Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09TBILISI1134
2009-06-19 14:16:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Tbilisi
Cable title:
GEORGIA: CIVIL SOCIETY MEETS WITH A/S GORDON
how-toVZCZCXRO5781 OO RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHNP RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSK RUEHSL RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHSI #1134/01 1701416 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 191416Z JUN 09 ZFR FM AMEMBASSY TBILISI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1777 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
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
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