(U) REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ON GEORGIAN

S E C R E T STATE 127812

NOFORN
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/14/2034
TAGS: PINR PGOV PREL GG RS
SUBJECT: (U) REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ON GEORGIAN
LEADERSHIP (C-RE9-02345)

Classified By: ELISSA G. PITTERLE, DIRECTOR, INR/OPS. REASON: 1.4(C).


1. (S/NF) WASHINGTON ANALYSTS HAVE A KEEN INTEREST IN THE
VIEWS OF GEORGIAN LEADERSHIP AND ITS POTENTIAL RESPONSE TO
THE CRISIS IN SEPARATIST REGIONS, ESPECIALLY IN SOUTH OSSETIA
AND ABKHAZIA. PARTICULARLY OF INTEREST IS ANY INFORMATION
REGARDING THE PLANS OF PRESIDENT SAAKASHVILI'S ADMINISTRATION
FOR GEORGIA, ITS POLITICAL GOALS AND VIEWS, AND PRESIDENT
SAAKASHVILI'S INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER KEY
GEORGIAN OFFICIALS. WE WOULD APPRECIATE ANY INFORMATION POST
CAN PROVIDE ON THE TOPICS AND QUESTIONS BELOW, AS TIME AND
RESOURCES PERMIT.

1) (C) WHAT ARE THE INTER-RELATIONSHIPS AND PERSONAL
RIVALRIES OR ALLIANCES OF THE FOLLOWING TOP GEORGIAN
OFFICIALS AND THEIR PLANS REGARDING SOUTH OSSETIA AND
ABKHAZIA :

-PRESIDENT - SAAKASHVILI
-PRIME MINISTER - GILAURI
-MINISTER OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS - MERABISHVILI
-MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS CONSTITUTIONAL PROTECTION
DEPARTMENT HEAD - DATA AKHALAIA
-DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER - BOKERIA
-DEFENSE MINISTER - AKHALAIA
-JUSTICE MINISTER - ADEISHVILI
-SPEAKER - BAKRADZE
-NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL ADVISOR - TKESHELASHVILI
-CHIEF OF JOINT STAFF - CHANKOTADZE (C)

2) (C) WHO WITHIN PRESIDENT SAAKASHVILI'S INNER CIRCLE HAS
THE GREATEST INFLUENCE ON HIM REGARDING HIS DECISION-MAKING?
WHO IS PUSHING THE MOST AGGRESSIVE POLICIES, ESPECIALLY IN
THE SEPARATIST AREAS? WHO IS SEEN AS SOMEONE ABLE TO TALK TO
THE SEPARATISTS DE-FACTO GOVERNMENTS?

3) (C) TO WHAT EXTENT DOES THE GEORGIAN LEADERSHIP HAVE A
STRATEGY FOR ABKHAZIA AND SOUTH OSSETIA? WHAT ARE THE MAIN
OBSTACLES? WHAT IS THE TIMETABLE FOR IMPLEMENTATION?

4) (C) WHO ARE THE SOUTH OSSETIA AND ABKHAZIA LOCAL
LEADERS, AND WHO ARE THEIR CLOSEST ASSOCIATES? WHAT IS THEIR
RELATIONSHIP WITH RUSSIAN FORCES?

5) (C) TO WHAT EXTENT CAN MOSCOW INFLUENCE THE ACTIONS OF
GEORGIAN LEADERS, AND THE ABKHAZIA AND SOUTH OSSETIAN
"DEFACTO GOVERNMENTS?"


2. (U) PLEASE CITE C-RE9-02345 IN THE SUBJECT LINE OF
REPORTING IN RESPONSE TO THE ABOVE QUESTIONS.
CLINTON