GEORGIA: DASD WARLICK'S MEETING WITH DEPUTY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TBILISI 000956

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/08/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV GG
SUBJECT: GEORGIA: DASD WARLICK'S MEETING WITH DEPUTY
FOREIGN MINISTER BOKERIA

Classified By: Ambassador John F. Tefft for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) Summary: Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Mary
Warlick, accompanied by the Ambassador, met May 8 with Deputy
Foreign Minister Giga Bokeria to discuss bilateral issues and
review military assistance programs. The meeting provided an
opportunity for Bokeria to discuss the ongoing political
situation in the country and the government's plans for
resolving the ongoing conflict with the non-parliamentary
opposition. Bokeria questioned DASD Warlick about the
possibility of an ISAF supply route through Georgia, and
noted his view that Turkmenistan was a very viable partner in
this plan. Bokeria described Georgia's positive view of the
European Partnership that was signed May 7 in Prague, the
multinational missions currently in Georgia, and Russian
accusations about Georgian interference in an overflight of
supplies to Afghanistan. Bokeria asked DASD Warlick about
NATO/Georgian relations and the situation surrounding the
Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE) Treaty, and passed on his
suggestions for negotiating with the Russians in upcoming
talks. End Summary.


2. (C) Deputy Minister Bokeria began the meeting by
expressing his gratitude for U.S. economic and military
education assistance to Georgia, and noted that Georgia
remained committed to support a Georgian troop deployment to
Afghanistan. He inquired about the status of an Afghan
supply route through Georgia, and noted, after DASD expressed
our interest in diversifying supplies to ISAF as much as
possible, that Georgia believed Turkmenistan was a highly
viable partner that should be taken seriously. He stated
that Turkmenistan has a "healthy rift" with Russia, and is
more capable of handling Russian pressure than Kyrgyzstan.
Commenting on the Eastern Partnership signing May 7, Bokeria
said that the wording was "not the best," and was a bit too
conservative for Georgia; however, it was a political
declaration and it was an important demonstration of
cooperation with the European Union. He also noted that the
Eastern Partnership was highly positive because it included
President Lukashenko of Belarus in the process, and provided
him another opportunity to balance his competing interests.
In response to a question about Georgian/European relations,
he stated that Georgia did not have any complaints about the
Czechs in their handling of the EU presidency, and that the
Georgians were already working to build relations with the
Swedes as the next EU presidency. Bokeria stated that the
Swedish Foreign Minister was a "great friend" of Georgia, and
a principled minister.


3. (C) When asked about Georgia/NATO relations, Bokeria
stressed that there had been no change in the Georgian
position advocating membership in NATO, and that the
NATO/Georgia Commission was a success. He candidly noted
that the government understood the need for more reforms, and
that major obstacles remained before Georgia could
legitimately claim a seat at the table in the Council.
Deputy Minister Bokeria asked about the CFE treaty, inquiring
about a Russian non-paper passed to the State Department. In
Bokeria's opinion, the Russian proposals were just another
attempt to bolster its desires for spheres of influence in
the world, and was a "non-starter." He expressed regret that
the EU was not treating it as such, but stated his
appreciation for the US including Georgian comments and
positions in its non-paper. He stated that he was
Qpositions in its non-paper. He stated that he was
comfortable with the US' need to negotiate on this issue with
Russia; however, he strongly noted that it should be taken
independently of other negotiations and cautioned that we not
allow the Russians to use it as a bargaining chip for larger
bilateral negotiations.


4. (C) Bokeria spoke frankly about the upcoming Geneva
talks and the consistent threats of non-participation by
South Ossetia and Abkhaz de facto negotiators. He stated
that the participation of officials from the separatist zones
did not matter, and Georgia was interested in direct talks
with Russia. He expressed some worry about the Russians
possibly boycotting the talks, but at this point they were
continuing to plan for discussions about new security
arrangements in the separatist zones. Regarding UNOMIG,
Bokeria again stated his concern with the wording of the
title of the UN Secretary General's May 15 report, and that
any step backwards from "Abkhazia, Georgia" would be a step
towards accepting Russia's "new reality." He noted that such
a step back would be to fall for "open blackmail," send a
"very dangerous signal," and would confirm Moscow's ability
to dictate its positions to the international community. He
adamantly noted that the international community's desire to
come to some consensus is not helpful, as it emboldens the
Russians to continue pressing; instead, the western nations
should continue to place pressure on Russia to abide by its

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statements and agreements signed in the past.


5. (C) In response to Russian statements denouncing
Georgian interference on an overflight ostensibly from Sweden
of supplies to ISAF, Bokeria stated that the government
always runs cursory checks of the companies involved to
ensure no illicit activity takes place. The investigation
had raised Georgian suspicions about the flight, and thus
Georgia did not grant overflight permission. Separately,
Bokeria believed that the Minister of Defense would be
traveling to the US in early June and would be available to
further discuss these issues.


6. (C) The Ambassador raised the issue of ongoing street
protests led by the non-parliamentary opposition and
accusations of mistreatment by the Ministry of Internal
Affairs (MOIA) of those arrested for beating a journalist.
Bokeria promised that all cases would be reviewed, but
stressed to the Ambassador that Deputy Public Defender Giorgi
Chkheidze had no credibility on this issue since he had also
attempted to personally get over the fence into the police
compound (Note: Chkheidze denied this claim; however, he did
say he was at the police station as an observer. End Note.


7. (U) DASD Warlick has cleared this cable.
TEFFT