GEORGIA: CIVIL SOCIETY MEETS WITH A/S GORDON

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TBILISI 001134 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR/CARC E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV RS GG SUBJECT: GEORGIA: CIVIL SOCIETY MEETS WITH A/S GORDON ********************************************* ****** TBILISI 00001134 001.2 OF 002 ZFR ZFR ZFR ZFR ZFR ZFR ZFR ZFR CANCEL MESSAGE, THE MESSAGE WILL BE RESENT BY USER UNDER NEW MRN. ********************************************* ****** TBILISI 00001134 002.2 OF 002 RELATIONS WITH RUSSIA ¶5. (SBU) Participants were eager to learn about U.S. policy towards Russia, especially regarding its impact on the U.S.-Georgia relationship. Assistant Secretary Gordon reaffirmed U.S. support for Georgia, stating that his visit was intended as a way to show Georgians that a better U.S. relationship with Russia will not come at Georgia's expense. He stressed that the U.S. does not accept the Russian concept of a "sphere of influence," nor does the U.S. accept that countries in this region are not free to choose their own allies. He assured the group that President Obama will make this clear when he meets with President Medvedev, and that the Secretary will make this clear at the OSCE ministerial in Corfu. The Assistant Secretary's comments were well received by the attendees. ¶6. (SBU) Participants in the lunch included: Gia Nodia, Director, Caucasus Studies School; Alexander Rondeli, President, Georgia Foundation for International and Strategic Studies; Ekaterina Siradze-Delauny, International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy; Alexi Alexshishvili, Policy and Management Consulting Group; Zurab Abashidze, Board Member, Georgia Council of Foreign Relations. ¶7. (U) A/S Gordon did not have opportunity to clear this cable before his departure. TEFFT