PRESIDENT SAAKASHVILI SOFTENS HIS TONE, BUT DIALOGUE WITH

UNCLAS TBILISI 002953

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/CARC AND EUR/FO

SENSITIVE, SIPDIS

E.O 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM GG
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT SAAKASHVILI SOFTENS HIS TONE, BUT DIALOGUE WITH
THE OPPOSITION BREAKS DOWN



1. (SBU) Summary. Dialogue between the government, represented by
Speaker of Parliament Nino Burjanadze, and the government's
political opposition began after the unrest of November 7.
President Saakashvili has been reaching out to various
constituencies in public appearances that are seemingly aimed at
changing perceptions that he is out of touch with the public. The
new Prime Minister, Lado Gurgenidze, has pledged to take the
public's views into account in formulating his policies. Parliament
is quickly moving to enact many of the electoral changes demanded by
the opposition. However, Burjanadze suspended formal discussions
with the opposition on November 19 because she objects to their
constantly changing demands and the introduction of a negotiator who
is suspected of cooperating with the Russians. She believes the
opposition is not serious about negotiations, and is simply marking
time until a new protest rally scheduled for November 25. End
Summary.

President Saakashvili Encourages Dialogue
--------------


2. (SBU) President Saakashvili and Prime Minister-nominee Lado
Gurgenidze held a televised meeting November 19 where the two
discussed their priorities for the future course of the Georgian
government. In particular, Gurgenidze stressed three major goals:
continued economic growth, creation of jobs, and support for social
programs targeting the most vulnerable in Georgia. Gurgenidze
announced planned increases to pensions and teachers' salaries. His
ideas seemed to resonate with the majority of Georgians who are
disgruntled by the disparity between increasing state revenues and
decreasing real household income.


3. (SBU) The most interesting part of the televised discussion was
Saakashvili's emphatic instructions to Gurgenidze to maintain a
constant dialogue with the population-at-large. Saakashvili
stressed that any government plans must be communicated clearly "in
simple, understandable language." He underscored that feedback
from the Georgian people was of paramount importance and the
"distance between the government and the population was to be zero."



4. (SBU) In response to the President's instructions, Gurgenidze
stated in a separate interview later November 19 that his governing
style would be very open and he was ready to have an open dialogue
with the opposition, non-governmental sector and the media.

Opposition and Ruling Party Need Dialogue
--------------


5. (SBU) Parliamentary Speaker Nino Burjanadze has been engaged in a
series of meetings with the United National Coalition of Opposition
(UNC) leaders, the main instigators of the recent Tbilisi protests.
As a result of those talks, parliamentary committees are already
considering a number of amendments to the Election Code, including
more significant measures that require constitutional changes.


6. (SBU) However, the UNC leaders have continued to make additional
demands during the discussions, and made statements that there is
"little sense" in continuing the dialogue when the opposition's main
demands are not being met. On November 19, the UNC also called for
a new protest rally on November 25. This led Burjanadze to question
the real intent of the opposition leaders, who, she feels, are
presenting "ever changing new demands" and actually prefer to return
to street actions instead of continuing the dialogue.


7. (SBU) Burjanadze suspended the dialogue on November 19 because
the opposition desired to substitute Goga Khaindrava for Salome
Zurabichvili as a negotiator while Zurabichvili is in Europe.
Khaindrava, although a member of the United Council of the
opposition, is unacceptable to Burjanadze because he is under a
cloud of suspicion of cooperation with Russian intelligence
operatives. The dialogue with Burjanadze has not resumed as of
November 21 and is likely to remain suspended until the rally on
November 25. Burjanadze urged the Georgian people to ask questions
about the opposition's motives, and offered assurances she will do
what she can to keep the situation "as stable as possible".


8. (SBU) While the recent initiatives to foster dialogue by the
President and the Speaker are laudable (and some would argue,
overdue),compromise is not guaranteed. The opposition is skeptical
of the timing of the Prime Minister's replacement, viewing new PM
Lado Gurgenidze as a "stop-gap" temporary measure to "embellish" the
government's image before the elections. Also, the opposition
continues to be confrontational during the dialogue process.

TEFFT