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| Identifier | Subject | Date | Office | Classification | Tags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 09TBILISI535 |
GEORGIA: SAAKASHVILI SEEKS UNAMBIGUOUS SUPPORT [...] (C) Summary. In a wide-ranging discussion, President Saakashvili and EUR DAS Matt Bryza discussed regional developments, U.S. assistance for Georgia and next steps on the Geneva process. The President shared his views on opposition politicians and the planned April 9 protests. President Sa [...] |
2009-03-20 13:45:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL AM GG |
| 09TBILISI537 |
GEORGIA: MINISTER OF CORRECTIONS INFORMS DIPCORP [...] (SBU) Summary: Minister of Corrections and Legal Assistance (MCLA) Dimitry Shashkin briefed the diplomatic corps March 18 on his ministry's current status and future plans. Shashkin addressed both corrections and democratic reforms, as he did with the Ambassador during a previous meeting (re [...] |
2009-03-20 14:07:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL PHM KDEM GG |
| 09TBILISI538 |
GEORGIA: GOG TO RECOGNIZE OTHER FAITHS, COULD LEAD [...] (C) Summary: Reintegration Minister Temur Yakobashvili told the Ambassador on March 18 that the GoG is working on a change to the Civil Code to recognize additional churches, namely, the Armenian Apostolic Church (AAC), Catholic, Jewish, and Muslim faiths. Currently, only the Georgian Orth [...] |
2009-03-20 14:29:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV KIRF AR RU GG |
| 09TBILISI55 |
GEORGIA: RUMOR MILL CHURNING FEEDING A RUSSIAN [...] (C) Summary/Comment: Post is closely following what has the markings of a possible Russian disinformation campaign to create distrust and speculation with the United States and President Saakashvili in the Georgian public. Rumors of impending U.S. or other outside action to remove Saakashvil [...] |
2009-01-13 14:03:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL GG |
| 09TBILISI559 |
GEORGIA: BURJANADZE SUPPORTERS ARRESTED ON WEAPONS [...] (C) Summary/Comment: At roughly 5am on March 23, a number (roughly six to eight but exact numbers are still unclear) of Nino Burjanadze's supporters were arrested on charges of buying automatic weapons. Burjanadze called the Ambassador to register her outrage and to express concern that sh [...] |
2009-03-23 12:27:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL GG |
| 09TBILISI56 |
GEORGIA: HALO TRUST'S CLEARANCE ACTIVITIES TO [...] (SBU) Summary and comment. A $4 million, USG-funded project being implemented by HALO Trust, a British demining NGO, for training, risk education, surveying and clearance operations in the Gori-Tskhinvali corridor and Abkhazia is back on track after a Georgian regulation threatened to derail [...] |
2009-01-13 14:12:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PARM PGOV PREF SOCI GG |
| 09TBILISI560 |
GEORGIA: IRAN FEELING INSECURE IN CAUCASUS [...] (C) Summary and comment. In a readout to the Ambassador of his recent visit to Iran, Reintegration Minister Temuri Yakobashvili suggested that the Iranians seemed paranoid about potential threats and rivals for regional influence. Russia had effectively fueled that paranoia with allegations o [...] |
2009-03-23 12:54:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MOPS KBTS UNOMIG UNSC RS IR IS GG |
| 09TBILISI57 |
GEORGIA SIGNS MOU ON ENGURI WITH RUSSIAN FIRM RAO [...] (C) SUMMARY: First Deputy Minister of Energy Marika Valishvili confirmed that the Georgian Ministry of Energy and Russian electricity trader InterRAO signed on December 31 a ten-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on joint management of the Enguri Hydropower Plant, located on both sides o [...] |
2009-01-13 14:27:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON ENRG PGOV PREL RU GG |
| 09TBILISI584 |
GEORGIA: FRENCH AMBASSADOR'S COMMENTS ABOUT THE [...] (C) Summary and Comment: France's local Ambassador in Tbilisi Eric Fournier was remarkably blunt in his opening remarks at a local conference March 20 about current European Union policy towards Russia, as well as his own difficulties in getting his ministry in Paris to put Georgia on its pr [...] |
