GEORGIA: LATVIAN PRESIDENT OFFERS MISHA MORAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TBILISI 002180

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/09/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV LV GG
SUBJECT: GEORGIA: LATVIAN PRESIDENT OFFERS MISHA MORAL
SUPPORT

Classified By: DEPUTY CHIEF OF MISSION KENT LOGSDON FOR REASONS 1.4 (b)
AND (d)


1. (C) Summary: Latvian President Valdis Zatlers,
accompanied by his wife and 65 Latvian businessmen, paid an
official visit to Georgia in early December. With the
economies of both Latvia and Georgia struggling, the visit
centered on shared possibilities for enhanced business
relationships. Geopolitics and the influence of Russia in
former Soviet states figured prominently in media reports.
Latvian embassy representatives told us that President
Zatlers delivered clear points to President Saakashvili on
Latvia's willingness to support Georgia and share expertise,
while ensuring that this "unwavering support" was balanced
with a message that Georgia needed to "do its homework,"
closely follow EU guidance on international affairs, and be
ready to counter with facts Russian statements to the
international community. This visit continues President
Saakashvili's efforts to build personal relationships with
European leaders, while also doing everything he can to sell
the opportunities present in the Georgian market to
international investors. End Summary.

"Georgia's Place is in Europe"


2. (SBU) Latvian President Valdis Zatlers, following up an
earlier 2009 visit to Baku, traveled again to the south
Caucasus in early December, visiting Georgia December 7-9,
prior to traveling onward to Armenia. Starting in Batumi and
small towns in Ajara, President Zatlers, accompanied by
cabinet members, his wife, and 65 Latvian businessmen, began
the state visit with a clear demonstration of the importance
economics will play in the bilateral relationship. Prior to
arriving in Georgia, President Zatlers stated in an interview
with Georgia Today that the highest priority of the trip
would be to enhance the economic cooperation between the two
nations. In the same article, Zatlers stressed his support
for Georgian integration into the EU and NATO, emphasizing
that "Georgia's place is in Europe," and he stated, in
response to a question about who started the August 2008 war,
that the issue was pointless to discuss since the entire war
took place in Georgian territory.

Meetings and Medals


3. (SBU) In addition to the 65 Latvian businessmen,
President Zatlers also included in the delegation to Georgia
the Latvian Economic, Interior, and Environment ministers, as
well as several senior foreign policy and economic advisors.
After a brief courtesy call with President Saakashvili, The
Latvians met Parliamentary Chairman Davit Bakradze, Prime
Minister Nika Gilauri, Deputy Foreign Minister Giga Bokeria,
as well as Autonomous Republic of Ajara government head Levan
Varshalomidze during the stop in Batumi. Latvian Economics
Minister Artis Kampara and Georgian Minister of Economic
Development Zurab Pololikashvili signed an economic
cooperation agreement in the field of information technology,
and the respective minister of interiors signed a border
cooperation agreement. The state visit could not avoid the
exchanging of presidential medals, with President Zatlers
awarding the Cross of Recognition to Saakashvili, and
President Saakashvili awarding the St. George's Order to
Zatlers.

Business is Big


4. (C) Latvian Embassy Second Secretary and coordinator of
the visit Raimonds Vingris told us that this visit was the
natural next step for President Zatlers after what the
Latvians perceived as a highly successful initial trip to the
QLatvians perceived as a highly successful initial trip to the
Caucasus when he visited Baku. Noting that Zatlers and
Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev had built a strong personal
bond during the state visit ("they genuinely like each
other," according to Vingris) that directly led to concrete
economic bilateral progress, the Latvian president was hoping
to achieve similar results in Georgia and Armenia. Vingris
stressed that economic growth was the highest priority for
the Latvian MFA and its embassies overseas, and the focus of
the visit to Georgia was opening up export markets for
Latvian goods, as well as potentially identifying investment
opportunities that would ultimately benefit the troubled
Latvian economy.

But Don't Forget the Politics


5. (C) According to Vingris, first and most publicly,
President Zatlers stressed repeatedly Latvia's support for
Georgian integration into the EU and NATO. Publicly and
privately, he also stressed Latvia's willingness to pass
along its expertise in any way it could as Georgia navigated

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the difficult route to eventual EU/NATO membership, stressing
that Latvia would lobby as much as it could to ensure
eventual success. Vingris stated that President Zatlers more
quietly emphasized the importance of Saakashvili supporting
EU positions as it related to Russia and the south Caucasus,
and ensure that Georgia "did its homework" in countering
Russian efforts to shape public information and influence
international organization opinions regarding
Georgia-specific issues. Elaborating, he said that Georgia
must always be prepared to immediately put forth factual
evidence to rebut any charges the Russians made towards them.

State Visits to Georgia Remain Interesting Experiences


6. (C) Mr. Vingris also provided a few anecdotes about
setting up and conducting the state visit that would be
easily recognized by all who have worked with President
Saakashvili's protocol staff. While exhausting, Vingris
stated that he was eventually resigned to the fact that
however things might have been planned, they would inevitably
be changed, avoided, or completely forgotten as the event
took place. An initial meet and greet upon President
Zatlers' arrival into Tbilisi with President Saakashvili
which had been planned as a quiet introduction without press
turned into a media circus as dozens of reporters arrived at
the location beforehand, and responded to Latvian challenges
by stating that they had been invited by the president's
staff. The formal meeting at the presidency with its
previously-set seat locations and attendees was also
unexpectedly changed, resulting in President Saakashvili
moving chairs as the meeting began to get a spot closer to
President Zatlers. In spite of these instances of
exasperation, Vingris stressed that Saakashvili was highly
personable and gracious towards President Zatlers, and the
Latvian president left Georgia "all smiles."


7. (C) Comment: President Saakashvili continues to
emphasize international investment for future economic growth
in Georgia, and his ability to personally affect the
situation remains one of Georgia's most potent weapons as it
continues to strive for growth following the August 2008 war.
Baltic countries remain some of Georgia's most natural
allies, both politically and economically, and it is clear
that while Georgia recognizes the overriding importance of
its alliance with the United States, it very much appreciates
the opportunity to enhance and develop its bonds with other
nations closer to home that share its aversion to Russian
efforts to exert its influence. With nothing to lose and
much to gain with enhanced cooperation with countries such as
Latvia, Georgia stands to continue its outreach efforts,
seeking to attract as much international investment as
possible, while touting its positive reviews in the areas of
anti-corruption and business friendliness. Latvia also
provided welcome advice and guidance on how to further
integrate into European structures, and Georgia will continue
to take this advice going forward. End Comment.
BASS