Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07TBILISI3010
2007-12-03 12:56:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Tbilisi
how-toVZCZCXRO2121 PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHSI #3010/01 3371256 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 031256Z DEC 07 FM AMEMBASSY TBILISI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8353 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TBILISI 003010
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/CARC
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM GG
SUBJECT: TBILISI UPDATE: 12/3/07
REF: TBILISI 2999
--------------------------------
OSCE Ambassadorial Working Group
---------------------------------
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TBILISI 003010
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/CARC
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM GG
SUBJECT: TBILISI UPDATE: 12/3/07
REF: TBILISI 2999
--------------
OSCE Ambassadorial Working Group
--------------
1. (U) On November 30, the Ambassador attended an OSCE
Ambassadorial Working Group to discuss the upcoming Georgian
Presidential Elections. OSCE members underscored the tense
political climate and the low level of confidence the public
has in the Central Election Commission (CEC). One of the
largest frustrations for the Council of Europe and OSCE was
that the final form of the amended Election Code was not
clear at the time of the meeting. (Note: The Parliament has
now passed the amended code.) Ambassador Igor Gaon, Council
of Europe, praised the work of the CEC Chairman Levan
Tarkhnishvili, and complimented his professionalism and the
job the CEC has done to clean up the election lists.
However, Gaon complained that changes to the election law are
continually being proposed. Without a final text of the
Election Code available in English, the Council was concerned
ODIHR will not be able to complete its monitoring mission
properly. The German Ambassador agreed to draft a letter for
all Ambassadors to sign to be sent to Acting President
Burjanadze, asking her to clarify whether questions about the
election code should be sent to CEC Chairman Tarkhnishvili or
to the Secretary of the National Security Council and
coordinator for the international community on elections,
Alexander Lomaia.
--------------
Misuse of "Administrative Resources"
--------------
2. (SBU) During the Working Group meeting, Ambassador Gaon
said that the opposition is crying foul to former President
Saakashvili's continued use of the official presidential
residence, transport and security, although he has resigned.
Gaon believes Saakashvili has an unfair advantage, and he
said that in no other country is a president who has resigned
given such leeway during a campaign. Gaon said, at the very
least, the National Movement Party should pay for the car,
fuel, and other perks which Saakashvili is using. All
present agreed that the cost of security shouldn't be an
issue, as all declared Presidential candidates in most
countries are afforded this courtesy. The Ambassador said
that what constitutes "administrative resources" is unclear
and that there is no one gold standard to which all countries
adhere. Other Ambassadors present agreed that a clear line
needs to be drawn to define what is acceptable and what is
not.
--------------
Soldiers Voting in Iraq; Updating Voter Lists
--------------
3. (U) The CEC said that the Ministry of Defense will confirm
the number of soldiers in Iraq to facilitate their voting.
The CEC is expected to receive this information from MOD on 3
December. The CEC has said that there will be a special
polling place arranged for soldiers in Iraq, but no other
information was available. The CEC insisted that all
soldiers would be permitted to vote.
4. (U) The CEC posted several updated voter lists on the
Internet December 1. The CEC plans to release the remaining
lists gradually in the next few days. Tarkhnishvili said
voters will have a chance to check their name on-line and if
they find any errors, they can correct them before the
election.
--------------
Presidential Campaign Continues
--------------
5. (SBU) On December 2 television station Rustavi 2 reported
the results of a survey by Business Consulting Group (BCG),
which showed Saakashvili as the frontrunner presidential
candidate. The BCG survey was commissioned by Saakashvili's
campaign. BCG was run by Levan Tarkhnishvili before he
became CEC chair, and its current director is his wife. BCG
said it interviewed 10,000 people between November 16 and 29
and reported 71% of respondents planned to vote, and 54.5%
said they would vote for Saakashvili, followed by Levan
Gachechiladze with 15.5% and Badri Patarkatsishvili, with
14.5%. The opposition protested the survey because BCG's
director is related to the Chair of the CEC and challenged
the credibility of the results.
6. (U) The first television campaign ads of the Presidential
TBILISI 00003010 002 OF 002
campaign aired on November 30. A four-minute ad for Mikheil
Saakashvili was presented as a mock news report of his recent
visit to a coal mining town in Imereti. The ad highlighted
Saakashvili's conversation with miners and his promises of
increased employment. Saakashvili is making the return of
IDP's to their homes in Abkhazia a theme of his campaign. In
a December 1 speech, he promised to "create all the necessary
conditions" for their return, in cooperation with with the
international community. In the same speech he promised to
raise the minimum pension to USD 100.
7. (U) Party of the Future candidate Gia Maisashvili said he
would support Saakashvili in the second round of polls if the
choice is between Saakashvili and Badri Patarkatsishvili.
Maisashvili's remarks were the top story on the Georgian
Public Broadcasting (GPB) channel. Labor Party candidate
Shalva Natelashvili opened his party headquarters December 1
in Tbilisi.
-------------- --
Opposition Claims Attacks Against Party Members
-------------- --
8. (U) The United National Council of Opposition (UNC)
reported a series of attacks and intimidation against its
activists on December 1. Republican Party leader Tina
Khidasheli said the UNC office was raided in Tskhaltubo, a
town in Imereti. She also claimed the head of the UNC
campaign in Gardabani was kidnapped and beaten, but later
released. An Interior Ministry spokesman said he was unaware
of these incidents, but urged the opposition to keep the
Ministry informed of any others.
