GEORGIA: VP BIDEN'S VISIT/SPEECH PLEASES EVERYBODY

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SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OVIP PREF PREL GG
SUBJECT: GEORGIA: VP BIDEN'S VISIT/SPEECH PLEASES EVERYBODY
- ALMOST


1. (SBU) Summary/Comment. The Vice President's two-day
trip to Tbilisi received extensive coverage by the Georgian
press and elicited an overwhelmingly positive response from
ruling party and opposition politicians, the media, and
Georgian political analysts alike. VP Biden's speech at the
Georgian Parliament and meeting with young people from the
IDP community at the Youth Palace received the most attention
and were broadcast live and replayed during the day. Many
welcomed the Vice President's "historic" address to
Parliament and interpreted his frank statements relating to
Abkhazia and South Ossetia, Georgian territorial integrity,
and NATO membership as a firm stand against Russia's
perceived nefarious intentions in the region. The high hopes
and expectations harbored by many Georgians before the visit
were met, and in many cases exceeded. End Summary/Comment.

VP VISIT HUGE SUCCESS


2. (SBU) VP Biden's July 23 speeches at the Parliament and
Youth Palace dominate Georgian headlines, while his
discussion with civil society and opposition leaders on July
23 and his remarks at a banquet at the Presidential Palace on
July 22 also received significant press coverage. The Vice
President set the tone for the visit at the President's
Palace the first night, where he expressed his intent to send
an "unequivocal, clear, simple message to all who will listen
and some who don't want to listen, that America stands with
you and will continue to stand" with Georgia. Saakashvili
called the visit historic and awarded the Vice President the
St. George's Victory Order, Georgia's most prestigious award
for foreigners, for his continued support of Georgia. In a
meeting with ruling party MPs a day after the visit,
Saakashvili said that it's clear that "Georgia has won
serious diplomatic victories and that Russia is not a local,
but a global problem, and that Georgia is not alone."
Saakashvili noted that the short-term outcome of the visit is
that Putin's plan to fully occupy Georgia has been foiled.

PERSONAL CONNETIONS AT IDP MEETING


3. (SBU) The Vice President's conversations with IDP
children at the Youth Palace on July 23 evoked a particularly
emotional response in Tbilisi. After listening to several
tragic stories from the children, VP Biden shared his own
personal tragedy of losing his wife and young daughter in a
car crash in 1972. The Vice President was hailed for the
compassion and sincerity he expressed, which deeply resonated
with his Georgian audience. After the meeting, Saakashvili
rhetorically told "Russianites" (those who are pro-Russian in
their foreign policy orientation),"You have seen Biden's
meeting with IDP children. Which Russian official could have
spoken like that? Who could have demonstrated such humanity
and such ability to share you concerns?"

PARLIAMENT SPEECH EXCEEDS EXPECTATIONS


4. (SBU) While most Georgians anticipated a reaffirmation
of U.S. support for Georgia, the Vice President's
straightforward address to the Georgian Parliament on July 23
overwhelmingly exceeded their expectations. Georgian
political analysts characterized VP Biden's speech as
confirmation of U.S. support for Georgia's independence and
territorial integrity. Analysts Kakha Gogolashvili and Zurab
Abashidze noted that the Vice President voiced several key
messages to Russia, the most important being that the United
States rejects the notion of spheres of influence.


5. (SBU) Government officials were particularly pleased
Q5. (SBU) Government officials were particularly pleased
with the speech. Saakashvili called the address "truly
historic and very inspirational. I was moved frankly."
Speaker of Parliament David Bakradze, who introduced the Vice
President, remarked, "(w)hat we have heard today has exceeded
all our expectations. The speech was extremely sincere,
emotional, and none of the topics were avoided. The main
signal of the speech was that Georgia will never become
hostage of any other policies. Of course behind closed doors
there was discussion of the concrete components of the
declared position, such as security and defense capability,
de-occupation, economic cooperation, and democratic reforms.
It was clear that Biden has taken Georgia's problems very
close to his heart." Georgian Ambassador to the United
States Batu Kutelia stated that, "(t)his has been an
unprecedented address in Georgia's recent history, as very
clear support has been stated." Deputy Foreign Minister Nino
Kalandadze commented, "I did not expect that he would state
the position of full support so clearly." Minister of
Culture Nik Rurua joined Saakashvili in assessing the address
as "historic", while Education Minister Nika Gvaramia noted
that "Biden pointed out that Georgia set an example to the

