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