-------------- --------------
PM Gurgenidze Creates Fund to Assist Socially Vulnerable
-------------- --------------
9. (U) PM Lado Gurgenidze announced a joint initiative
November 30 between the Georgian government and the business
community to create a special fund to assist the poor. At
least 15 companies pledged a total GEL 5 million. Gurgenidze
said the government would contribute GEL 10 million.
TEFFT
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/CARC
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM GG
SUBJECT: TBILISI UPDATE: 12/3/07
REF: TBILISI 2999
--------------
OSCE Ambassadorial Working Group
--------------
1. (U) On November 30, the Ambassador attended an OSCE
Ambassadorial Working Group to discuss the upcoming Georgian
Presidential Elections. OSCE members underscored the tense
political climate and the low level of confidence the public
has in the Central Election Commission (CEC). One of the
largest frustrations for the Council of Europe and OSCE was
that the final form of the amended Election Code was not
clear at the time of the meeting. (Note: The Parliament has
now passed the amended code.) Ambassador Igor Gaon, Council
of Europe, praised the work of the CEC Chairman Levan
Tarkhnishvili, and complimented his professionalism and the
job the CEC has done to clean up the election lists.
However, Gaon complained that changes to the election law are
continually being proposed. Without a final text of the
Election Code available in English, the Council was concerned
ODIHR will not be able to complete its monitoring mission
properly. The German Ambassador agreed to draft a letter for
all Ambassadors to sign to be sent to Acting President
Burjanadze, asking her to clarify whether questions about the
election code should be sent to CEC Chairman Tarkhnishvili or
to the Secretary of the National Security Council and
coordinator for the international community on elections,
Alexander Lomaia.
--------------
Misuse of "Administrative Resources"
--------------
2. (SBU) During the Working Group meeting, Ambassador Gaon
said that the opposition is crying foul to former President
Saakashvili's continued use of the official presidential
residence, transport and security, although he has resigned.
Gaon believes Saakashvili has an unfair advantage, and he
said that in no other country is a president who has resigned
given such leeway during a campaign. Gaon said, at the very
least, the National Movement Party should pay for the car,
fuel, and other perks which Saakashvili is using. All
present agreed that the cost of security shouldn't be an
issue, as all declared Presidential candidates in most
countries are afforded this courtesy. The Ambassador said
that what constitutes "administrative resources" is unclear
and that there is no one gold standard to which all countries
adhere. Other Ambassadors present agreed that a clear line
needs to be drawn to define what is acceptable and what is
not.
--------------
Soldiers Voting in Iraq; Updating Voter Lists
--------------
3. (U) The CEC said that the Ministry of Defense will confirm
the number of soldiers in Iraq to facilitate their voting.
The CEC is expected to receive this information from MOD on 3
December. The CEC has said that there will be a special
polling place arranged for soldiers in Iraq, but no other
information was available. The CEC insisted that all
soldiers would be permitted to vote.
4. (U) The CEC posted several updated voter lists on the
Internet December 1. The CEC plans to release the remaining
lists gradually in the next few days. Tarkhnishvili said
voters will have a chance to check their name on-line and if
they find any errors, they can correct them before the
election.
--------------
Presidential Campaign Continues
--------------
5. (SBU) On December 2 television station Rustavi 2 reported
the results of a survey by Business Consulting Group (BCG),
which showed Saakashvili as the frontrunner presidential
candidate. The BCG survey was commissioned by Saakashvili's
campaign. BCG was run by Levan Tarkhnishvili before he
became CEC chair, and its current director is his wife. BCG
said it interviewed 10,000 people between November 16 and 29
and reported 71% of respondents planned to vote, and 54.5%
said they would vote for Saakashvili, followed by Levan
Gachechiladze with 15.5% and Badri Patarkatsishvili, with
14.5%. The opposition protested the survey because BCG's
director is related to the Chair of the CEC and challenged
the credibility of the results.
6. (U) The first television campaign ads of the Presidential
TBILISI 00003010 002 OF 002
campaign aired on November 30. A four-minute ad for Mikheil
Saakashvili was presented as a mock news report of his recent
visit to a coal mining town in Imereti. The ad highlighted
Saakashvili's conversation with miners and his promises of
increased employment. Saakashvili is making the return of
IDP's to their homes in Abkhazia a theme of his campaign. In
a December 1 speech, he promised to "create all the necessary
conditions" for their return, in cooperation with with the
international community. In the same speech he promised to
raise the minimum pension to USD 100.
7. (U) Party of the Future candidate Gia Maisashvili said he
would support Saakashvili in the second round of polls if the
choice is between Saakashvili and Badri Patarkatsishvili.
Maisashvili's remarks were the top story on the Georgian
Public Broadcasting (GPB) channel. Labor Party candidate
Shalva Natelashvili opened his party headquarters December 1
in Tbilisi.
-------------- --
Opposition Claims Attacks Against Party Members
-------------- --
8. (U) The United National Council of Opposition (UNC)
reported a series of attacks and intimidation against its
activists on December 1. Republican Party leader Tina
Khidasheli said the UNC office was raided in Tskhaltubo, a
town in Imereti. She also claimed the head of the UNC
campaign in Gardabani was kidnapped and beaten, but later
released. An Interior Ministry spokesman said he was unaware
of these incidents, but urged the opposition to keep the
Ministry informed of any others.
-------------- --------------
PM Gurgenidze Creates Fund to Assist Socially Vulnerable
-------------- --------------
9. (U) PM Lado Gurgenidze announced a joint initiative
November 30 between the Georgian government and the business
community to create a special fund to assist the poor. At
least 15 companies pledged a total GEL 5 million. Gurgenidze
said the government would contribute GEL 10 million.
TEFFT