BURJANADZE SPEAKS OUT AGAINST CABINET CHANGES

C O N F I D E N T I A L TBILISI 002221

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/CARC

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/04/2017
TAGS: PGOV GG
SUBJECT: BURJANADZE SPEAKS OUT AGAINST CABINET CHANGES

REF: TBILISI 2169

Classified by Ambassador John F. Tefft, reasons: 1.4 (b)(d)


1. (U) On September 4, Speaker of Parliament, Nino
Burjanadze, used the first planning meeting of the new
Parliamentary session to speak out publicly against the
proposed Cabinet changes announced on August 29 by Prime
Minister Noghaideli (reftel). Burjanadze said she was
disappointed that the government did not consult her
regarding the proposed changes. She said, "It is
unacceptable when they do not hold consultations with the
Speaker of the Parliament on the significant changes in the
executive government and candidates." Majority Leader Maia
Nadiradze rebuffed Burjanadze's criticism, saying "this is
not written in the Bible" that the Speaker should be
consulted prior to the proposed nominations.


2. (U) Burjanadze was particularly dissatisfied with the
nomination of Minister of Finance Aleksi Alexishvili to
become the President of the National Bank of Georgia. She
said she has nothing against Alexishvili personally, but that
he is not independent enough from the government to head the
National Bank. According to widely reported rumors,
Alexishvili is closely allied with Noghaideli, while
Burjanadze preferred her own protQgQ for the National Bank
position, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Budget
and Finances, Irakli Kovzanadze. As reported in the press,
Alexishvili paid a visit to Burjanadze soon after her
comments, possibly to lobby for his nomination. Burjanadze
also expressed her dissatisfaction with the government action
plan to be presented by the new cabinet. She said the plan
the government submitted "is not a program. It is more like
a protocol of intentions. We should know how the government
is going to implement those intentions."


3. (C) Comment: Although Burjanadze - a member of the ruling
National Movement - has been discreetly distancing herself
from the government for some time, these remarks may be her
most vocal and significant criticism since she opposed
Noghaideli's nomination in 2005. Opposition figures
expressed support for her comments, which mirrored their own
criticism of the government, although some complained that
her objections came too late. Parliament is scheduled to
give its vote of confidence on the new cabinet on September 7.
The next few days may show us how severe the split
between Burjanadze and the government is. End comment.
TEFFT