Cable Viewer

Currently released so far... 3411 / 251,287

### Articles

Brazil Sri Lanka United Kingdom Sweden Editorial United States Latin America Egypt

### Browse latest releases

2010/11 2010/12 2011/01 2011/02
2010/11/28 2010/11/29 2010/11/30
2010/12/01 2010/12/02 2010/12/03 2010/12/04 2010/12/05 2010/12/06 2010/12/07 2010/12/08 2010/12/09 2010/12/10 2010/12/11 2010/12/12 2010/12/13 2010/12/14 2010/12/15 2010/12/16 2010/12/17 2010/12/18 2010/12/19 2010/12/20 2010/12/21 2010/12/22 2010/12/23 2010/12/24 2010/12/25 2010/12/26 2010/12/27 2010/12/28 2010/12/29 2010/12/30
2011/01/01 2011/01/02 2011/01/04 2011/01/05 2011/01/07 2011/01/09 2011/01/10 2011/01/11 2011/01/12 2011/01/13 2011/01/14 2011/01/15 2011/01/16 2011/01/17 2011/01/18 2011/01/19 2011/01/20 2011/01/21 2011/01/22 2011/01/23 2011/01/24 2011/01/25 2011/01/26 2011/01/27 2011/01/28 2011/01/29 2011/01/30 2011/01/31
2011/02/01 2011/02/02

### Browse by creation date

66 72 73 75 79 86 88 89 90 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10
1966/12
1972/02 1972/08
1973/04
1975/03
1979/08
1986/05
1988/01
1989/12
1990/01 1990/07 1990/08
2000/06 2000/09 2000/11
2001/02 2001/03 2001/07 2001/10
2002/02 2002/03 2002/11
2003/03 2003/04 2003/05 2003/06 2003/07 2003/08 2003/09 2003/10 2003/11 2003/12
2004/01 2004/02 2004/03 2004/04 2004/05 2004/06 2004/07 2004/08 2004/09 2004/10 2004/11 2004/12
2005/01 2005/02 2005/03 2005/04 2005/05 2005/06 2005/07 2005/08 2005/09 2005/10 2005/11 2005/12
2006/01 2006/02 2006/03 2006/04 2006/05 2006/06 2006/07 2006/08 2006/09 2006/10 2006/11 2006/12
2007/01 2007/02 2007/03 2007/04 2007/05 2007/06 2007/07 2007/08 2007/09 2007/10 2007/11 2007/12
2008/01 2008/02 2008/03 2008/04 2008/05 2008/06 2008/07 2008/08 2008/09 2008/10 2008/11 2008/12
2009/01 2009/02 2009/03 2009/04 2009/05 2009/06 2009/07 2009/08 2009/09 2009/10 2009/11 2009/12
2010/01 2010/02

### Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z
Embassy Athens Embassy Asuncion Embassy Astana Embassy Asmara Embassy Ashgabat Embassy Ankara Embassy Amman Embassy Algiers Embassy Addis Ababa Embassy Accra Embassy Abuja Embassy Abu Dhabi Embassy Abidjan Consulate Amsterdam American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura Embassy Buenos Aires Embassy Budapest Embassy Bucharest Embassy Brussels Embassy Bridgetown Embassy Bratislava Embassy Brasilia Embassy Bogota Embassy Bishkek Embassy Bern Embassy Berlin Embassy Belgrade Embassy Beirut Embassy Beijing Embassy Bangkok Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan Embassy Bamako Embassy Baku Embassy Baghdad Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen Embassy Conakry Embassy Colombo Embassy Chisinau Embassy Caracas Embassy Canberra Embassy Cairo Consulate Curacao Consulate Casablanca Consulate Cape Town
Embassy Dushanbe Embassy Dublin Embassy Doha Embassy Djibouti Embassy Dhaka Embassy Dar Es Salaam Embassy Damascus Embassy Dakar Consulate Dubai
Embassy Freetown
Embassy Guatemala Embassy Gaborone
Embassy Harare Embassy Hanoi Consulate Hamburg
Iran RPO Dubai Embassy Islamabad Consulate Istanbul
Embassy Jakarta Consulate Jerusalem Consulate Jeddah
Embassy Kyiv Embassy Kuwait Embassy Kuala Lumpur Embassy Kinshasa Embassy Kigali Embassy Khartoum Embassy Kampala Embassy Kabul
Embassy Luxembourg Embassy Luanda Embassy London Embassy Lisbon Embassy Lima Embassy La Paz Consulate Lagos
Mission USNATO Embassy Muscat Embassy Moscow Embassy Montevideo Embassy Monrovia Embassy Minsk Embassy Mexico Embassy Maputo Embassy Manama Embassy Managua Embassy Madrid Consulate Munich Consulate Montreal Consulate Monterrey
Embassy New Delhi Embassy Nassau Embassy Nairobi Consulate Naples
Embassy Ouagadougou Embassy Ottawa Embassy Oslo
Embassy Pristina Embassy Pretoria Embassy Prague Embassy Port Au Prince Embassy Phnom Penh Embassy Paris Embassy Paramaribo Embassy Panama Consulate Peshawar
Embassy Quito
REO Basrah Embassy Rome Embassy Riyadh Embassy Riga Embassy Reykjavik Embassy Rangoon Embassy Rabat Consulate Rio De Janeiro Consulate Recife
Secretary of State Embassy Stockholm Embassy Sofia Embassy Skopje Embassy Singapore Embassy Seoul Embassy Sarajevo Embassy Santo Domingo Embassy Santiago Embassy Sanaa Embassy San Salvador Embassy San Jose Consulate Strasbourg Consulate Shenyang Consulate Shanghai Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis Embassy Tripoli Embassy Tokyo Embassy The Hague Embassy Tel Aviv Embassy Tehran Embassy Tegucigalpa Embassy Tbilisi Embassy Tashkent Embassy Tallinn
USUN New York USEU Brussels US Mission Geneva US Interests Section Havana US Delegation, Secretary UNVIE Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius Embassy Vienna Embassy Vatican Consulate Vladivostok
Embassy Windhoek Embassy Wellington Embassy Warsaw
Embassy Yerevan Embassy Yaounde
Embassy Zagreb

### Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
AO AF AL AE ASEC AORC AJ AM AR AEMR AMGT APER AG AS AU AGMT AFIN ABUD ATRN ACOA AEC AX AMED ADCO AODE AFFAIRS AC ASIG ABLD AA AFU ASUP
BM BIDEN BO BR BU BEXP BRUSSELS BL BK BA BILAT BTIO BH BE BX BY BG BF BB BC BBSR
CU CH CO CI COUNTERTERRORISM CA CY CVIS CMGT CASC CJAN CE COUNTER CBW CG CLINTON CDG CIA CACM CDB CS CD CV CF CN CAN CIS CM CONDOLEEZZA COE CR CTM COUNTRY CLEARANCE CPAS CWC CT CKGR CB CACS
DOD DJ DA DEAX DR DHS DOE DEA DK DISENGAGEMENT
ETRD EFIN EAID ES ECON EWWT EINVEFIN ELAB EU ETTC ENRG EUN EC EG EINV EXTERNAL ER ECIN EPET EAGR EIND ECPS EMIN ECIP EINDETRD EN EZ ET EUC EI EAIR ELTN EREL EFIS EINT ENVR ECA EINVETC ENIV EINN ENGR EUR ESA ELECTIONS ECUN
FR FMLN FARC FJ FINR FAO FTAA FREEDOM FI FBI
GG GM GOI GZ GTMO GV GH GA GE GT GR GTIP GCC GAZA
HO HURI HILLARY HA HU HR HUMAN HYMPSK HK
IR IZ IN IS IMO INTERPOL IT INRB IAEA ID IV ICTY IQ ICAO IPR IRAJ INRA INRO IC IIP ITPHUM IWC IO ISRAELI IRAQI ICRC IF ILC IEFIN INTELSAT ITALY ITALIAN
JO JA JOSEPH JAMES JUS
KDEM KIRF KNNP KN KISL KJUS KTFN KWBG KPAL KPKO KSCA KCRM KR KWMN KU KV KE KCOR KPAO KG KTIP KICC KBCT KSPR KHLS KTIA KMDR KGHG KUNR KS KFRD KIPR KAWC KPWR KCIP KSUM KWAC KMIG KOLY KZ KAWK KSEC KIFR KDRG KDEMAF KFIN KGCC KPIN KBIO KHIV KNUC KPLS KIRC KACT KGIC KRAD KCOM KMCA KHDP KVPR KDEV KPRP KCFE KOCI KTDB KMRS KLIG KGIT KSTC KPAK KNEI KSEP KPOA KFLU KNUP KNNPMNUC KOMC KO KTER KHUM KRFD KBTR KDDG KWWMN KFLO KSAF KBTS KPRV KMPI KNPP
LY LG LE LH LU LI LO LOG
MTCRE MOPS MARR MO MASS MNUC MY MX MCAP MPOS MAR MD MZ MEPP MA MR ML MIL MOPPS MTCR MAPP MU MG MASC MCC MK MTRE MP MDC MEPI MRCRE MI MT MQADHAFI MAPS MUCN
NATO NL NI NZ NG NU NO NIPP NE NS NAR NPT NPG NK NSG NA NT NASA NATIONAL
OVIP OTRA OPRC OSCI OTR OVP OREP ODIP OPDC OIIP OFFICIALS OSAC OAS OEXC OFDP OSCE OPIC OECD OPCW
PREL PHUM PGOV PINR PARM PBTS PHSA PTER PK PINS PSI PA PE PO PINT PL PSOE PU POL POLITICAL PARTIES PROP PBIO PECON PM PREF PAK POGOV PINL PKFK PGOF PMIL PTERE PF PALESTINIAN PY PGGV PNR POV PAO PFOR PHALANAGE PARTY PNAT POLITICS PEPR
QA
RS RU RW RO REGION RP RIGHTS RICE ROBERT RF RFE
SP SCUL SA SNAR SOCI SMIG SY SU SR SENV STEINBERG SN SO SF SG SW SL SHUM SZ SYR ST SANC SC SAN SIPRS SK SI
TW TU TSPA TRGY TI TX TS TC TERRORISM TPHY TIP TBIO TH TR TT TO TFIN TD TSPL TZ TK TNGD
UK UNGA UN UP UNO UZ UNMIK US UG UNSC USEU UV UY USUN UE UNESCO UAE UNEP USTR UNHCR UNDP UNHRC USAID UNCHS
VE VZ VT VTPREL VN VM
WI WTRO WTO WA WMO WTRQ WHO WWARD
XY XW XF XA XG XT XM XR XS XL XK XH XC XZ
YM YI YE
ZP ZR ZI ZU ZB ZK ZF ZANU ZOELLICK

### Browse by classification

CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN SECRET SECRET//NOFORN UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

### Community resources

Follow us on Twitter Check our Reddit Twitter this Digg this page

courage is contagious

### Viewing cable 08TBILISI1341, GEORGIA: SOUTH OSSETIA SITREP 2: GEORGIA CLAIMS

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:

- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.

To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #08TBILISI1341.

Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
08TBILISI1341 | 2008-08-08 10:10 | 2011-01-27 00:12 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Tbilisi
Appears in these articles: http://rusrep.ru/article/2010/11/29/wikileaks_docs_02/

`

    VZCZCXRO6349
    PP RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR
    DE RUEHSI #1341/01 2211005
    ZNY CCCCC ZZH
    P 081005Z AUG 08
    FM AMEMBASSY TBILISI
    TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9864
    INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY

` `

    C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TBILISI 001341

    SIPDIS

    DEPT FOR EUR/CARC

    E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/08/2018
    TAGS: PGOV PREL RU GG
    SUBJECT: GEORGIA: SOUTH OSSETIA SITREP 2:  GEORGIA CLAIMS
    TO CONTROL MUCH OF SOUTH OSSETIA, FIGHTING CONTINUES

    REF: TBILISI 1337

    Classified By: AMBASSADOR JOHN F. TEFFT FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)

