Estonia Still Committed to Georgia

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E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019/08/26
TAGS: PREL PGOV EN GG
SUBJECT: Estonia Still Committed to Georgia

CLASSIFIED BY: Marc Nordberg, Political/Economic Chief; REASON:
1.4(B),(D)

Classified by CDA Karen Decker for Reasons 1.4 B and D.




1. (C) One year after Russia's invasion of Georgia, Estonia remains
strongly committed to helping Georgia overcome the aftermath and
avoid further hostilities. Estonia is driven both by a desire to
share its own successful transformation with other post-Soviet
states, and a fear that it too could fall victim (again) to Russian
aggression. Harry Lahtien, former Director for the MFA's Eastern
Europe and Central Asia Division (and now ChargC) in Minsk),told
Polchief August 6 that Georgia is currently Estonia's highest
assistance priority. Of the GOE's 40 million EEK [USD 3.7 million]
in FY09 foreign assistance money, 12 million (30 percent) is slated
for Georgia. The GOE works with Georgia's central and regional
governments, as well as environmental groups, to build local
governing capacity. Lahtien said Georgia will only be able to
reintegrate Abkhazia and South Ossetia through economic means, by
showing the residents in these areas that life would be better if
they were part of Georgia. However, this strategy also has risks.
Lahtien opined that one reason for the original conflict was that
the GOG was rehabilitating ethnic Georgian villages in South
Ossetia. He said these villages had nicer shops, better roads, and
entertainment facilities, compared to Ossetian villages.
Therefore, the government of South Ossetia initiated conflict when
its own people began to question why Georgians lived better.
Lahtien added that potential to engage exists, especially in
Abkhazia. He said the Abkhaz do not particularly like Russia or
Tbilisi, but are being alienated by Russian businessmen buying
property in Abkhazia.




2. (SBU) Since 2005, the GOE has funded 31 projects in Georgia,
providing USD two million in support. Many of the projects trained
Georgian diplomats, civil servants, and police. Others, drawing on
Estonia's strong experience, developed information technology
projects for Georgian schools and government. Lahtien also said
that Estonian companies have successfully moved into Georgia.
Particularly successful investments involved producing hazelnuts
and walnuts, and exporting wine. He stated that the nut production
is occurring near the Abkhaz border, and was hurt by the war, but
that production has rebounded in the past year. Other Estonian
companies are currently looking into cold storage and transport for
fruit.




3. (SBU) Georgian FM Gregory Vasadze echoed Lahtien's comments in a
talk at the MFA in Tallinn on August 25. Vasadze said Estonia is
one of Georgia's closest allies, that bilateral relations are
exemplary, and that economic cooperation is growing. Vasadze
praised the June visit to Georgia by Estonian FM Paet and a
business delegation, and said Estonia and Georgia would sign
agreements on investment and payment of pensions in September.
Vasadze claimed his government is especially grateful that Estonia
is sharing its experiences of post-Soviet reform, and NATO and EU
accession.




4. (C) Kadri Liik, Director of the International Center for Defense
Studies in Tallinn, told Polchief August 26 that Russia's invasion
of Georgia was a sign that Russia will resort to violence to
preserve its perceived sphere of influence. Estonia therefore is
helping Georgia integrate into western structures, such as NATO.
Liik said her institute, funded largely by Estonia's Ministry of
Defense, has also conducted some training for Georgian diplomats
and civil servants, particularly on civil-military relations. She
fears that Russia would use some of the same pressure tactics it is
employing in Georgia, such as "protection of nationals", in
Estonia, and does not rule out a Russian invasion of Estonia in the
medium term (note: many Estonians shares such fears). Until
Georgia is protected by NATO's Article V, Liik stated the
international community, and particularly the U.S., should make
clear to Russia that further use of force will not be tolerated - a
viewpoint shared by the Estonian government in general.
DECKER