Cablegate: Australia On Rebutting Russian Misstatements On

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OO RUEHAG RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLZ RUEHROV
DE RUEHBY #0921 2600740
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 160740Z SEP 08
FM AMEMBASSY CANBERRA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0155
INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA IMMEDIATE 2195
RUEHSI/AMEMBASSY TBILISI IMMEDIATE 0030
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS IMMEDIATE
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA IMMEDIATE 1946
RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE IMMEDIATE 0059
RUEHBN/AMCONSUL MELBOURNE PRIORITY 5577
RUEHPT/AMCONSUL PERTH PRIORITY 3850
RUEHDN/AMCONSUL SYDNEY PRIORITY 3779

UNCLAS CANBERRA 000921

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR, DRL, IO AND EAP

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREL RS GG AS
SUBJECT: AUSTRALIA ON REBUTTING RUSSIAN MISSTATEMENTS ON
GEORGIA

REF: STATE 98030

1. (U) Poloff delivered reftel demarche to Annabel Anderson,
Assistant Secretary for Northern, Southern and Eastern
Europe, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, on September
16.

2. (SBU) In a preliminary response, Anderson said the U.S.
position on Russia's claims about Georgia tracked perfectly
with the GOA understanding. She noted that Foreign Minister
Smith had released a statement on August 14 asserting
Russia's military action had been "disproportionate,"
resulting in widespread damage and heavy casualties, and
calling on Russia to honor the terms of the ceasefire,
respect the territorial integrity of Georgia, and resolve its
differences with Georgia through peaceful means.

3. (SBU) Anderson took on board the U.S. request for another
strong statement to counter Russian misrepresentations about
Georgia, promising a more detailed response at a later time.

MCCALLUM

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