDENT 
BUSH, SECRETARY GATES, AND SECRETARY RICE, AND PUBLIC 
DIPLOMACY GUIDAN 
BEGIN AS SOON AS POSSIBLE IN ORDER TO PREVENT CIVILIANS 
CASUALTIES FROM ANY UNEXPLODED ORDNANCE. 
 
GENERAL QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS: 
 
Q: PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON THE SITUATION IN GEORGIA.  HAS 
FIGHTING STOPPED?  IS A CEASEFIRE BEING OBSERVED? 
 
THE SITUATION IN GEORGIA REMAINS SERIOUS.  IT IS 
IMPORTANT FOR A CEASEFIRE TO BE UPHELD AND FOR 
HOSTILITIES TO CEASE. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT GEORGIAN 
AUTHORITIES BE ALLOWED TO REESTABLISH RULE OF LAW.  THE 
UNITED STATES IS RESPONDING TO HUMANITARIAN NEEDS ON THE 
GROUND. 
 
 
Q: SOUTH OSSETIAN LEADER KOKOITY HAS CONFIRMED THAT 
IRREGULAR FORCES HAVE DRIVEN OUT ETHNIC GEORGIANS FROM 
SOUTH OSSETIA.  CAN YOU CONFIRM OR COMMENT ON THESE AND 
OTHER REPORTS OF ABUSE IN THE CONFLICT ZONES? 
WE HAVE SEEN THESE REPORTS.  ETHNIC CLEANSING, RACIALLY 
MOTIVATED VIOLENCE AND OTHER ABUSES OF CIVILIANS ARE 
CLEAR VIOLATIONS OF INTERNATIONAL LAW AND CAN NEVER BE 
JUSTIFIED. 
 
THESE ALARMING REPORTS UNDERSCORE THE NEED FOR AN 
IMMEDIATE END TO THE VIOLENCE AND FOR INTERNATIONAL 
OBSERVERS TO DEPLOY INTO CONFLICT AREAS WITHOUT DELAY. 
 
RUSSIA BEARS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE SAFETY AND WELFARE 
OF ALL CIVILIANS IN AREAS UNDER THE CONTROL OF ITS 
FORCES. 
 
WE CALL ON RUSSIA TO IMMEDIATELY STOP BLOCKING OSCE 
MONITORS AND FACILITATE THE INCREASE OF MONITORS TO 100. 
 
BACKGROUND:  SOUTH OSSETIA DE FACTO PRESIDENT EDUARD 
KOKOYTY HAS ADMITTED TO THE PRESS THAT THERE IS LOOTING 
TAKING PLACE IN THE BREAKAWAY REGION AND THAT SOUTH 
OSSETIAN IRREGULARS ARE DRIVING ETHNIC GEORGIANS FROM 
THEIR VILLAGES AND WILL NOT ALLOW THEM BACK.  KOKOYTY 
AND RUSSIA CLAIM TO BE TAKING ACTION TO PREVENT LOOTING, 
REPORTING THAT TWO LOOTERS HAD BEEN SHOT YESTERDAY. 
HOWEVER, KOKOYTY HAS BEEN CLEAR IN HIS STATEMENTS THAT 
ETHNIC GEORGIANS ARE NOT WELCOME BACK TO SOUTH OSSETIA. 
RUSSIAN EMERCOM HAS FACILITATED THE DEPARTURES OF AROUND 
50 GEORGIANS TODAY WHO REPORTEDLY WANTED TO GO TO 
GEORGIA VOLUNTARILY. 
 
 
Q:HAS THE US REQUESTED PERMISSION FROM TURKEY FOR ACCESS 
TO THE BLACK SEA? WHAT WAS THE RESPONSE OF THE TURKISH 
GOVERNMENT? 
 
WE ARE ASSESSING GEORGIA'S HUMANITARIAN NEEDS AND ARE 
NOW LOOKING AT POSSIBLE SEA ROUTES IN CONSULTATION WITH 
GEORGIAN PARTNERS. 
 
AS THE PRESIDENT STATED, WE ARE COUNTING ON FREE AND 
OPEN ACCESS TO GEORGIAN PORTS FOR HUMANITARIAN 
ASSISTANCE. 
 
 
Q: PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON DISCUSSIONS AT THE UN. 
 
CONSULTATIONS WITH SECURITY COUNCIL MEMBERS REGARDING 
 
STATE 00088308  005 OF 007 
 
SUBJECT: RUSSIA - GEORGIA CONFLICT: REMARKS BY PRESIDENT 
BUSH, SECRETARY GATES, AND SECRETARY RICE, AND PUBLIC 
DIPLOMACY GUIDAN 
THE DRAFT RESOLUTION ARE ONGOING. WE WILL WORK TO ENSURE 
THAT ANY RESOLUTION CLEARLY REFLECTS A COMMITMENT TO 
GEORGIA'S SOVEREIGNTY AND TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY. 
 
