GEORGIA: GOVERNMENT OFFERS OPPOSITION STRUCTURED

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TBILISI 000660

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/CARC

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/02/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM GG
SUBJECT: GEORGIA: GOVERNMENT OFFERS OPPOSITION STRUCTURED
DIALOGUE

Classified By: AMBASSADOR JOHN F. TEFFT FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)


1. (SBU) Summary: On April 1, Minister of Corrections and
Legal Assistance Dimitry Shashkin presented a GOG proposal
for dialogue and cooperation on the "second wave of
democratic reforms" to the diplomatic community. Shashkin
invited all political parties to discuss the government
proposal on April 2 at a neutral site -- the Tbilisi
Courtyard Marriott. The Christian-Democratic Movement (CDM),
Democratic Party of Georgia, and Public Defender's Office
(PDO) have signaled their intention to participate. Most
non-parliamentary opposition parties, including Irakli
Alasania's Alliance for Georgia, issued a statement
dismissing Shashkin's offer as an "imitation of dialogue and
inadequate." They refuse to talk with the government, unless
the subject is President Saakashvili's resignation. End
Summary.

MAJORITY, SHASHKIN OFFER DIALOGUE


2. (SBU) On March 31 the Parliamentary Majority issued a
statement declaring the GOG's and United National Movement's
(UNM) willingness to "discuss and cooperate together with all
opposition parties" on the implementation of further
democratic reforms in Georgia. On April 1, Shashkin
presented to the diplomatic corps the government's proposed
structure of working groups and special commissions to
execute this willingness. (Note: The proposed structure and
March 31 statement were sent to EUR-CARC and DRL via email.
End note.) Shashkin drafted the proposal after meeting with
Parliamentary Minority Leader Giorgi Targamadze and Deputy
Public Defender Giorgi Chkheidze. Both agreed to support the
proposal.


3. (SBU) The International Republican Institute (of which
Shashkin is the former country director) told us that they
had reserved a room at the Courtyard Marriott for April 2,
where Shashkin could meet and discuss the government proposal
with political parties. Shashkin told the diplomatic corps
that he would invite all political parties to participate.
The CDM and MP Gia Tortladze's party, the Democratic Party of
Georgia, both expressed willingness to participate in the new
structure. CDM Vice Speaker Levan Vepkhvadze said that if
parties refuse to participate, they could not claim to favor
dialogue in resolving current tensions.

NON-PARLIAMENTARY OPPOSITION SPURN OFFER


4. (U) In a joint statement released on April 1
non-parliamentary opposition parties refused to accept the
government offer of dialogue. The non-parliamentary
opposition called Shashkin's proposal a "distraction, and
attempt to mislead society and the international community."
The group said they were interested in dialogue on one topic
only -- Saakashvili's resignation. The statement was signed
by the Alliance for Georgia (New Rights Party, Republican
Party, Irakli Alasania); Democratic Movement; United Georgia
(Nino Burjanadze); Georgia,s Way (Salome Zourabichvili);
Movement for United Georgia (ex-defense minister Irakli
Okruashvili); People's Party (Koba Davitashvili);
Conservative Party (Kakha Kukava and Zviad Dzidziguri); and
Levan Gachechiladze.

NOTICEABLY ABSENT


5. (SBU) Several opposition parties that have signaled their
intent to participate in the April 9 protests did not sign on
to the above statement. This includes the Industrialists
(Zurab Tkemaladze); Movement for a Just Georgia (former PM
Zurab Noghaideli); the Labor Party (Shalva Natelashvili); the
Freedom Party (Konstantine Gamsakhurdia); and other smaller
parties. This could indicate that some non-parliamentary
parties at least want to keep their options open, if they
Qparties at least want to keep their options open, if they
determine Shashkin,s proposals to have merit.

PROPOSAL DETAILS


6. (SBU) Shashkin's proposal envisages a Main Council for
Democratic Reforms that would oversee and coordinate among
multiple, issue-specific councils. The Main Council would
include Shashkin's office, the Majority and Minority Leaders
from Parliament, the Public Defender's Office (PDO),and the
Chairman of Parliament's Legal Affairs Committee. Two other
groups would provide oversight to the Main Council. The
first would be composed of political parties and civil
society organizations. All parties would be invited, as
would those NGOs monitoring democratic reforms. This Council
would propose reforms. The second monitoring group would be
made up of the diplomatic corps, and would receive and share
information, in order to observe and mark the progress of the

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Main Council for Democratic Reforms.


7. (SBU) Shashkin noted that some of the councils already
exist (i.e. The Interagency Council to Combat TIP). (Note:
The details on these councils is contained in the proposal
e-mailed to CARC and DRL. End note.) Shashkin said his goal
is to create four new Working Groups, namely: Media,
Constitutional Reform, Human Rights, and Judicial Reform.

AMBASSADORS WANT TO HELP BUT NOT MEDIATE


8. (SBU) At the April 1 meeting, the Ambassador stressed that
while the U.S. Embassy would support such an initiative, "we
could not and would not be enforcers," nor would this be an
appropriate role for any foreign government. EU Ambassador
Per Eklund agreed with the Ambassador and said such a forum
could help the group report on democratic processes. The
Czech Ambassador, in his EU Presidency role, noted that he
supported such an initiative in principle, but wanted to
discuss it with other EU ambassadors and provide a joint
response. Shashkin also raised the possibility of major
donors participating (i.e. UNDP, USAID, etc.) in the Main
Council for Democratic Reforms. Several ambassadors
expressed concern that Shashkin's structure was so ambitious,
that it would require a significant, dedicated staffing
component to properly execute.

COMMENT
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10. (C) The Georgian public has repeatedly called on both the
opposition and GOG to meet, talk, and compromise for the good
of the country. With Shashkin's proposal, the GOG has again
offered the opposition an opening. Timing the proposal ahead
of the April 9 protests certainly puts the onus on the
opposition. However, rather than call the dealer to ensure
it is not a bluff, the radical opposition has folded by
rejecting the offer. By dismissing the proposal out of hand,
rather than offering some participation or exploration, the
opposition's accusation of "another GOG bait-and-switch"
rings hollow. If they expect to hold the government to
account before the public, then they must engage when given
the opportunity. As the Ambassador and EC Ambassador Eklund
told the media following the April 1 unveiling of the
proposal, "we all support dialogue; compromise is the essence
of democracy." While foreign missions cannot and should not
act as brokers, the idea of using ambassadors to review
progress of the Main Council could help push forward needed
reforms.
TEFFT