Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07TBILISI2937
2007-11-21 04:52:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tbilisi
Cable title:  

DAS BRYZA'S 13 NOVEMBER MEETING WITH GEORGIAN

Tags:  PREL PGOV GG 
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VZCZCXRO1815
RR RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHSI #2937 3250452
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 210452Z NOV 07
FM AMEMBASSY TBILISI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8246
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L TBILISI 002937 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/CARC

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/15/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV GG
SUBJECT: DAS BRYZA'S 13 NOVEMBER MEETING WITH GEORGIAN
ORTHODOX CHURCH PATRIARCH ILIA II


Classified By: Ambassador John Tefft, reason 1.4(b),and (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L TBILISI 002937

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/CARC

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/15/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV GG
SUBJECT: DAS BRYZA'S 13 NOVEMBER MEETING WITH GEORGIAN
ORTHODOX CHURCH PATRIARCH ILIA II


Classified By: Ambassador John Tefft, reason 1.4(b),and (d).


1. (C) Georgian Orthodox Church Patriarch Ilya II told EUR
DAS Matthew Bryza on November 13 that the government should
quickly lift the state of emergency and permit the reopening
of Imedi TV. The Patriarch traced the roots of the 2-7
November street protests to social and economic discontent.
The size of the protests reflected less the efforts of
opposition leaders than the high level of unemployment, he
concluded. The Patriarch also suggested that new government
efforts to reduce unemployment would help pacify the
political situation.


2. (C) While he expressed concern that the "categorical
thinking" of some leaders could spark renewed conflict, the
Patriarch voiced optimism that the country would now move
toward a peaceful resolution of the crisis. Imedi TV and
other independent media can play a positive role in airing
alternative views, said the Patriarch, but they must also
exercise good judgment regarding the contents of their
programming. The Patriarch called for the planned January
2008 presidential elections to be conducted in a transparent,
democratic and free manner, and welcomed U.S. assistance in
achieving this goal.


3. DAS Bryza agreed with Patriarch Ilya's analysis, and
congratulated the Patriarch on his constructive role in
convening negotiations among Georgian opposition leaders and
Speaker Burjanadze. DAS Bryza also appealed to Patriarch
Ilya for help in protecting Armenian church property,
including resolution of property disputes and preventing
further vandalism of Armenian churches (e.g. chiseling away
Armenian writing and other symbols on church exteriors).
Patriarch Ilya was non-committal in response.


4. DAS Bryza has cleared this telegram.
TEFFT