Q: WHAT IS OUR REACTION TO LAVROV'S COMMENTS THAT THE 
QUESTION OF GEORGIA'S TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY IS A DEAD 
ISSUE?  HAVE WE SOUGHT CLARIFICATION OF HIS REMARKS? 
 
AS SECRETARY RICE INDICATED YESTERDAY, SUCH LANGUAGE 
FROM THE RUSSIANS IS UNHELPFUL.  AS THE PRESIDENT HAS 
STATED, THE UNITED STATES STANDS WITH THE DEMOCRATICALLY 
ELECTED GOVERNMENT OF GEORGIA. WE INSIST THAT THE 
SOVEREIGNTY AND TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY OF GEORGIA BE 
RESPECTED. 
 
 
Q: PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON DISCUSSIONS AT NATO. 
 
ON AUGUST 12, NATO MET IN A SPECIAL SESSION OF THE NORTH 
ATLANTIC COUNCIL (NAC) TO DISCUSS GEORGIA.  FOLLOWING 
THIS MEETING NATO HELD AN ALLIES + GEORGIA MEETING WITH 
THE GEORGIAN AMBASSADOR. 
 
SECRETARY RICE WILL PARTICIPATE IN A CONVENING OF THE 
NORTH ATLANTIC COUNCIL AT NATO HQ IN BRUSSELS ON 
TUESDAY. 
 
 
Q: WAS AN AMERICAN CITIZEN INJURED IN THE FIGHTING IN 
GEORGIA?  DO WE HAVE A PAW?  WHAT CAN WE SAY ABOUT THE 
AMCIT? 
 
WE ARE AWARE OF THE MEDIA REPORTS BUT DUE TO PRIVACY ACT 
RESTRICTIONS CANNOT PROVIDE COMMENTS. 
 
Q: UPDATE STATISTICS ON AMERICAN CITIZENS EVACUATED FROM 
GEORGIA?  HOW MANY HAVE LEFT?  HOW MANY CONVOYS?  ARE 
ANY MORE CONVOYS PLANNED? 
 
ON AUGUST 13, TWO CONVOYS DEPARTED TBILISI FOR YEREVAN. 
EMBASSY TBILISI REPORTS 32 AMERICAN CITIZENS WERE 
CONFIRMED ON THOSE CONVOYS. 
 
ON AUGUST 10 AND 11, TWO CONVOYS OFFICIALLY ORGANIZED BY 
EMBASSY TBILISI DEPARTED TBILISI TO ARMENIA. CONSULAR 
OFFICERS FROM ARMENIA WERE AT THE BORDER TO MEET THE 
CONVOY UPON ENTRY. 
 
 
¶Q. WHAT IS THE STATUS OF THE OIL PIPELINES IN GEORGIA? 
 
THE BAKU-TBILISI-CEYHAN (BTC) OIL PIPELINE IS CURRENTLY 
CLOSED DUE TO A FIRE IN TURKEY THAT BEGAN BEFORE THE 
CONFLICT IN GEORGIA.  I REFER YOU TO BP AND THE TURKISH 
COMPANY BOTAS FOR THE STATUS OF REPAIRS ON THAT 
PIPELINE.  WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE BAKU-NOVOROSSIYSK 
PIPELINE AND RAIL ROUTES FROM BAKU TO THE GEORGIAN PORTS 
OF BATUMI AND KULEVI ARE FUNCTIONING AND TRANSPORTING 
SOME OF THE OIL THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN CARRIED BY BTC. 
 
THE BP-LED CONSORTIA THAT OPERATES THE BAKU-SUPSA OIL 
PIPELINE AND THE SOUTH CAUCASUS GAS PIPELINE FROM BAKU 
TO TURKEY HAD TEMPORARILY CLOSED THEM AS A PRECAUTIONARY 
MEASURE EARLIER IN THE WEEK.  ON THURSDAY BP ANNOUNCED 
THAT IT HAS RESTARTED OPERATIONS IN THE SOUTH CAUCASUS 
PIPELINE. 
 
STATE 00088308  006 OF 007 
 
SUBJECT: RUSSIA - GEORGIA CONFLICT: REMARKS BY PRESIDENT 
BUSH, SECRETARY GATES, AND SECRETARY RICE, AND PUBLIC 
DIPLOMACY GUIDAN 
WE HAVE NO EVIDENCE THAT ANY PIPELINES IN GEORGIA HAVE 
BEEN DAMAGED AS A RESULT OF THE CONFLICT. 
 