2009-03-24 12:35:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL RS GG |
| 09TBILISI585 |
GEORGIA: BURJANADZE SUPPORTERS ARRESTED - UPDATE [...] (SBU) Summary: National Security Secretary Eka Tkeshelashvili called in the Ambassador to further elaborate the government's position on the arrests of Former Speaker Burjanadze's supporters. At the same time, the Ministry of Internal Affairs released a portion of the video evidence they c [...] |
2009-03-24 13:24:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL ASEC GG |
| 09TBILISI593 |
GEORGIA: OSCE CIO BAKOYANNIS BRINGS LITTLE TO [...] (C) Summary. In a March 23 visit to Tbilisi, OSCE Chairman-in-Office Bakoyannis reviewed progress in negotiating a new OSCE mandate for Georgia with Foreign Minister Vashadze. According to Georgian MFA and OSCE staff, Bakoyannis praised Georgia for its flexibility both privately and publicly [...] |
2009-03-24 14:54:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MOPS KBTS GR RS GG |
| 09TBILISI594 |
GEORGIA: PARLIAMENT'S HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE [...] (C) Summary and Comment: At a March 17 meeting, Parliament's Human Rights Committee Chairman Gia Arsenishvili told Emboffs that the priorities of his committee are passage of the criminal procedure code (CPC), reforms in the penitentiary/parole systems, and concerns about the lack of Georgi [...] |
2009-03-24 14:55:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV GG |
| 09TBILISI604 |
GEORGIA: EUR DAS BRYZA MEETS WITH PM BAKRADZE, [...] (C) Summary: EUR DAS Matt Bryza met with Speaker of Parliament David Bakradze and discussed the future of the UNOMIG, OSCE, and EUMM monitoring missions as well as domestic politics. Minister of Corrections and Legal Assistance Dimitri Shashkin explained his vision for revamping the penal [...] |
2009-03-26 07:09:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL GG |
| 09TBILISI618 |
GEORGIA: APRIL 9 PROTEST MACHINATIONS IN FULL SWING [...] (C) Summary: Both the GOG and non-parliamentary opposition groups are formulating their plans to handle the upcoming April 9 protests at which the opposition will demand the resignation of President Saakashvili and holding new presidential elections. The GOG intends to take a low key appro [...] |
2009-03-26 14:15:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL GG |
| 09TBILISI621 |
GEORGIA: ENCOURAGING GEORGIA TO SUBMIT ANNUAL [...] (SBU) On 27 March, Poloff met with Vasil Rubashvili of the Georgian MFA Security Policy and Euro-Atlantic Integration Department to discuss ref points regarding the submission of Georgia's Annual Declaration on its space and ballistic missile policies as required by the Hague Code of Conduct [...] |
2009-03-27 12:29:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | UNCLASSIFIED | MTCRE PREL MNUC KSCA ETTC TSPA GG |
| 09TBILISI625 |
GEORGIA: TIME TO MOBILIZE ON NEW UN MISSION [...] (C) Summary and comment. UN Special Representative Johan Verbeke offered the U.S., French and German ambassadors additional details on his ideas for a new UN mission in Georgia, as well as a readout of recent trips to Washington, London, Moscow and Prague. He urged western countries to weigh [...] |
2009-03-27 14:52:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MOPS UNSC UNOMIG KBTS RS GG |
| 09TBILISI626 |
GEORGIA: OPPOSITION MEMBERS IN KIRBALI ALLEGE [...] (C) Summary and comment. Residents of the village of Kirbali associated with the oppostion told OSCE that sometime during the week of March 15-21, local police officers approached them at their homes in the evening and asked questions for no apparent reason. Details of the report are sketchy [...] |
2009-03-27 14:53:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM GG |
| 09TBILISI638 |
GEORGIA: IEDS KILL ONE, WOUND SEVERAL; TENSIONS [...] (C) Summary. On March 29, two roadside IEDs killed one and wounded six Georgian police officers outside the village of Dvani, in undisputed Georgian territory just outside the South Ossetian administrative boundary. This was the first fatal incident along the South Ossetian and Abkhaz admini [...] |
