Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07TBILISI816
2007-04-13 12:17:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tbilisi
Cable title:  

SOUTH OSSETIA ADMINISTRATIVE STATUS LAW MOVES

Tags:  PGOV PREL GG 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO4078
OO RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHSI #0816/01 1031217
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 131217Z APR 07
FM AMEMBASSY TBILISI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6058
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TBILISI 000816 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR DAS BRYZA AND EUR/CARC

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/12/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL GG
SUBJECT: SOUTH OSSETIA ADMINISTRATIVE STATUS LAW MOVES
THROUGH PARLIAMENT

REF: TBILISI 641

Classified By: Ambassador John F. Tefft for reasons 1.4(b)&(d).

Summary
-------
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TBILISI 000816

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR DAS BRYZA AND EUR/CARC

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/12/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL GG
SUBJECT: SOUTH OSSETIA ADMINISTRATIVE STATUS LAW MOVES
THROUGH PARLIAMENT

REF: TBILISI 641

Classified By: Ambassador John F. Tefft for reasons 1.4(b)&(d).

Summary
--------------

1. (SBU) Parliament Speaker Nino Burjanadze briefed the
diplomatic corps April 11 on the draft law establishing a new
autonomous status for South Ossetia, which had passed
Parliament in second reading just hours earlier. Parliament
passed the bill in third and final reading April 13.
Burjanadze and European Integration Committee chair David
Bakradze explained that the law was intentionally not
detailed, and that many specifics of the autonomy would be
worked out in consultations between the Georgian government
and representatives of the local population. They stressed
that all representatives would be invited to take part in
these talks, including de facto "president" Kokoity and
"alternative president" Sanakoyev. They called for
international support for the initiative, which they said was
designed to give the people of South Ossetia a role in
determining their future and would guarantee European-style
autonomy and preservation of ethnic identity. Following the
bill's final passage, opposition leader Davit Gamkrelidze
publicly called on both Kokoity and Sanakoyev to participate.
End Summary.

Tbilisi Not Dictating Details of Autonomy
--------------

2. (SBU) Burjanadze explained to assembled ambassadors that
the draft law was designed to promote peaceful conflict
resolution by guaranteeing rights and building cooperation
with the population of South Ossetia (translation of draft
law faxed to EUR/CARC). Recognizing opposition faction
leaders present in the briefing, she stressed that this
initiative had the unified support of all parties, and she
noted the bill passed in second reading April 11 with support
from all but one MP. Burjanadze said Georgia was open to
meetings with any representatives of South Ossetian
communities, including Kokoity.


3. (SBU) Bakradze said the initiative would increase the
South Ossetian population's participation in the peace
process, and he stressed that all political forces would have
the opportunity to take part. He conceded that some were

likely to be more interested than others, but he stressed
that the door was open to all. He explained that Georgia did
not intend to obstruct existing mechanisms in the peace
process, but given the lack of progress Georgia was also
looking for new approaches. He said the initiative was
intended to create conditions for a wide, European-style
autonomy with provisions for real self-government and
preservation of ethnic identity, while creating conditions
for democratic elections.


4. (SBU) Bakradze noted that the draft law did not define the
majority of functions of the new administrative unit. He
said the Georgian government had not wanted to do this
unilaterally, but would instead, after the law was
promulgated and the new unit formally created, invite all
representatives of the community to participate in
consultations to decide jointly on the structure,
competencies, and name of the temporary entity. Once
agreement was reached with participating forces, those forces
would them be delegated power as the administration of an
autonomous region. He stressed that they would not be
considered presidential appointees or part of the Georgian
executive branch.

Russian Ambassador: Will Kokoity Agree?
--------------

5. (SBU) During the question period, the Russian Ambassador
asked if the Georgian government had already consulted with
Sanakoyev and Kokoity, and if it was "sure Kokoity is open to
negotiations." Burjanadze reiterated that Georgia was open
to speaking with both sides. She noted that Georgia had made
many overtures for meetings with Kokoity, and remained ready
if the de facto authorities showed interest in talks. She
said there were indications that Sanakoyev is ready to
participate in "serious consultations." Burjanadze added
that the international community, especially the OSCE and
Russia, could play a constructive role in encouraging Kokoity
to participate, commenting that she was sure he would do so
if Russia "strongly recommends" it. Following the briefing,
the Russian Ambassador told the press assembled outside the
room that the Georgian initiative was a step in the wrong
direction.

Comment
--------------

TBILISI 00000816 002 OF 002



6. (C) While the Georgians do not expect Kokoity to
participate in the consultations envisioned in the law, they
are putting the ball in his court to say no. Burjanadze and
Bakradze were careful to stress that they also do not
consider Sanakoyev a legitimately elected leader, and at this
stage he is merely one of multiple community representatives
who will be invited to the talks. Bakradze did say, however,
that Sanakoyev's emergence sent an important message of
reconciliation: that a man who fought the Georgians with a
Kalashnikov in his hands could now be their partner in the
peace process. Clearly the Georgians see Sanakoyev as the
eventual leader of the new administrative unit, but they have
significantly modified their description of the entity since
Saakashvili announced the idea in March. At that time, one
top official suggested the new entity could be headed by a
presidentially appointed governor (reftel),something that
would resemble the practice in other Georgian regions. Now,
they are planning to sit down with Sanakoyev (and possibly
others) to hammer out an autonomous status that provides
special guarantees for self-government and mQrity rights.

TEFFT