PATRIARCH'S PROPOSAL FOR RESTORATION OF GEORGIA'S

UNCLAS TBILISI 002558

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TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM GG
SUBJECT: PATRIARCH'S PROPOSAL FOR RESTORATION OF GEORGIA'S
CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHY RECEIVES RESPECTFUL RESPONSE



1. Summary: In a sermon on October 7, Georgian Patriarch Ilia II
suggested a constitutional monarchy for Georgia. The proposal was
welcomed by many opposition parties in Georgia. His proposal echoes
other ideas circulated by the opposition for a "parliamentary
republic", without a presidency. The ruling National Movement party
did not reject the idea outright, but spokesmen commented that it is
too early to consider it. We believe the Patriarch's wish is
unlikely to be fulfilled. However, the response to his idea
indicates both the respect in which the Patriarch is held and that
the opposition's intense dislike for President Saakashvili has made
them willing to seriously consider the abolition of the office of
the Presidency altogether. End summary.


2. Addressing the congregation at the Trinity Cathedral in Tbilisi
on October 7, the Patriarch proposed an initiative to establish a
constitutional monarchy in Georgia. According to the Patriarch
"very often other states dictate to us what to do. Some tell us it
(the government) should be a presidency and some say it should be a
parliamentary republic. This is not up to others to decide." He
recalled the reign of the Bagrationi dynasty, which was terminated
in 1801 when Georgia was absorbed by Russia. Ilia suggested
restoring the dynasty to the throne by choosing a person to become
monarch from the Bagrationi family or even grooming someone for the
job from childhood. The head of the Patriarch's press service,
Archpriest Davit Sharashenidze, said that a constitutional monarchy
would be "a guarantee of the protection of human rights, political
stability and the unity of the nation."


3. The Patriarch's initiative was widely supported by the
opposition, many of whom intensely dislike President Saakashvili and
the leading role he plays in the current government. The New
Rightist Party dedicated a press conference to the issue and
circulated a declaration supporting the idea, based on "the
experience of centuries-old history, taking into account dramatic
events that took place in the country since independence was
regained, having analyzed wide international practice and guided by
the appeal of Ilia II."


4. The Patriarch's idea echoes calls heard in the demonstrations
following Irakli Okruashvili's arrest for deposing President
Saakashvili and establishing a "parliamentary republic". According
to the Conservative Party's Zviad Dzidziguri, most of the opposition
parties believe that Georgia "should have a parliamentary form of
government and its perfect form is a constitutional monarchy."
Labor party leader Shalva Natelashvili also held a press conference
on October 8 to support the idea. The leader of the Freedom Party,
Konstantine Gamsakhurdia, and the leader of Georgia's Way, Salome
Zourabichvili, also gave positive assessments. According to them, a
king is not a dictator. He is the guarantor of Georgian traditions,
national spirit and national identity on the one hand, and of
territorial integrity on the other. "I've always supported the idea
of a constitutional monarchy as the right and most capable model for
Georgia. I have also said that if I am elected a president, before
we (the opposition alliance) began a movement with the slogan
Without President, I will not be a political leader, but a type of
leader who supports and protects the rights of the people and
guarantees protection of other democratic values," Zourabichvili
said.


5. The ruling National Movement party did not reject the proposal
outright, however its spokesmen said that it is too early to speak
about modifying state governance when Georgia has two breakaway
regions. An MP from the ruling party, Vakhtang Balavadze, said the
issue should only be considered after the restoration of the
country's territorial integrity. The same comment was made by one
of the leaders of the National Movement, Giga Bokeria. He preferred
to believe that the Patriarch's initiative refers to the future and
not to the current situation.


6. Comment: The Georgian Orthodox Church and the Patriarch are
well-respected and extremely influential in Georgia. Any idea the
Patriarch puts forward must be seriously considered by any
politician. The responses we report are couched to give due respect
to the Patriarch's views. Nevertheless, in the end we consider a
restoration of the Georgian monarchy extremely unlikely.

TEFFT