GEORGIAN COAST GUARD READY FOR COOPERATION WITH

UNCLAS TBILISI 001029 STATE FOR EUR/CARC, EEB/TRA/OTP AND PM/ISO E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EWWT EAID PREL MARR SNAR GG SUBJECT: GEORGIAN COAST GUARD READY FOR COOPERATION WITH GLOBAL MARITIME PARTNERSHIP INITIATIVE REF: STATE 50488 ¶1. On June 16, Embassy Econoff presented the concept of the Global Maritime Partnership initiative to Ramaz Papidze, Head of the Resources Management Division of the Georgian Coast Guard Department. The Georgian Coast Guard is an organ of the Border Police, under the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and has responsibility for the security of Georgia's Black Sea coastline and the ports of Batumi and Poti. Georgia's Maritime Transport Department, under the Ministry of Economic Development, has responsibility for safety, navigation and vessel registration, among other duties. The Georgian Navy, under the Ministry of Defense, has a mission similar to that of the Coast Guard, but its state of readiness is not as high. ¶2. Papidze said that he finds the idea of the Global Maritime Partnership interesting and is ready to commit the Coast Guard to cooperation. He went on to explain certain problems in Georgia's maritime security regime. He said that cooperation with the administration of the ports of Poti and Batumi, as well as with the other agencies of the GOG charged with maritime responsibilities, is weak. The Coast Guard has responsibility for surveillance of Georgia's territorial waters, search and rescue, safety at sea, and cooperation with international and foreign authorities on such issues. The Coast Guard has received significant amounts of training from the United States and other countries, and is the best prepared agency in the Georgian government in terms of maritime security. The USG has also funded construction of four radar stations along Georgia's Black Sea coast. Plans are under way for a joint maritime information center that would integrate information management for the Coast Guard, Navy, Maritime Transport and Border Guards. Papidze was concerned about Georgia's ability to inspect cargo and containers, and detect drug smuggling. He would like to see better container security at Georgia's ports. A European Union assistance program is expected to supply Georgia with trained dogs that will help improve the situation. ¶3. From the conversation with Papidze, we gained the impression that cooperation in the areas of port and cargo security, counternarcotics and enhancement of GOG interagency cooperation would be interesting areas to pursue with Georgia under the Global Maritime Partnership initiative. Papidze agreed to serve as a contact for the initiative within the GOG. His telephone number is (995) 32 370 904, and his e-mail is ramazipap@yahoo.com. ¶4. Post notes that Rear Admiral Jody Breckenridge, Director of the Strategic Transformation Team of the U.S. Coast Guard, will be visiting Batumi on June 25-29 in connection with the tenth anniversary of the Georgian Coast Guard. Papidze said that the GOG will also be hosting conference on integrated border management with the participation of all Black Sea countries, at which the participants will share experiences and discuss next steps to improve border security in the region. The visit by Rear Admiral Breckenridge and the conference could provide opportunities to discuss ideas for specific Global Maritime Partnership programs. TEFFT