TBILISI UPDATE: 12/3/07

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