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civilized world." Vice Prime Minister and State Minister for
European Integration Giorgi Baramidze said, "(t)he key
message was just what we had expected to hear, that the
United States will never abandon Georgia in hard times...and
that the sovereignty and territorial integrity are in the
interests of the U.S. government." Tbilisi Mayor Gigi
Ugulava described the visit as a signal for investors that
Georgia is a stable country.

PARLIAMENTARY OPPOSITION ALSO IMPRESSED


6. (SBU) Opposition MP Giorgi Targamadze, leader of
Christian-Democratic Movement and the parliamentary minority,
attended the dinner at the Presidential Palace, and speech at
Parliament, as well Biden's meeting with civil society and
opposition leaders. He remarked, "(a)fter meeting with Vice
President Biden I understood what kind of people America's
founding fathers were" and called Biden "one of the most
far-sighted and wise politicians we have ever seen."
Targamadze stated that "the U.S. is not personalizing its
politics and supports development of democratic institutions.
The U.S. thinks that Georgia is the leader in terms of
developing democracy in the region. Therefore, our
responsibility in front of the people, the future, and the
region has doubled." MP Gia Chakhvadze (National-Democratic
Party) stated, "It is clear that we have foreign policy
support. Now the thing is to build democracy at home." MP
Gia Tortladze (Unified Opposition) commented, "It is clear
that the U.S. is the closest partner to us."

NON-PARLIAMENTARY OPPOSITION SATISFIED


7. (SBU) Non-parliamentary opposition leaders Irakli
Alasania (Our Georgia-Free Democrats),Nino Burjanadze
(Democratic Movement-United Georgia),and Levan Gachechiladze
assessed their meeting with VP Biden and civil society
representatives as important, frank, and satisfactory.
Alasania noted, "(w)e had an open discussion of Georgia's
internal political situation and security. We gave him
detailed information on the current situation and received a
promise that the democratic reforms in Georgia will be the
defining factor in Georgian-U.S. relations. The future
bilateral strategic cooperation will be based on Georgia's
progress in democratic reforms." Burjanadze stated, "I am
really very satisfied... We had a very sincere and open
meeting. There were no recommendations, which truly
underlines the fact that the U.S. is a democratic country and
is our friend. There were assessments. The Vice President
stated clearly that elections and decisions like that are the
internal matters of the Georgian people. The U.S. is not
going to interfere in Georgia's internal affairs. It was
stated clearly that it is the Georgian people and the
Georgian state which have the support of the U.S. and not
concrete individuals." Gachechiladze reported, "(w)e had an
exchange of opinions and two issues were stated: first, it is
the matter of Georgian people who will be their president and
when elections will be held. Second, if Georgia does not take
steps toward freedom, human rights, and democracy, there will
be no U.S. assistance." All three opposition leaders
declined invitations to attend Biden's speech at Parliament.
Burjanadze and Gachechiladze commented that their absence was
a sign of unity with fellow non-parliamentary opposition
leaders who were not invited.

SOME WILL NEVER BE HAPPY


8. (SBU) Sergey Shamba, Abkhaz de facto foreign minister,
commented that "(w)e can exist without U.S. recognition very
Qcommented that "(w)e can exist without U.S. recognition very
well. As a politician I know that there are words, and there
are deeds. Americans can speak about Georgia's territorial
integrity as much as they like, but they will not fight for
Georgians and we will continue defending our country. VP
Biden's visit was only to please the Georgian government."
TEFFT