Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07TBILISI1477
2007-06-19 13:03:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tbilisi
Cable title:  

OSCE AMBASSADORS GROUP UPBEAT ON ELECTION REFORMS

Tags:  KDEM PGOV PHUM PREL GG 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO9491
PP RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHSI #1477/01 1701303
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 191303Z JUN 07
FM AMEMBASSY TBILISI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6723
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TBILISI 001477 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/18/2017
TAGS: KDEM PGOV PHUM PREL GG
SUBJECT: OSCE AMBASSADORS GROUP UPBEAT ON ELECTION REFORMS

REF: TBILISI 1036

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 SECTION 01 OF 02 TBILISI 001477

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/18/2017
TAGS: KDEM PGOV PHUM PREL GG
SUBJECT: OSCE AMBASSADORS GROUP UPBEAT ON ELECTION REFORMS

REF: TBILISI 1036

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


1. (C) Summary: During a June 18 meeting, the OSCE
Ambassadors Group on Elections offered a glowing report on
GOG efforts to implement suggestions delivered to Speaker
Burjanadze and MP Giga Bokeria on May 2 (reftel). Council of
Europe (COE) Ambassador Igor Gaon said there has been "good
progress" in clarifying the voters' list, building the
capacity of election administration at all levels, amending
election legislation, ensuring elections are set well in
advance, and reaching out to ethnic minorities. He said the
amended election law will be forwarded to the COE's Venice
Commission for review in July. The Ambassadors agreed to
request a meeting with President Saakashvili in September --
once the Venice Commission had completed its review -- to
discuss what remains to be done to ensure the elections are
free, fair, and inclusive. In the meantime, the group agreed
to continue working with the CEC and to reach out to the
Parliamentary working group on elections, a body comprised of
ruling party and opposition MPs as well as NGOs, with an eye
toward resolving outstanding election issues before January

2008. End Summary.

--------------
A Message Heard Loud And Clear
--------------


2. (C) During a June 18 meeting, the OSCE Ambassadors Group
on Elections offered a glowing report on GOG efforts to meet
the suggestions delivered to Speaker Burjanadze and MP Giga
Bokeria on May 2 (reftel). Citing increased motivation and a
new willingness to cooperate at the CEC, Council of Europe
(COE) Ambassador Igor Gaon said that the Group's message had
clearly been heard. A European advisor managing an
assistance project at the CEC agreed, adding that the CEC
Chair and his staff have begun to show "real energy" in
implementing the groups suggested reforms.

--------------
Progress on Every Point
--------------


3. (C) Gaon said the CEC would undertake a nation-wide
door-to-door campaign, with the participation of opposition
parties, to clarify the voters' list in September. He added

that this was a joint effort supported by the COE and GOG and
that the final results would be audited by a local NGO, the
International Society for Free Elections and Democracy
(ISFED),in cooperation with the CEC. On election
administration, Gaon praised increased cooperation by the CEC
with NGOs and opposition groups on an Action Plan that would
be completed by July.


4. (C) Gaon also cited progress on amendments to election
legislation, and was hopeful that the Parliament will lower
the threshold for garnering party-list representation in the
legislature from 7% to 5% of the national vote. he was also
optimistic that the Parliament would move the announcement of
the date for elections from 60 days to 90 days before
election day. He added that all changes to the election
legislation must be completed by January 2008. He said the
revised voter's list and other election-related documents
will be distributed by the CEC in Russian, Armenian, and
Azeri to ensure that ethnic minorities are properly informed
of developments.

--------------
Next Steps
--------------


5. (C) Gaon said the Parliament was working at full-speed to
finish amendments to the election legislation which they will
submit to the COE's Venice Commission for formal review. The
Commission will complete their review and forward any
proposed changes to the GOG in September. The Ambassadors
agreed to wait to request a meeting with President
Saakashvili until the Venice Commission's findings have been
published in September, in order to discuss what remains to
be done to ensure free, fair, and inclusive elections.


6. (C) In the meantime, the group agreed to continue working
with the CEC to improve their implementation of reforms,
public outreach strategy, and to ensure they remain on
schedule. Gaon added that the group needs to work with the
CEC Chair, Guram Chalagashvili, to ensure he "remains
transparent." Gaon added humorously that the CEC had just
addressed a serious conflict of interest concern by replacing
Chalagashvili's mother-in-law as CEC finance manager with
someone who is not a family relation, a move that not only
pleased observers, but "also made Guram very happy!" The
group also agreed to reach out to the Parliamentary Working

TBILISI 00001477 002 OF 002


Group on Elections -- a body comprised of ruling party and
opposition MPs as well as NGOs -- with an eye toward
resolving outstanding election issues before January 2008.

--------------
Comment
--------------


7. (C) Comment: This 180 degree turn-around on the part of
the CEC and the other efforts underway in Parliament are good
news for Georgia's upcoming elections. It also offers more
evidence that the GOG will respond quickly and convincingly
when approached by representatives of the international
community who share a common goal and offer specific,
concrete recommendations. End Comment.
TEFFT