TBILISI REQUEST FOR TV CO-OP ON POLITICS AND ENDOWMENTS

UNCLAS TBILISI 000287 SIPDIS SIPDIS FOR EUR/CARC, EUR/PPD AND PA/OBS/BS - GSANTULLI E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OPRC OIIP KPAO GG SUBJECT: TBILISI REQUEST FOR TV CO-OP ON POLITICS AND ENDOWMENTS ¶1. SUMMARY: Embassy Tbilisi requests that a TV Co-op on politics and secondarily focused on endowments be scheduled for April 2008. The timing of this TV Co-op program is especially fortuitous as Georgia held highly contested presidential elections in January and will hold parliamentary elections in May. The end product has a guaranteed placement on highly-rated commercial TV Company Rustavi 2 which has nationwide coverage which will capture diverse audiences to promote U.S. democratic values in Georgia. PAS hopes that key messages on different elements of the U.S. political culture, such as the role of debates, the importance of accepting the results of elections, the role of an ethical and professional media - will resonate with the Georgian public and encourage discussions between the government and opposition. END SUMMARY. ¶2. TIMEFRAME: April 2008 ¶3. JUSTIFICATION: Embassy Tbilisi asks for support for a Rustavi-2 crew to cover the primary election process in the U.S., attend/observe and report on primaries with a focus on the U.S. electoral process and the democratic culture of American elections. The U.S. is widely perceived in Georgia as primary strategic partner and the Georgian public closely watches U.S. political life. This co-op will help the Georgian public get a better understanding of the political culture in the U.S. which will facilitate the process of enhancing public awareness of the democratic election processes in Georgia. The timing is also perfect for highlighting these topics as Georgia gets ready for parliamentary elections in the spring of ¶2008. While the U.S. is seen as an ardent supporter of Georgia's democracy some Georgians are uncertain in case the next U.S. president is a democrat if he/she will continue to support Georgia. This TV co-op will also dispel these fears and emphasize U.S. foreign policy's bipartisan nature. The crew will also benefit professionally from working with an FPC producer. PAS expects the experience gained in the U.S. to serve as a tutorial for covering the Georgian parliamentary elections. Rustavi-2 crew's interviews with U.S. political figures, could also focus on federal, state, local, primary, general and election, as well as ancillary topics such as polling, exit polling, vote tabulation, etc. All the above will contribute to creating a political culture within Georgian communities. The Georgian opposition still questions the legitimacy of President Saakashvili, if only as a political tactic, even though international observers qualified the January 5th Presidential election as complying with essential western democratic standards. ¶4. As a secondary topic Embassy Tbilisi suggests a focus on endowment practices in the U.S.: Georgia does not have an endowment law. Educational, cultural and civil society organizations must depend on Western donor or on limited Georgian Government financing. To educate the Georgian public on what an endowment is, and to develop public support for the introduction of an endowment law in Georgia, PAS Tbilisi proposes a TV Co-op dealing with endowments as a secondary theme. Co-op reporters could visit a U.S. university such as Georgetown to speak to university administration and financial officers about their endowment, and film footage of buildings or facilities supported through an endowment. The reporters could also visit a premiere U.S. cultural institution such as the Smithsonian Institute or the Kennedy Center to discuss financial planning for cultural institutions and also film footage of exhibits or performances supported through endowment funds. ¶5. NOMINEES: Embassy Tbilisi nominates three persons for the TV co-op: David Kikalishvili, anchor of Post Scriptum, weekly TV magazine, Rustavi 2, DOB: 16 March,1968 Arkadi (Aka) Jorbenadze, cameraman, Rustavi 2, DOB: 31 Dec, 1979. PAS Staff member Khatuna (Hatia) Jinjikhadze, DOB: 24 Dec, 1966. TEFFT