(IF ASKED) WE ARE LOOKING INTO REPORTS THAT PIPELINES IN 
GEORGIA MAY HAVE BEEN TARGETED. 
 
Q: WHAT IS THE STATUS OF MCC PROGRAMS IN GEORGIA? 
 
THE U.S. GOVERNMENT'S MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORPORATION 
(MCC) HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTING A FIVE-YEAR, $295.3 MILLION 
POVERTY-REDUCTION PROGRAM IN GEORGIA SINCE APRIL 7, 
¶2006.  MCC IS IN UNINTERRUPTED CONTACT WITH ITS 
REPRESENTATIVES IN GEORGIA, ALL OF WHOM ARE COORDINATING 
WITH THE EMBASSY COUNTRY TEAM TO MONITOR THE SITUATION. 
ALL U.S. PERSONNEL, AND THOSE GEORGIAN EMPLOYEES WORKING 
ON MCC PROGRAMS, ARE SAFE AND ACCOUNTED FOR AND REMAIN 
IN GEORGIA. 
 
AS OF AUGUST 12TH, IMPLEMENTATION OF THE MCC PROGRAM IN 
GEORGIA, COMPRISED OF ROAD REHABILITATION, AGRIBUSINESS, 
REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT, MUNICIPAL INFRASTRUCTURE, AND 
ENERGY PROJECTS, REMAINS UNDERWAY, WITH ROUGHLY $193 
MILLION IN CONTRACT COMMITMENTS AND $51.3 MILLION 
DISBURSED.  MCC WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE SITUATION 
IN CONCERT WITH OTHER U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCIES.  MCC 
DOES NOT MANAGE PROGRAMS IN THE SOUTH OSSETIA REGION. 
 
 
Q:  THE UNITED STATES AND POLAND JUST COMPLETED 
NEGOTIATIONS AND INITIALED THE BASING AGREEMENT FOR THE 
INTERCEPTOR SITE IN POLAND AND A SEPARATE DECLARATION ON 
STRATEGIC COOPERATION.  IS THIS A RESPONSE TO RUSSIAN 
EFFORTS IN GEORGIA? 
 
NO.  THE U.S.-POLAND BALLISTIC MISSILE DEFENSE SYSTEM IS 
THE RESULT OF LONG TERM NEGOTIATIONS THAT THE U.S. AND 
POLAND BEGAN IN MAY 2007. 
 
AS WE HAVE STATED BEFORE, THE MISSILE DEFENSE SYSTEM IS 
PURELY DEFENSIVE AND IS FOR DEFENSE AGAINST BALLISTIC 
MISSILE THREATS ORIGINATING FROM THE MIDDLE EAST. 
 
OUR PROPOSED DEPLOYMENT OF A MISSILE DEFENSE SYSTEM IN 
EUROPE POSES NO THREAT TO RUSSIA OR TO RUSSIA'S NUCLEAR 
DETERRENT. 
 
WE HAVE BEEN FULLY TRANSPARENT WITH THE RUSSIANS ON THIS 
ISSUE SINCE THE START OF OUR NEGOTIATIONS WITH BOTH 
POLAND AND THE CZECH REPUBLIC. 
 
IN OUR APRIL 6 STRATEGIC DECLARATION WITH RUSSIA, THEY 
ACKNOWLEDGED THAT IF AGREED AND IMPLEMENTED, THE 
TRANSPARENCY AND CONFIDENCE BUILDING MEASURES WOULD 
ASSUAGE THEIR CONCERNS.  THE UNITED STATES HAS OFFERED 
RUSSIA UNPRECEDENTED COOPERATION IN THE FIELD OF MISSILE 
DEFENSE. 
 
SECRETARY RICE QUOTE: "WE HAVE TRIED TO WORK WITH THE 
RUSSIANS IN ALL KINDS OF WAYS.  BOB GATES AND I WERE 
THERE TWICE TRYING TO SHOW THE RUSSIANS THAT THIS 
MISSILE SYSTEM, THE DEFENSE - THE MISSILE DEFENSE SYSTEM 
IS AIMED AT SMALL MISSILE THREATS OF THE KIND THAT ONE 
COULD ANTICIPATE FROM IRAN, FOR INSTANCE.  WE HAVE 
TALKED ABOUT ALL KINDS OF MEASURES THAT COULD BE USED TO 
DEMONSTRATE TO RUSSIA THAT THIS SYSTEM WAS NOT, IN ANY 
 
STATE 00088308  007 OF 007 
 
 
END TEXT 
RICE