2009-03-30 14:28:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MOPS KBTS RS GG |
| 09TBILISI640 |
GEORGIA IMPROVES ITS SCORES IN FORBES RATING [...] Summary: Despite the August war with Russia and the global credit Crisis, Georgia's ranking in Forbes' annual rating of the best countries in which to do business improved from 68 in 2008 to 64 in 2009, out of 127 countries ranked. The ranking makes Georgia one of the leaders in the region an [...] |
2009-03-31 05:38:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON PGOV GG |
| 09TBILISI644 |
GEORGIA: ALASANIA STILL BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD [...] (C) Summary: Head of the opposition Alliance for Georgia ("Alliance") Irakli Alasania requested a meeting with the Ambassador on March 30 to discuss plans for the April 9 protest. Alasania has been in discussions with the UNM ruling party regarding a possible dialogue to overcome the curre [...] |
2009-03-31 15:39:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL GG |
| 09TBILISI645 |
Highlighting World TB day in Georgia [...] Summary: The Ambassador and Embassy officials joined the National Tuberculosis Program (NTP) of Georgia to acknowledge World TB day at the recently opened National Center of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases in Tbilisi on March 24. At the event, the Ambassador congratulated those working in th [...] |
2009-04-01 06:12:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON PGOV GG |
| 09TBILISI652 |
PANDEMIC INFLUENZA TRIPWIRES [...] Per guidance and request we have reviewed and updated our Pandemic Influenza Tripwires. They have been submitted to our EAP via the Crisis and Emergency Planning Application system. They are now pending DS/SPP/EP review prior to inclusion in the published online version. Tefft [...] |
2009-04-01 11:39:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | UNCLASSIFIED | AMGT AMED CASC TBIO ASEC KFLU KSAF KSEO KPAO GG |
| 09TBILISI656 |
GEORGIA: PRESIDENT SAAKASHVILI'S NEW HEALTH INSURANCE [...] Summary/Comment: On March 1, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili's new government initiative to provide inexpensive health insurance to a wider circle of the population was officially launched. Registration for the program will remain open until July  [...] |
2009-04-02 07:54:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON PGOV GG |
| 09TBILISI657 |
GEORGIA: PATRIARCH CALLS FOR CALM AHEAD OF APRIL 9 [...] (C) Summary. In an April 1 meeting, Georgian Orthodox Patriarch Ilia II expressed concern to the Ambassador that the approaching April 9 opposition protests could escalate into violence. The Patriarch said that President Saakashvili and nearly all the opposition leaders, including Alasania, [...] |
2009-04-02 09:26:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV KIRF RU GG |
| 09TBILISI658 |
GEORGIA REMAINS COMMITTED TO CONTRIBUTION IN [...] (C) DCM relayed ref A requests for contributions to Afghanistan to Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Nalbandov on April 2, noting that Foreign Minister Grigol Vashadze had attended the March 31 conference in The Hague and was likely already aware of these requests. Nalbandov reconfirmed Georg [...] |
2009-04-02 14:05:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | NATO PREL MOPS MARR AF GG |
| 09TBILISI660 |
GEORGIA: GOVERNMENT OFFERS OPPOSITION STRUCTURED [...] (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 [...] |
2009-04-02 15:17:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM GG |
| 09TBILISI670 |
GEORGIA OFFERS NON-PAPER ON NEW UN MISSION [...] (C) On April 2, Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Nalbandov called in the DCM to provide a non-paper with Georgia's thoughts on a new UN mission in Abkhazia, Georgia (as promised in ref A; see paragraph 2 for text) and asked for U.S. support. He indicated he would also pass it to UN Special R [...] |
2009-04-06 11:51:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MOPS KBTS RS GG |
| 09TBILISI674 |
