Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08TBILISI385
2008-03-07 12:00:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Tbilisi
Cable title:
EX-DEFENSE MINISTER OKRUASHVILI ATTACKS PRESIDENT
how-toVZCZCXRO8343 RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHSI #0385 0671200 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 071200Z MAR 08 FM AMEMBASSY TBILISI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9041 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS TBILISI 000385
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/CARC AND EUR/FO
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR KBIO GG
SUBJECT: EX-DEFENSE MINISTER OKRUASHVILI ATTACKS PRESIDENT
SAAKSHVILI ON ABKHAZIA
UNCLAS TBILISI 000385
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/CARC AND EUR/FO
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR KBIO GG
SUBJECT: EX-DEFENSE MINISTER OKRUASHVILI ATTACKS PRESIDENT
SAAKSHVILI ON ABKHAZIA
1. On March 6, Georgian pro-opposition television station Kavkasia
aired an interview with ex-Defense Minister of Georgia Irakli
Okruashvili, leader of the opposition political party Movement for
United Georgia. The interview was recorded in Paris, where
Okruashvili is under home-arrest awaiting a French court hearing on
his extradition to Georgia. Okruashvili, who became a strong
personal adversary of President Saakashvili, is wanted in Tbilisi
for money extortion, embezzlement, and money laundering.
2. Okruashvili criticized Georgia's opposition for failing to use to
the maximum the momentum of recent protest rallies and stated his
readiness to run in the coming parliamentary elections, unless
barred by "certain circumstances" outside his control, during his
hour-long and widely watched interview.
3. However, the main thrust of Okruashvili's comments, as expected,
was against President Saakashvili. Okruashvili accused Saakashvili
of being weak on the hot button issue of Abkhazia, stating that
"Saakashvili has no plan, no understanding as to what he wants, and
a strong fear of personal discomfort." Okruashvili recalled an
episode when he and Saakashvili were discussing the operation to
take back the Kodori Gorge during the summer of 2006, where
Saakashvili allegedly refuted Okruashvili's suggestion to extend the
operation as a result of fear of persecution by the UN war crimes
tribunal. Okruashvili derisively claimed that Saakashvili "does not
want to take the risk for reunification of the country."
Okruashvili stressed that it is "impossible to reunite the country,
including through possible military operations, and at the same time
want to receive a Nobel Peace Prize." Okruashvili also criticized
Saakashvili for not putting ex-President Shevardnadze on trial for
all he has done to the Georgian people.
4. Okruashvili also responded to Saakashvili's earlier statement
that Okruashvili was Saakashvili's "biggest mistake," noting
agreement with that assessment. "Yes, I was Saakashvili's biggest
mistake as I was not like others, ... I have created a huge
discomfort for him, and I have actually destroyed him."
5. Comment: By ridiculing Saakashvili's ability to return Abkhazia,
Okruashvili was aiming to undermine Saakashvili's most solemn
pledges to reunite the country, make him look weak in the eyes of
the Georgian public vis-`-vis the separatists and Russia, and
blackmail him into taking tougher, potentially military actions
against Abkhazia. End comment.
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/CARC AND EUR/FO
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR KBIO GG
SUBJECT: EX-DEFENSE MINISTER OKRUASHVILI ATTACKS PRESIDENT
SAAKSHVILI ON ABKHAZIA
1. On March 6, Georgian pro-opposition television station Kavkasia
aired an interview with ex-Defense Minister of Georgia Irakli
Okruashvili, leader of the opposition political party Movement for
United Georgia. The interview was recorded in Paris, where
Okruashvili is under home-arrest awaiting a French court hearing on
his extradition to Georgia. Okruashvili, who became a strong
personal adversary of President Saakashvili, is wanted in Tbilisi
for money extortion, embezzlement, and money laundering.
2. Okruashvili criticized Georgia's opposition for failing to use to
the maximum the momentum of recent protest rallies and stated his
readiness to run in the coming parliamentary elections, unless
barred by "certain circumstances" outside his control, during his
hour-long and widely watched interview.
3. However, the main thrust of Okruashvili's comments, as expected,
was against President Saakashvili. Okruashvili accused Saakashvili
of being weak on the hot button issue of Abkhazia, stating that
"Saakashvili has no plan, no understanding as to what he wants, and
a strong fear of personal discomfort." Okruashvili recalled an
episode when he and Saakashvili were discussing the operation to
take back the Kodori Gorge during the summer of 2006, where
Saakashvili allegedly refuted Okruashvili's suggestion to extend the
operation as a result of fear of persecution by the UN war crimes
tribunal. Okruashvili derisively claimed that Saakashvili "does not
want to take the risk for reunification of the country."
Okruashvili stressed that it is "impossible to reunite the country,
including through possible military operations, and at the same time
want to receive a Nobel Peace Prize." Okruashvili also criticized
Saakashvili for not putting ex-President Shevardnadze on trial for
all he has done to the Georgian people.
4. Okruashvili also responded to Saakashvili's earlier statement
that Okruashvili was Saakashvili's "biggest mistake," noting
agreement with that assessment. "Yes, I was Saakashvili's biggest
mistake as I was not like others, ... I have created a huge
discomfort for him, and I have actually destroyed him."
5. Comment: By ridiculing Saakashvili's ability to return Abkhazia,
Okruashvili was aiming to undermine Saakashvili's most solemn
pledges to reunite the country, make him look weak in the eyes of
the Georgian public vis-`-vis the separatists and Russia, and
blackmail him into taking tougher, potentially military actions
against Abkhazia. End comment.