GEORGIA'S ENVIRONMENT MINISTER PLANS REFORMS

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E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL SENV SCUL BEXP AID GG
SUBJECT: GEORGIA'S ENVIRONMENT MINISTER PLANS REFORMS

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1. (SBU) Begin summary. During a December 23 meeting with
the Ambassador, new Minister of Environmental Protection and
Natural Resources, Giorgi Khachidze, was upbeat and energized
about his plans for reforms, including the finalization of a
strategic environmental plan for the country. He described
his plans for forestry reform, stressed the need to elevate
the issue of environmental protection in Georgia, illustrated
some ideas for increasing cooperation with the United States,
especially in the protected areas program, and discussed
nonproliferation issues (septel). Many of the reforms he
discussed, especially in terms of strategic planning and
forestry reform, are in line with recommendations by the
United States and other donors for holistic management
interventions that conserve watersheds while allowing for
sstainable exploitation. However, in terms of solid waste
disposal in Georgia, which is not in accordance with
international standards and has led to unsanitary landfills
and toxic plumes of smoke, the Minister was not yet able to
provide any plan of action. End summary.


2. (SBU) Khachidze began the meeting by acknowledging the
importance of Georgia's relationship with the United States,
especially for his ministry. He recalled seeing the
Ambassador last September when the Minister served as
Governor of Samtskhe-Javakheti region, and viewing with the
Ambassador the fire damage caused by Russian troops during
the August war in Borjomi National Park. He discussed the
positive changes he foresees for the ministry, and said that
they are currently finalizing a concrete high-level strategic
planning document. Khachidze stressed the importance of
having everyone deal with the Ministry as an institution and
not simply the personality of each, successive Minister.

Forestry Reform


3. (SBU) Khachidze highlighted the issue of forestry reform
as one of his priorities for 2009. He said that he would
like the state to be the administrator of the forests. While
not implying that interested investors will be turned down
and saying that a long-term licensing office will exist, he
stated emphatically that the state is the best forestry
manager. The Ambassador applauded this decision, as the U.S.
and other stakeholders had objected to a 2007 effort to
privatize Georgia's natural resources, including forests, in
the absence of an official natural resources strategy.
Khachidze also pointed out that while they were already
working with the Germans in the area of forestry, he was very
interested in renewing contacts with the State of Georgia
Forestry Commission, and asked the Ambassador for help making
this connection.

Environmental Protection


4. (SBU) Khachidze stressed the importance of environmental
issues in assistance projects. He specifically noted concern
regarding a Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) road
construction project that required logging an area near a
nature preserve. The Ambassador assured the Minister that
all U.S. assistance projects are held to strict environmental
standards and vetting accordingly. (Note: The project
mentioned by Khachidze passed an environmental review by both
the Government of Georgia and MCC. The MCC's review was
based on international best practices, and required the
contractor to mitigate any environmental impact caused by
construction. While the MCC continues to monitor the
construction, this conflict is mainly internal, as Millennium
Challenge Georgia and its board, chaired by the Prime
QChallenge Georgia and its board, chaired by the Prime
Minister, is the administrator and final approver of the
contract. End note.) Khachidze said that he hoped for more
environmental projects with USAID in the future. The
Minister lamented that the concept of environmental
protection still does not exist in the minds of Georgians,
and he hopes to change this by introducing campaigns that
directly impact everyday citizens. For example, he would
attempt to decrease plastic bag usage and the scandalous
littering of the environment with these bags. He stated that
while all other ministries protect the people, his ministry
"protects from the people."

Protected Areas


5. (SBU) Khachidze suggested further engaging the Embassy in
the protected areas program by having the Tbilisi National
Park fall under the patronage of the Embassy. He stated that
American visitors would be proud of such efforts, and implied
that it would serve as an inspiration for Georgians as well.
The Ambassador said that the United States is prepared to
continue support for the national parks and said that he
found the Minister's idea for the Tbilisi park interesting.
(Note: USAID has been supporting Georgia's natural resource
conservation through an interagency agreement with the U.S.

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Department of Interior since 1999. As of 2005, the USG has
provided direct technical assistance to the Ministry's
Department of Protected Areas. Through 2009, the USG will
help the Ministry implement the Tbilisi National Park by
providing planning support, developing commercialization
strategies and facilitating infrastructure improvements. End
note.) The Minister said the potential for a new National
Park in the Svaneti/Racha area depended directly on donor
assistance, as the Ministry does not have funds for the
expansion.

Solid Waste


6. (SBU) The Ambassador asked the Minister if he had a
strategy for solid waste disposal, noting that the UN/World
Bank Joint Needs Assessment highlighted it as a critical need
that Georgia must address to protect human health and the
environment, and to demonstrate its willingness to adhere to
international practices towards EU accession. The Minister
responded that he plans to request donor assistance in this
area as well, however, he did not discuss any plans for
action or reform.

TEFFT