GEORGIA: MFA PROPOSALS FOR STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP

UNCLAS TBILISI 001854 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON EINV ENIV ENRG PGOV PREL SUBJECT: GEORGIA: MFA PROPOSALS FOR STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP COMMISSION WORKING GROUP MEETINGS THIS FALL IN TBILISI ¶1. (SBU) Deputy Foreign Minister Giga Bokeria outlined to the Charge Georgian plans for upcoming Strategic Partnership Commission Working Group meetings in Tbilisi. In addition to discussing dates, he suggested possible participation and broad strokes for agenda items. Each of the four working groups is addressed below and Bokeria envisions approximately 10-15 participants per side. In Georgia's view, a full meeting of the Commission could take place again in early 2010, either in Tbilisi or in Washington, D.C. Action Request: post requests Department guidance on responding to the MFA on questions of participation, agenda and dates for the four Working Groups proposed under the Strategic Partnership Commission. SECURITY WORKING GROUP ¶2. (SBU) Bokeria agreed that the Tbilisi visit of ASD Sandy Vershbow on October 19 and 20 provided a valuable opportunity to host the Security Working Group and to launch the working group process agreed to during the inaugural June meeting of the Strategic Partnership Commission in Washington. He proposed that this session be held 10 am - 12 noon on October ¶20. ASD Vershbow would lead on the U.S. side along with possible representatives from EUR and PM in the Department; Deputy Defense Minister Vashakidze and Deputy FM Bokeria would lead on the Georgian side (following the precedent set in the June meetings). -- The tentative agenda for the security working group: -- Security Cooperation: Deployment to Afghanistan; defense transformation and NATO integration. -- Georgian Defense Reforms -- Security/Regional Issues: current security situation; Geneva prospects; maritime issues; international presence (UN, OSCE, EUMM) and missile defense. DEMOCRACY WORKING GROUP AND PEOPLE TO PEOPLE WORKING GROUP ¶3. (SBU) Bokeria recommended the Democracy Working Group take place on the margins of the next Geneva meeting on November 11 - and the group could precede or follow the Geneva meetings. In one scenario, A/S Gordon or DAS Kaidanow could co-chair the session on Tuesday, November 10 or Friday, November 13 along with DRL A/S Posner or PDAS Stewart. Bokeria and Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Eka Zguladze would likely chair for the Georgian side. ¶4. (SBU) Bokeria suggested the People to People session follow the schedule of the Democracy Working Group in order to allow some participants to be present at both. Due to the travel needs of the Geneva participants, this group could meet on Monday November 9 or Thursday November 12. The People to People Working Group could be chaired on the U.S. side by EUR DAS Boyer and/or an ECA DAS or representative, and on the Georgian side by a deputy minister of culture and/or of education. Agenda items may include English language programs, Fulbright master's programs, exchanges and sports diplomacy. There could also be a consular component to this discussion and a CA representative would be welcome. ECONOMIC WORKING GROUP ¶5. (SBU) The Georgian side has proposed holding the Economic Working Group in December (no specific date is yet available). Possible agenda items could include BIT negotiations, enhanced GSP for Georgia, energy security, investment issues and regional trade/transport. EMBASSY POINT OF CONTACT ¶6. (U) Embassy Tbilisi's point of contact for questions on the working groups is Pol-Econ Chief Julie Fisher, fisherjd@state.gov. LOGSDON