GEORGIA: SITREP 23: DOMESTIC POLITICIANS BEGIN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TBILISI 001506

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/CARC AND TASKFORCE-1

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/03/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM RU GG
SUBJECT: GEORGIA: SITREP 23: DOMESTIC POLITICIANS BEGIN
TALKS, RUSSIAN DIPLOMATS DEPART

REF: TBILISI 1496

TBILISI 00001506 001.2 OF 002


Classified By: AMBASSADOR JOHN F. TEFFT FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)


1. (C) Summary. On September 2 ruling party and opposition
politicians met to find a way forward on the domestic
political front that will maintain national unity while
ensuring the opposition's concerns are not lost. The
government sees next steps on the conflicts as the withdrawal
of Russian forces from undisputed Georgian territory (read
Georgia proper),the establishment of an EU observer mission,
and then the replacement of Russian peacekeepers in the
disputed regions. The Georgian government has severed
diplomatic relations with Russia, but will maintain a
consular presence in Moscow; on September 3 the Russian
Embassy in Tbilisi will cease most operations. In a letter
to Human Rights Watch, the government asserted that its use
of cluster bombs was limited to military targets near the
Roki Tunnel. End Summary.

DOMESTIC POLITICAL ROUNDTABLE
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2. (C) On September 2 representatives of seven minority and
opposition parties, plus two independent politicians, met
with United National Movement representatives, including
Speaker of Parliament David Bakradze, to try to find
sufficient common ground to maintain national unity during
this difficult period while ensuring the opposition's
concerns are addressed. International observers, including
representatives of the EU, the French Embassy, the
International Republican Institute, and the U.S. Embassy
attended the meeting. The ruling party provided a draft
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with three points: 1)
Maintain Georgia's territorial integrity; 2) Pursue NATO (and
later EU) membership for Georgia; and 3) Ensure all protests
are conducted by constitutional means and "consider the
national security interests" of the country. Christian
Democratic Movement Chairman and Parliamentary Minority
Leader Giorgi Targamadze noted that the opposition supports
all three points, but also wants the government to commit to
democratic reform, including freedom of the media (starting
with a truly independent weekly talk show on a public
network) and an improved election code prior to local
elections. He did not support early elections in 2009,
calling such a proposal impractical. Other opposition
members, led by Koba Davitashvili, pushed for the creation of
an Anti-Crisis Commission. The ruling party countered that
the MOU is meant to be an agreement on values that would pave
the way for more concrete cooperation. The group will meet
again September 4 to discuss a revised draft, with a fourth
point covering Targamadze and Davitashvili's concerns.

BOKERIA OUTLINES NEXT STEPS
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3. (U) In a public address, Deputy Foreign Minister Giga
Bokeria praised the 11-point plan adopted by the EU as
"historic." He also explained the government's way forward.
First, Russian forces must withdraw from undisputed Georgian
territory to their previously held positions in the disputed
regions. Second, an EU observer mission must be established.
Third, Russian peacekeeping forces in the disputed regions
must be replaced by a new international force.


4. (U) The Parliament opens its fall session today and is
expected to revoke the state of war, which applies to the
entire country, and replace it with a state of emergency,
which would apply only to those areas occupied by Russian
forces.

RUSSIAN DIPLOMATS HEAD HOME
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5. (C) The Foreign Ministry confirmed that it has revoked a
June 1992 Protocol that established diplomatic relations
between Georgia and Russia. In accordance with the Vienna
Convention on Consular Relations, however, it will maintain
three consular officials and some technical staff in Moscow.
A Ministry official cited a possible backlash against
Georgians in Russia as one reason for maintaining the
consular presence. September 3 will be the final day for the
majority of Russian Embassy operations in Tbilisi, with a
special flight planned to take diplomats back to Russia.
Russian consular officials in Tbilisi are reportedly awaiting
further instructions from Moscow on the level of operations
they are to maintain. Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov was
quoted in local media as stating that Russia maintained a
right to review "bilateral travel of citizens," with the

TBILISI 00001506 002 OF 002


apparent implication that Russia could impose travel
restrictions on Georgians.

OSCE OBSERVES ADDITIONAL DETAILS IN MONASTERI
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6. (SBU) On September 3 the OSCE observed howitzers and
tanks, in addition to the previously reported BTRs, in the
small village of Monasteri southwest of Akhalgori and just
north of the administrative border of South Ossetia (reftel),
but again did not see any movements. The OSCE plans another
meeting with Russian General Kulakhmetov late on September 3
to raise once again the issue of access to areas north of
Russian checkpoints, both in Georgia proper and South Ossetia.

CLUSTER BOMB ALLEGATIONS
--------------


7. (U) In response to allegations by Human Rights Watch that
Georgian forces used cluster bombs, the Ministry of Defense
reportedly sent a letter to HRW explaining that Georgian
cluster bombs were aimed at Russian military targets near the
Roki Tunnel, whereas Russian cluster bombs were aimed at
civilian targets.

VISITORS
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8. (SBU) OVP continues its preparations for the September 4
visit.
TEFFT