VZCZCXRO1689
PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN
RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHSI #1482/01 2421154
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 291154Z AUG 08
FM AMEMBASSY TBILISI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9995
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TBILISI 001482 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR EUR/CARC AND GEORGIA COORDINATING GROUP 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM RU GG
SUBJECT: GEORGIA: SITREP 21: PARLIAMENT SAYS ALL RUSSIAN 
FORCES MUST LEAVE 
 
REF: TBILISI 1474 
 
¶1.  (SBU) Summary: On August 28, the Georgian Parliament 
adopted a resolution that declared Abkhazia and South Ossetia 
"territories occupied by the Russian Federation"; appeared to 
nullify the legal basis for any Russian forces, including 
peacekeepers, to be on Georgian territory; and urged the 
government to sever diplomatic ties with Russia.  The 
government insisted it needed some minimal ties to serve 
Georgians in Russia.  The OSCE is still seeking to gain 
access to areas north of the outer ring of Russian 
checkpoints around Tskhinvali, but Akhalgori remains calm. 
Prisoner exchanges continue, as do assessments of damages and 
losses.  End Summary. 
 
PARLIAMENT PUSHES FOR COMPLETE BREAK WITH RUSSIA 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
 
¶2. (U) The Georgian Parliament unanimously adopted a 
resolution on August 28 declaring South Ossetia and Abkhazia 
"territories occupied by the Russian Federation" and 
"instructed" the executive branch to sever diplomatic ties 
with Russia.  The resolution also appears to nullify any 
provision for any Russian forces on the territory of Georgia, 
stating specifically that "Russian armed forces located on 
Georgian territory, including so-called peacekeeping forces, 
shall be declared occupation forces" and the "executive 
government shall be instructed to ensure the annulment of all 
legal acts envisaging the presence of the armed forces of the 
Russian Federation." 
 
¶3. (SBU) State Minister for Reintegration Yakobishvili said 
Georgia could not sever all ties, as the Georgian Government 
provides services to its citizens in Russia.  Deputy Speaker 
of Parliament Giorgi Tsereteli, however, insisted to Embassy 
contacts that the resolution does not require presidential 
approval and has already entered into force.  It remains 
unclear what recourse Parliament has in case the government 
does not follow the Parliament's instructions. 
 
OSCE CONTINUES TO TRY TO MOVE FURTHER NORTH; DEFENSE CHANGES 
--------------------------------------------- --------------- 
 
¶4. (SBU) On August 28, OSCE met with Russian "Peacekeeping 
Force" General Kulakhmetov, and requested access to those 
areas behind Russia's forward line of checkpoints and to the 
conflict zone in South Ossetia, particularly Tskhinvali. 
Kulakhmetov demurred, citing security concerns, but is 
meeting OSCE's HoM Terhi Hakala August 29 to revisit the 
issue.  Meanwhile the OSCE reports the situation in Akhalgori 
remains calm, and OSCE monitors re-confirmed that the new 
Russian checkpoints just south of the town were established 
on a temporary basis only. 
 
¶5. (SBU) OSCE also reports that the Russian checkpoints, 
which until now have been staffed by regular Russian military 
forces, will eventually be replaced by Russian peacekeeping 
units.  The current arrangement, which includes the command 
structures of various Russian units as well as peacekeeping 
forces, has reportedly been the source of some confusion in 
command and control. 
 
¶6. (C) Reliable sources indicate that changes are forthcoming 
in the Georgian military command structure, with the 
replacement of several senior-level officers who commanded 
Georgian forces in the recent conflict.  Additional details 
are available from DAO reporting. 
 
RUSSIA MAINTAINS PRESENCE IN POTI AND ELSEWHERE IN THE WEST 
--------------------------------------------- -------------- 
 
¶7. (U) The press reports that a Russian helicopter landed in 
Poti August 29 carrying military commanders, with locals 
reporting that additional Russian forces have been mobilized. 
 Protests were reported in Chkorotsku and other towns in 
Megrelia, during which Russian soldiers tried to disperse the 
crowd by firing in the air, as they have in the past. 
 
PRISONER EXCHANGES 
------------------ 
 
¶8. (U) Press reports indicated Ossetian separatists exchanged 
85 Georgian civilians for 13 captives, held by the Georgians. 
 The Russian military handed over 12 Georgian servicemen 
captured in Poti on August 18 in exchange for prisoner Roman 
Dumbadze.  Dumbadze is a former Georgian general convicted of 
high treason for supporting deposed Adjaran warlord Aslan 
Abashidze. 
 
 
TBILISI 00001482  002 OF 002 
 
 
DAMAGES AND LOSSES 
------------------ 
 
¶9. (SBU) Media reports over 50,000 hectares have burnt in the 
Ateni gorge of Borjomi National Park.  The blaze was finally 
extinguished with assistance from Georgia's military 
helicopters.  Reliable reports indicate over 200 tractors 
have been stolen from the Gori region and taken to South 
Ossetia. 
 
VISITORS 
-------- 
 
¶10. (SBU) Senator Corker arrives the evening of August 29 for 
a full day of meetings August 30; Rep. Joe Donnelly will lead 
a four-member delegation here on September 1.  Meanwhile the 
OVP advance continues its preparations for the Vice 
President's September 4 visit. 
TEFFT