    ¶1.  (C)  Summary: 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, including
    Tskhinvali, although fighting was continuing near the
    northern town of Dzhava.  They also reported that Russian
    aircraft had dropped bombs on several targets in Georgia,
    outside of the conflict zone, at two locations in the center
    of Gori and dropped ordnance on a radar installation near
    Gori and a police station in Kareli.  There are uncofirmed
    Georgian claims that they downed a Russian aircraft; in a
    statement, the Russian MFA denied this.  Fighting had
    continued throughout the night of August 7, resuming four
    hours after President Saakashvili unilaterally declared a
    cease-fire at 1900.  In a second address August 8, he called
    on the international community to help repel this "open
    Russian aggression" and announced a general mobilization of
    reserves.  Meanwhile, Russian statements have accused the
    Georgians of targeting Russian peacekeepers; the Georgians
    argue that the South Ossetians are firing on the Russian
    peacekeepers as a provocation.  The Georgians have announced
    that a safe corridor and ceasefire will be established from 3
    to 6 pm local time for all civilians interested in leaving
    Tskhinvali to do so.  During the night of August 8, four
    short range ballistic missiles were fired from within Russia
    toward Tskhinvali.

    ¶2. (C) We understand that at this point the Georgians control
    75 percent of Tskhinvali and 11 villages around it.
    Journalists report that Georgian forces are moving toward the
    Roki tunnel.  That road has been cratered by Georgian
    aircraft to make it difficult.  We are told fighting
    continues with Russian fighters north of Tskhinvali; it is
    not clear if they are regular army or North Caucasian
    irregulars.  Saakashvili has said that Georgia had no
    intention of getting into this fight, but was provoked by the
    South Ossetians and had to respond to protect Georgian
    citizens and territory.  Meanwhile, the Georgian National
    Security Council (NSC) has formally requested 1,000 of its
    combat troops in Iraq be returned to Georgia within 72 hours.
    End Summary.

    ¶3. (C) Comment: All the evidence available to the country
    team supports Saakashvili's statement that this fight was not
    Georgia's original intention.  Key Georgian officials who
    would have had responsibility for an attack on South Ossetia
    have been on leave, and the Georgians only began mobilizing
    August 7 once the attack was well underway.  As late as 2230
    last night Georgian MOD and MFA officials were still hopeful
    that the unilateral cease-fire announced by President
    Saakashvili would hold.  Only when the South Ossetians opened
    up with artillery on Georgian villages, did the offensive to
    take Tskhinvali begin.  Post has eyes on the ground at the
    Ministry of Interior command post in Tbilisi and will
    continue to provide updates.  The Embassy held an EAC and
    will hold another to reasses the situation by COB.  We have
    issued a warden message and are looking at the situation very
    carefully.  If the Georgians are right, and the fighting is
    mainly over, the real unknown is what the Russian role will
    be and whether there is potential for the conflict to expand.
    End comment.

    Current Situation
    -----------------

    ¶4. (C)  Saakashvili, who told the Ambassador that he was in
    Gori when a Russian bomb fell in the city center, confirmed
    that the Georgians had not decided to move ahead until the
    shelling intensified and the Russians were seen to be
    amassing forces on the northern side of the Roki Tunnel.  He
    said that the Georgian military action had been successful,
    Tskhinvali was mainly under Georgian control and that
    reservists would be brought in to defend the city while armed
    forces were moved further north to continue the fighting.
    According to Saakashvili, the EU was sending in Carl Bildt
    and the Lithuanian Foreign Minister to Tbilisi.  Although
    most in the Georgian government believed that the fighting
    had started as a ploy of de facto leader Kokoity, Saakashvili
    was now concerned that this might have been a Russian pretext
    and a further attack could be expected.  The Foreign Minister
    briefed the diplomatic corps on the situation, noting that
    "all red lines had been crossed," but expressing hope that
    negotiations could take place and noting that a full amnesty
    would be offered to anyone involved in the fighting.  She
    called on the international community to put pressure on the
    Russian Government to take no action.

