GEORGIA: CODEL DAVIS DISCUSSES BILATERAL TIES WITH

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TBILISI 000925

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

H FOR CODEL DAVIS, DEPT FOR EUR/CARC

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM KDEM GG
SUBJECT: GEORGIA: CODEL DAVIS DISCUSSES BILATERAL TIES WITH
PRESIDENT, DEFENSE MINISTER, AND PARLIAMENTARIANS


1. (SBU) Summary: During a May 8-9 visit to Tbilisi, CODEL Davis
met with President Saakashvili, Minister of Defense Vasil
Sikharulidze, women leaders in the GOG and Parliament, and the
Speaker of the Parliament (reported septel). Sikharulidze covered
Georgia's ongoing defense reforms and the recent attempted mutiny at
an army tank base. During dinner, the CODEL discussed healthcare
issues and women's leadership in the GOG. Saaakashvili focused on
the Russian challenges facing Georgia and the region, as well as his
plans to respond to ongoing opposition protests by strengthening
institutions over personalities. End summary.

MINISTER OF DEFENSE


2. (SBU) During meetings with CODEL Davis, Minister of Defense
Sikharulidze and Deputy Minister Giorgi Muchaidze discussed the
current security and humanitarian situation in Georgia and the
occupied territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, the recent
mutiny at Mukhrovani military base, bilateral defense cooperation,
and the implementation of reforms in the defense sphere.


3. (SBU) The Minister stated that the Russians continue to violate
the 6-point agreement and undermine the Geneva process. He
described the status of ethnic Georgians in Abkhazia and South
Ossetia as "deplorable." The Minister said the May 5 mutiny at
Mukhrovani Military Base was a serious, but isolated incident. The
Ambassador praised the Government of Georgia for not casting wild
accusations of involvement at the Russians, but rather taking the
time to properly investigate the incident before assigning blame.



4. (SBU) The CODEL thanked the Minister for volunteering troops for
Afghanistan, where the Georgians will be supporting a French
contingent. The Minister noted that the Turks had also recently
approached him requesting troops to support one of their
contingents. The Minister ended the meeting with a discussion of
the implementation of reforms in the defense sphere. He said
training and education are his top reform priorities and key for the
future of the armed forces. The Minister is also seeking to improve
personnel and financial management systems. Improving the housing
situation of soldiers and their families was also raised.

WOMEN LEADERS IN GOVERNMENT


5. (SBU) The CODEL hosted dinner for female representatives from
Georgian ministries and Parliament. Those attending included
Rusudan Kervalishvili, Deputy Chairperson of Parliament; Khatuna
Gogorishvili, Chairperson on Procedural Issues and Rules Committee;
Magdalina Anikashvili, Deputy Chair Healthcare and Social Issues
Committee; Chiora Taktakishvili, Deputy Chair Legal Issues
Committee; Tina Burjaliani, First Deputy Minister of Justice; and
Helen Khoshtaria, Deputy State Minister for Euro-Atlantic
Integration. The discussion focused on Georgia's new healthcare
initiatives to make care affordable for all members of sciety,
women's education and wellness, and how to increase the number of
women in various key-decision making roles in government.
Kervalishvili expressed her deep appreciation for continued U.S.
assistance and support in the face of on-going challenges.

PRESIDENT HOSTS EARLY MORNING EVENT


6. (SBU) President Saakashvili hosted an early breakfast May 9 after
arriving from Prague where he had participted in the EU's Eastern
Partnership Summit. Chief of Staff Natalia Kancheli and National
Security Advisor Eka Tkeshelashvili attended. Saakashvili said he
had never seen the Europeans so understanding of the Russian threat
-- not just to Georgia's existence, but to the broader region. He
Q-- not just to Georgia's existence, but to the broader region. He
said Russia is pushing to monopolize Central Asian energy and
reassert control over the Caucasus. While Russian occupation of
Georgian territory is bad enough, he said their control of
two-thirds of Georgia's coastline is especially serious.
Saakashvili noted Russia's internal problems, and thought that these
problems might make it difficult over the long term for Russia to
maintain its control over Georgia's separatist regions. However, he
added that 80 percent of the ethnic Georgians from these regions
have been forced from their homes.


7. (SBU) On a positive note, the President proudly noted his fight
against corruption - one that has largely rooted out corruption in
state institutions. He said people now trust these institutions
more than any individual politician, including himself. He believes
that by allowing the opposition protests in Tbilisi to continue,
people will respect governmental bodies even more and move the
country away from a cult of personality. He believes that the
non-parliamentary opposition is losing support and hopes that some
of the less radical leaders will engage in a constructive dialogue
on reform.


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8. (SBU) Saakashvili and the CODEL discussed strengthening and
implementing the U.S.-Georgia Charter on Strategic Partnership. He
welcomed Senator Kerry's and Representative Dreier's resolution
calling for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Georgia. He said an
FTA with Europe is also key to restoring Georgia's economic growth.



9. (SBU) The group talked about regional challenges, including
Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Turkey. Representative Davis thanked the
President for his offer to contribute Georgian troops to ISAF.
Saakashvili offered the CODEL the use of any Georgian infrastructure
to support ISAF. He then ended the conversation on its beginning
note, noting again that Russia remains a key challenge to not just
Georgia's autonomy, but that of Central Asia and Europe as well.

TEFFT