Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07TBILISI855
2007-04-18 13:26:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Tbilisi
Cable title:  

DEMARCHE REPLY: GEORGIA LOOKS FOR USG SUPPORT TO

Tags:  SENV TPHY WMO GG 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO9347
PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA
RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHSI #0855 1081326
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 181326Z APR 07
FM AMEMBASSY TBILISI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6090
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORPORATION PRIORITY
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

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