    TBILISI 00001341  002 OF 002

    ¶5. (C) The battle in South Ossetia took place throughout the
    night of August 7.   During the night, four short range
    ballistic missiles were fired from within Russia toward
    Tskhinvali.  On August 8, Russian aircraft flew into Georgian
    airspace in central Georgia and dropped ordnance on a radar
    installation near Gori and a police station in Kareli.  Post
    understands that at this point the Georgians control 75
    percent of Tskhinvali and 11 villages around it.  Journalists
    report that Georgian forces are moving toward the Roki
    tunnel.  That road has been cratered by Georgian aircraft to
    make it difficult to navigate with vehicles.  We are told
    fighting continues with Russian fighters north of Tskhinvali.
    It is not clear if they are regular army or North Caucasian
    irregulars, as an MOIA spokesman said that approximately 1500
    uniformed, unidentified forces with tanks and artillery
    entered South Ossetia via the Roki tunnel on August 8 at
    ¶0200. Reports indicate many casualties, but none are reliably
    accurate.  State Minister of Conflict Settlement and
    Reintegration Temuri Yakobashvili said again on August 8 that
    Georgia will grant amnesty to all Ossetian fighters.

    Chronology of Events
    --------------------

    ¶6. (C) On August 7 at 1925 Yakobashvili returned from the
    conflict zone and the Ambassador that the South Ossetians
    continued to shoot at the Georgian villages despite the
    announcement of the cease-fire.  Yakobashvili said that he
    waited with General Kulakhmetov, the Head of the Russian
    peacekeepers in Tskhinvali for some time for the South
    Ossetians to show up.  Kulakhmetov tried to call Chochiev,
    and other South Ossetians to get them together with
    Yakobashvili, but they did not respond.  Kulakhmetov said, he
    "does not control anything" and that the South Ossetians were
    "shooting at the Georgians behind my back."  Yakobashvili
    said that the Russians originally agreed to host a bilateral
    meeting with the Ossetians and the Georgians outside the JCC.
    Popov came to Georgia for this purpose and announced
    publicly it was his intention to do so.  Then, the Russians
    flipped and said the meeting should be under the JCC.
    Yakobashvili said it was the JCC system that had caused the
    mess and it was time for real face to face talks.

    ¶7. (C) OSCE observers on the ground in Tskhinvali told Poloff
    that Georgia's attack on Tskhinvali began at 2335 on August 7
    despite the cease-fire declared at 1900.  The shelling
    intensified at 2345, with the Georgians possibly using large
    caliber mortars and GRAD artillery, with impacts every 15-20
    seconds, and the South Ossetians returning fire.  By
    observers' calculations, by 0035 there were at least 100 hits
    on the city of Tskhinvali, some of them damaging the OSCE
    field office there.  Currently, the OSCE has electricity, but
    part of the building has sustained damage and the internet is
    down.  There was a lull in the activity between 0145 and
    0415, when the situation began to re-intensify, and by 0615
    loud explosions could be heard.  The number of casualties are
    unknown as emergency services are unable to move freely on
    the ground due to firing.  Most local residents are confined
    to cellars and basements waiting for calm to return.

    ¶8. (C) At approximately 0400 on August 8, the Georgian
    National Security Council asked the U.S. for the return of
    1,000 of its troops from Iraq, 500 within the next 24 hours,
    and the remainder within 48 hours.  A regularly scheduled
    rotator flight may return up to 250 troops to Georgia by this
    afternoon.  (Note: USG agreement with the GOG provides for
    emergency return of 1,000 troops within 96 hours.  End note.)
    Later, Saakashvili announced a general mobilization of all
    reserves.  In a second address, he called Russia's actions
    "open aggression" and called on the international community
    to help repel it.

    ¶9. (C) Conversely, the Russians have said they believe
    Georgian forces are targeting Russian peacekeepers.  They
    have told the Georgians that in view of these attacks Georgia
    bears responsibility for anything that might follow.  The
    Georgians have replied that they are avoiding any conflict
    with the peacekeepers as well as civilians.  The Georgians
    believe the South Ossetians are targeting the Russians to
    provoke a bigger Georgian-Russian conflict.

    ¶10. (C) The South Ossetians are reportedly now accusing the
    Russians of betraying them.  One plausible explanation for
    all this is that de facto leader Kokoity decided to roll the
    dice and stimulate a conflict with the Georgians in hopes of
    bringing in the Russians and thereby saving himself or
    enhancing his position.  Reports that Kokoity has left
    Tskhinvali remain unconfirmed.
    TEFFT

`