TBILISI EMERGENCY ACTION COMMITTEE MEETINGS

UNCLAS TBILISI 000018 SIPDIS BT SENSITIVE DEPT FOR DS/IP/EUR; BAKU AND YEREVAN FOR RSO E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC GG SUBJECT: TBILISI EMERGENCY ACTION COMMITTEE MEETINGS ¶1. (SBU) On December 30, 2007 and January 4, 2008, Post convened Emergency Action Committee meetings in preparation for the January 5 election for the Georgian presidency. The EAC acknowledged that polling place disruptions during the elections, and civil unrest after the election remain possibilities. Although no specific threats of violence have come to light, Georgian police remain concerned about the possibility of small arms weapons being brought to demonstrations by demonstrators during or after the elections. ¶2. (SBU) The EAC agreed that several measures would be put into place. Given the tendency for the cell phone system to become unreliable around holiday periods, embassy radios will be at the ready for use as a backup means of communications. IMO will also conduct refresher briefings for all that request. ¶3. (SBU) A warden message was issued on January 4, 2008 warning Americans to exercise caution if they encounter rallies and demonstrations associated with the election due to the potential for escalating into violence. ¶4. (SBU) A training session for all US Embassy election observers took place on January 3, 2008 with a portion dedicated to the RSO to relay security procedures. ¶5. (SBU) Two armored vehicles will be dedicated to the congressional delegation of Reps. Alcee Hastings and Rep. Lloyd Doggett who will be participating in election monitoring activities. ¶6. (SBU) IMO will make available satellite phones for observation teams traveling to remote locations. ¶7. (SBU) The DCM, Pol/Econ, and USAID will be physically present and available on election day - Saturday, January 5, 2008 - to field reports from the observer teams and relay appropriate developments to Washington, DC. ¶8. (SBU) DAO will relay to the Marine Security Guard who and where special DAO observers will be deploying in reaction to developments. TEFFT