DEMARCHE REPLY: GEORGIA LOOKS FOR USG SUPPORT TO

UNCLAS TBILISI 000855 SIPDIS SIPDIS EUR/CACEN, IO/T FOR GUINNEVERE ROBERTS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SENV TPHY WMO GG SUBJECT: DEMARCHE REPLY: GEORGIA LOOKS FOR USG SUPPORT TO UPDATE WEATHER SERVICE REF: SECSTATE 047359 ¶1. On April 17, Econoff delivered reftel talking points as a non-paper and solicited GoG views on the World Meterological Organization (WMO) Congress. Econoff met with Ramaz Tchitanava, head of the Hydrometeorological Department of the Ministry of Environment Protection, Irakli Machitizdze of the MFA America's desk, and Zurab Dvalishvili, the Department of Global Affairs Deputy Director. When Econoff asked if Georgia plans to provide extrabudgetary support for the proposed WMO conference, Tchitanava appeared amused and said Georgia can hardly pay its required dues and has lost its voting rights because of its WMO debts. He expressed hope that Georgia could start to repay its debts this year in order to regain voting privileges. Regarding the German proposal for convention change, Tchitanava said the Germans have not approached Georgia for support. ¶2. Tchitanava sees the WMO as a useful venue to improve the Georgian weather service. He expressed interest in US support for a WMO proposal to establish a Caucasus Center Against Desertification, which he said would be similar to a regional center in Slovenia. During the May WMO Congress in Geneva, he will discuss plans for the center with his Azerbaijan and Armenia counterparts. He then asked if Georgia might receive the second-hand technlogical equipment that the U.S. and other wealthier countries no longer need. He reasoned that since Georgia is using decades-old equipment, two- and three-year old equipment would be warmly welcomed in Georgia. TEFFT