DAS BRYZA MEETS WITH OPPOSITION MP'S

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TBILISI 001979

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR DAS BRYZA, EUR/CARC, AND DRL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/27/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM GG RU
SUBJECT: DAS BRYZA MEETS WITH OPPOSITION MP'S

REF: A. TBILISI 1638


B. TBILISI 1477

C. TBILISI 1242

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Mark X. Perry for reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d).


1. (C) Summary: On July 27, EUR DAS Matt Bryza met with
leading opposition Members of Parliament. Their most
urgent concern was elections, and they raised the issues of
the fairness of the majoritarian system and composition of
the Central Election Commission (CEC) (reftel A). Although
they also mentioned the need to lower the threshold of votes
required to enter parliament (reftel
B),they said this was not a top priority. They agreed
that if the ruling National Movement (UNM) worked with them
on the first two issues they would participate fully in the
election. The group differed regarding the impact of an
Okruashvili presidential candidacy. However, all agreed
that property rights violations are another "huge problem,"
including confiscations or demolition followed by resale.
The group appealed to the USG to intercede with Saakashvili
regarding Irakli Batiashvili's case, claiming it was purely
political (reftel C). They noted the imprisoned politician
is being punished for his political views and "is not a
traitor." The group generally agreed with the UNM
regarding international policy, NATO membership, the
conflict areas, and Georgia's relationship with Russia.
End summary.

--------------
Election Blues
--------------


2. (C) On July 27, DAS Bryza and Charge Perry met with
leading MPs of four opposition parties: Ivliane Khaindrava
(Republican Party),Kakha Kukava (Conservative Party),
Zurab Tkemaladze (Industrialists),and David Gamkrelidze
(New Rights Party). Gamkrelidze presented first, but the
group was in agreement on nearly every issue discussed.
They emphasized their utmost concern that the upcoming 2008
Parliamentary and Presidential election be trusted by the
voters. So long as the UNM maintains complete control in
Parliament, they think this trust cannot exist. Their
greatest fear is that the new election code will grant an
insurmountable majority to the UNM and render the
opposition completely moot. (Note: This is largely the
case now as UNM has 135 seats of the 235 seat Parliament.
End note.) Thus, the very existence of democracy in
Georgia will be jeopardized. All alleged that the Central
Election Commission (CEC) is controlled by the majority UNM
and that the new, majoritarian electoral system (reftel A)
guarantees a disproportionate majority of UNM seats. None
of the leaders called for a boycott. However, they agreed
that if the UNM worked with them on these two issues they
would embrace the election and participate fully. Although
they mentioned the threshold issue (reftel B),and they
assume it will be lowered, the group believed that this
issue was of lesser importance than the other two. (In a
conversation reported septel, majority MP Bokeria said that
now that the UNM is open to a lower threshold, the opposition
is criticizing the majoritarian system and the composition of
the Central Election Commission. Per Bokeria, the UNM is
unwilling to change the majoritarian system, saying the
system exists to ensure the opposition is represented in
Parliament, and that a strong opposition party would be
competitive in the current structure, regardless.)


3. (C) The group voiced additional election concerns.
First, that the UNM can and will use unlimited government
money to finance its campaign and appeal to the public.
They worried that because the Parliamentary and
Presidential elections will be held on the same date, the
popularity of President Saakashvili will likely pull
additional votes to the UNM's MP candidates. Bryza noted
that such a system is normal for Americans. Additionally,
the group said that businesses are afraid to show any
political attitudes or support in public for fear of
retribution via tax, or property confiscation by the
authorities. Finally, while they appreciate the proposed
USAID program of debates, these will be of no use "if Misha
(Saakashvili) and UNM do not participate."

--------------
The Okruashvili Question
--------------


4. (C) One area of disagreement was on a possible run for
President by former Defense Minister Irakli Okruashvili.
Gamkrelidze said that his party does not support such a
candidacy, arguing that Okruashvili's radical positions

TBILISI 00001979 002 OF 002


would be bad for Georgia. Khaindrava noted that his
Republican Party is exploring such a possibility,
countering that Okruashvili could provide more balance in
the political system.

--------------
Property Rights
--------------


5. (C) All four MPs alleged that property rights violations
are another "huge problem," including confiscations or
demolition followed by resale of private property. They
said there is limited or no due process for such
confiscations, and that these only happen in areas of
valuable real estate. They are especially frequent, they
said, in Batumi and Kutaisi. They said the new amnesty law
would not completely correct the problem as new properties
are being confiscated for different reasons, such as shoddy
construction.

--------------
Batiashvili
--------------


6. (C) The group also made an impassioned appeal en masse
to DAS Bryza for the USG to intercede with President
Saakashvili on behalf of Irakli Batiashvili, former
Minister for State Security under the Shevardnadze regime.
Batiashvili was arrested and is imprisoned under charges of
treason in connection with aiding the warlord Kvitsiani
(reftel C). The MPs argued that this is purely a political
case, the trial was unjust, and that Batiashvili "is not a
traitor." Bryza assured the MP's he would urge Prosecutor
General Adeishvili and other senior Georgian officials to
ensure Batiashvili enjoyed his right of due process.

--------------
International Policy and Abkhazia
--------------


7. (C) All parties agreed that they are largely in
concurrence with the ruling government on international
policy, resolution in the conflict areas, and NATO
membership. Bryza discussed UN mediation efforts on
Abkhazia, and noted the unwavering support of the U.S. for
Georgia's territorial integrity. Bryza noted that Georgia
seemed to be on a more promising path to resolve the South
Ossetia conflict by offering the region autonomy within a
unified Georgia. He suggested that Georgia might seek to
resolve South Ossetia first, then secure its NATO-MAP
aspiration, then turn to Abkhazia. Bryza also stressed that
NATO
membership would be contingent upon sustained implementation
of democratic and defense reforms, and establishment of a
vibrant democracy with a viable opposition.


8. (U) DAS Bryza cleared this cable.
PERRY