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