(U) KUDOS AND FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS FOR REPORTING

S E C R E T STATE 013593 NOFORN SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/16/2035 TAGS: PINR PREL SCUL GG SUBJECT: (U) KUDOS AND FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS FOR REPORTING ON THE GEORGIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH (C-RE9-02646) REF: A. TBILISI 000081 ¶B. TBILISI 002106 ¶C. TBILISI 002269 Classified By: ELISSA G. PITTERLE, DIRECTOR, INR/OPS ¶1. (S/NF) WASHINGTON ANALYSTS GREATLY APPRECIATE REFS PERTAINING TO THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE GEORGIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH AND GEORGIAN GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS. WE WILL USE THIS REPORTING IN FUTURE ASSESSMENTS TO KEEP POLICYMAKERS INFORMED ON ANY KEY DEVELOPMENTS. WE WELCOME ANY FURTHER INFORMATION POST MAY HAVE ON THESE TOPICS, AND WE WOULD APPRECIATE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THE SPECIFIC ISSUES OUTLINED BELOW, AS TIME AND RESOURCES PERMIT. MANY THANKS. 1) (S) HOW DO SENIOR AND MID-LEVEL GEORGIAN OFFICIALS VIEW THE GEORGIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH'S (GOC) ABILITY TO INFLUENCE GEORGIAN POLITICS? IN WHAT WAYS IS THE CHURCH'S POLITICAL INFLUENCE GROWING, DECREASING, OR STAYING THE SAME? 2) (S) HOW DO SENIOR AND MID-LEVEL GEORGIAN OFFICIALS VIEW THE GOC'S POSITION WITHIN SOCIETY? IN WHAT WAYS DOES THE CHURCH PLAY A POSITIVE AND/OR NEGATIVE ROLE? 3) (S) DO SENIOR AND MID-LEVEL GEORGIAN OFFICIALS VIEW THE CHURCH AS A THREAT TO THE GOVERNMENT'S ABILITY TO PURSUE THE POLICIES IT CHOOSES? IF SO, IN WHAT AREAS? 4) (S) HOW DO SENIOR AND MID-LEVEL GEORGIAN OFFICIALS VIEW THE THREAT OF RUSSIAN INFLUENCE WITHIN THE GOC? 5) (S) WHAT IS THE DEGREE OF ANTI-US/ANTI-WESTERN RHETORIC COMING OUT OF THE GOC? 6) (S) ARE THERE ANY INDICATIONS THAT FACTIONS EXIST WITHIN THE GOC THAT ARE ANGLING TO MOVE THE CHURCH TOWARD A MORE CONSERVATIVE AND ANTI-US AGENDA? IF SO, HOW POWERFUL/INFLUENTIAL ARE THESE FACTIONS? WHAT IS THE GOVERNMENT DOING TO SHAPE THE DYNAMICS WITHIN THE GOC? 7) (S) DOES POST SEE ANY INDICATIONS THAT MIGHT SIGNAL HOW MUCH LONGER PATRIARCH ILIA II WILL LIVE? 8) (S) WHO WITHIN THE CHURCH IS PREDICTED TO SUCCEED PATRIARCH ILIA II? WHAT AFFECT, IF ANY, WOULD THIS HAVE ON GEORGIAN POLITICS? ¶2. (U) PLEASE CITE C-RE9-02646 IN THE SUBJECT LINE OF REPORTING IN RESPONSE TO THE ABOVE QUESTIONS. CLINTON