Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BRUSSELS3477
2007-12-10 15:56:00
CONFIDENTIAL
USEU Brussels
Cable title:  

A/S FRIED MEETS GEORGIAN PRIME MINISTER GURGENIDZE

Tags:  PREL PGOV GG RS EUN 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO7994
OO RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHBS #3477/01 3441556
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 101556Z DEC 07
FM USEU BRUSSELS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEHSI/AMEMBASSY TBILISI
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BRUSSELS 003477 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/06/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV GG RS EUN
SUBJECT: A/S FRIED MEETS GEORGIAN PRIME MINISTER GURGENIDZE


Classified By: Polmincouns Laurence Wohlers for reasons 1.4 (D) and (E)
.

SUMMARY
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BRUSSELS 003477

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/06/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV GG RS EUN
SUBJECT: A/S FRIED MEETS GEORGIAN PRIME MINISTER GURGENIDZE


Classified By: Polmincouns Laurence Wohlers for reasons 1.4 (D) and (E)
.

SUMMARY
--------------
1.(C) During a December 6 meeting on the margins of the NATO
Council meetings, EUR Assistant Secretary Daniel Fried
pressed Georgian Prime Minister Lado GURGENIDZE on the
importance of clean and fair presidential elections, the
restoration of media freedom, and respectful treatment of the
political opposition. Fried also urged Georgia to maintain a
clear-headed and measured response to anticipated Russian
provocations. The Prime Minister reiterated several times
that he understood U.S. expectations. However, he expressed
grave concerns about Georgia's ability to handle any
large-scale civil or military crisis instigated by the
Russians in order to disrupt the January 5 election. A/S
Fried acknowledged that there was precedence for Russian
provocations, but urged preparation of Georgian governmental
institutions to manage any such contingencies appropriately.
At the same time, Fried warned against the abuse of public
institutions for the benefit of the incumbent government
during the electoral season. End Summary.

U.S. Expectations
--------------
2.(C) In a frank but friendly 45 minute meeting with new
Georgian Prime Minister Gurgenidze, EUR A/S Fried stated that
Tbilisi's mishandling of the Imedi TV affair had shaken
Western confidence in Georgian democracy, but that the loss
of legitimacy was not irretrievable. The conduct of its
coming election season would provide a critical opportunity
for Georgia to restore legitimacy and come out in an even
stronger political position with the Allies than before the
crisis. Key steps included getting Imedi back on the air
immediately, running squeaky clean Presidential and
Parliamentary elections, and maintaining a measured response
to inevitable Russian provocations. There would need to be a
stark contrast between the conduct of Georgia and Russian
elections. The election process itself, and not just the day
of the vote, needed to be free and fair. Moreover, Fried
warned that Saakashvili and his supporters should not wield

the power of government institutions against political
opponents. The United States would regard such abuses as
breaking our understanding for Georgia's integration into the
West and lead to a fundamental and negative change in our
relations.

Georgian Actions
--------------
3.(C) Gurgenidze reiterated several times that he understood
what was required to restore credibility in the eyes of the
West. Tbilisi had already taken the steps necessary to
restore Imedi to the airwaves. The court injunction against
Imedi had been lifted earlier in the day and its licenses
returned. He said he expected Imedi to be back on the air by
the weekend. Gurgenidze also reviewed actions taken to
reform the electoral code, including the lowering of the
percentage of the vote threshold (from seven to five per
cent) and the switch to a system of proportionality from
first past the post. Worried that some in the opposition
would still "cry wolf," the PM said Georgia would ask
partners to observe the elections. Georgia had already
invited OSCE ODIHR observation and wanted the USG to signal
to Allies that Georgia would welcome a large number of
Western observers ) "the more the merrier."

Treatment of the Opposition
--------------
4.(C) In response to Gurgenidze's concern that the Russians
could manipulate elements of the local political opposition,
Fried suggested that the GOG should anticipate this
eventuality and make overtures to the opposition in the weeks
ahead of the balloting. On the shutdown of Imedi, the
Georgians insisted that the GOG had not been concerned with
Imedi's editorial content, but with its efforts to
"radicalize Georgian citizens in real time." On this point,
Fried noted that Polish editor and former dissident Adam
Michnik (invited to Georgia to establish a media ombudsman)
had the credibility to work with Georgian independent media
to address such problems. The GOG needed to do its part as
well, by creating a democratic culture. Georgia had nothing
to gain by becoming a mirror image of Russia. It should not
cast domestic opposition and Russia as "enemies" the way the
Kremlin had done to the United States and Russian political
opposition. Gurgenidze acknowledged the culture gap, but
pointed out the need for more time for institution-building
beyond the current elections period. He called for greater
assistance from friends and partners in this regard.

US Counsels Contingency Planning, Not Paranoia
-------------- -

BRUSSELS 00003477 002 OF 002


5.(C) PM Gurgenidze confessed that he and "his colleagues"
were "deeply paranoid" about the possibility of a Russian
efforts to disrupt the Georgian elections. "Russia can cause
a meltdown of the Georgian state," he averred. They could,
for example, orchestrate a debilitating string of small
crises in the next few weeks, including a military
provocation in the Kodori Gorge designed to trigger a
Georgian escalation in Gari. Russia might also try to
trigger a panic in the Georgian banking or pensions service
sectors or seriously disrupt public utilities services such
as water. A/S Fried noted that we had not/not detected
evidence of a military buildup by the Russians in the
breakaway regions, but Russian provocations had occurred in
any case. Recalling past incidents in which Moscow's role
was suspected, Fried counseled Georgia to be prepared but
take care in its response so as not to play into Russian
hands or damage Georgian public trust. Georgian leadership's
success in rallying the nation in response to the Russian
economic embargo was a model to emulate in any future
situations.

Kosovo and Abhkazia
--------------
6.(C) In the context of imminent Kosovar independence, the
Georgian Prime Minister solicited USG views on the
feasibility of a U.S.-EU preemptive statement of
non-recognition of Abkhazia. Fried's responded that we might
consider either a public or private message of this kind in
response to Russian moves. Both sides concurred that recent
unhelpful remarks by Russian Duma Speaker Boris Gryzlov about
Abhkazia's future were probably staged by the Kremlin at the
highest level. Fried assured the PM that non-linkage of
Abhkazia and Kosovo was a part of the USG's Kosovo package
and that we would stay in close touch over the days and weeks
ahead. The United States was intensifying its diplomatic
efforts with key EU member states on how to respond to any
Russian actions to advance an independent Abhkazia in the
context of coming Kosovar independence. The international
community's strong support for Georgia was inextricably
linked to the good standing and conduct of the country's
leadership. Fried also recounted briefly to the PM his
recent discussion with Foreign Minister Gela Bezhuashvili on
the status of U.S.-Russia CFE talks. Fried noted that
Georgian and Moldovan support for U.S. proposals had
surprised the Russians, who were now clearly on the
defensive.

Participants
--------------
7.(U) A/S Fried was accompanied by USEU Polmincouns and
Poloff notetaker. Georgian PM Gurgenidze was joined by
Salome Samadashvili, Georgia's Ambassador to the EU, and
Daniel Kunin, Special Advisor to the Government of Georgia.

8.(U) Assistant Secretary Fried has cleared this message.
MURRAY
.