Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07TBILISI1064
2007-05-08 13:29:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tbilisi
Cable title:  

ZOURABICHVILI WORKING TO FORGE COMMON OPPOSITION

Tags:  PREL PGOV GG 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0022
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHSI #1064 1281329
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 081329Z MAY 07
FM AMEMBASSY TBILISI
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6273
C O N F I D E N T I A L TBILISI 001064 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/09/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV GG
SUBJECT: ZOURABICHVILI WORKING TO FORGE COMMON OPPOSITION
PLATFORM FOR 2008 ELECTIONS


Classified By: Ambassador John F. Tefft, for reasons
1.4 (b) and (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L TBILISI 001064

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/09/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV GG
SUBJECT: ZOURABICHVILI WORKING TO FORGE COMMON OPPOSITION
PLATFORM FOR 2008 ELECTIONS


Classified By: Ambassador John F. Tefft, for reasons
1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) On May 7, Ambassador met with Salome Zourabichvili,
former Georgian Minister of Foreign Affairs and current
leader of the opposition party "Georgia's Way."
Zourabichvili told the Ambassador that she was currently
holding meetings with the leaders from all the opposition
parties in Georgia in an attempt to forge a common set of
policies in advance of the 2008 elections. She said she also
envisioned the creation of an arbitration commission,
comprised of international organizations and NGOs, that could
actively present issues to the public in the year leading up
to the elections and be aggressive in intervening with the
GoG to ensure that the next elections are as free as
possible. A common platform and arbitration commission would
be the first step for the opposition, she said, followed by
the selection of a common presidential candidate (Note: In an
aside she hinted that she thought she would be the opposition
candidate. End note). Ambassador said that a group of
western Ambassadors and the OSCE has already met with Speaker
of the Parliament Nino Burjanadze to emphasize that the
Central Election Committee needs to start working on the
voters' lists and preparing for the 2008 elections now.


2. (C) Zourabichvili also told the Ambassador that she was
concerned about the way the GoG is handling the situation in
the conflict zones. She said she was particularly concerned
about recent GoG rhetoric towards Abkhazia and the
establishment of a youth "patriot camp" in the village of
Mukhuri, a Georgian-controlled village on the opposite bank
of the Enguri river. Most of that side of the Enguri is
Abkhaz-controlled, and the camp will be very close to Abkhaz
areas. She said that she recently tried to visit the camp,
but was warned away by Georgian soldiers, who said it was too
dangerous because Abkhaz criminal gangs frequently cross over
into the village. She said the GoG was "playing games" with
Georgian youth by establishing this camp so close to the
Abkhaz border.

TEFFT