GEORGIA: GOOD AND BAD NEWS FROM EUMM [...] (C) Summary and comment. In a recent trip to Moscow, EU Monitoring Mission (EUMM) representatives heard that Russia and South Ossetia have taken steps toward establishing an Incident Prevention Mechanism (Abkhazia still awaits a new UN mandate). According to the EUMM, Russia expressed interes [...] |
2009-04-06 15:20:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV MOPS RS GG |
| 09TBILISI676 |
GEORGIA CALLS NORTH KOREAN LAUNCH "CRAZY" [...] (C) On April 6, DCM delivered to Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Nalbandov the points and statement contained in reftel. Excusing himself for the undiplomatic language, Nalbandov called the North Koreans "crazy" for going forward with the launch and expressed full support for the U.S. posit [...] |
2009-04-07 08:50:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MOPS KBTS KPKO GG |
| 09TBILISI679 |
GEORGIA: OPPOSITION PLANS FOR APRIL 9 PROTESTS [...] (C) Summary/Comment: Barring unforeseen circumstances, planned protests on April 9 will proceed as scheduled. We expect turnout to be substantial, probably numbering in the tens of thousands, but likely less than the 150,000-200,000 some non-parliamentary opposition figures have estimated. [...] |
2009-04-07 09:22:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL GG |
| 09TBILISI681 |
GEORGIA WELCOMES NATO SUMMIT COMMUNIQUE [...] (C) Summary. The Georgian press gave positive media coverage to the NATO Summit, focusing in particular on the detailed and lengthy portions of the communique that dealt with Georgia and its relationship with NATO. In numerous conversations, senior Georgian officials have reached out to inf [...] |
2009-04-07 13:47:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV GG |
| 09TBILISI682 |
GEORGIA SEIZED WITH NON-PAPER ON NEW UN MANDATE [...] (C) On April 6, DCM delivered to Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Nalbandov the non-paper on a new UN mandate for Georgia contained in ref A. Although DCM explained that this did not represent a cleared USG interagency, Nalbandov expressed great appreciation for and interest in the document, [...] |
2009-04-07 13:51:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MOPS KBTS KPKO GG |
| 09TBILISI683 |
GEORGIAN BUSINESS WORRIES ABOUT APRIL 9 INSTABILITY [...] (C) Summary and Comment: Business leaders, both international and Georgian, are increasingly nervous about the upcoming April 9 protest. Nearly to a one, they highlight that opposition leaders, in their single-mindedness to oust Saakashvili, are slowly destroying the economy and Georgia's a [...] |
2009-04-07 14:17:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON ENRG PGOV PREL RU GG |
| 09TBILISI684 |
OPIC FINANCING FOR LOYAL ESTATE LLC PROJECT [...] Summary: In response to reftel, Post's inquiry into Loyal Estate LLC (Hyatt) project revealed no negative information that would impede issuance of OPIC credit. End Summary. 2. Kakha Sharabidze, CEO of the Loyal Estate told Econoff that financing remains in place to construct the hotel alt [...] |
2009-04-08 05:30:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EINV EFIN GG |
| 09TBILISI690 |
Georgia: INL-funded Legal Socialization Program Launched [...] Summary: The Georgia Legal Socialization Project (GLSP), funded by INL and implemented by Project Harmony, has successfully sent Ministry of Internal Affairs neighborhood and patrol police to ninth grade classes in order to work with teachers in implementing Project Harmony's "Lawful Culture" [...] |
2009-04-08 11:41:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | UNCLASSIFIED | SNAR PGOV GG |
| 09TBILISI693 |
GEORGIA: NON PARLIAMENTARY OPPOSITION REJECTS [...] (C) Summary/Comment: While public calls for dialogue increase, the non-parliamentary opposition remains adamant that they will only discuss the terms of President Saakashvili's resignation. The Patriarch, the Ambassador, the EU, President Saakashvili, Christian Democrats and business leade [...] |
2009-04-08 13:14:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL GG |
| 09TBILISI694 |
GEORGIA: USG CANDIDACY FOR UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL [...] (SBU) On 06 April poloff passed reftel talking points regarding the USG candidacy for a seat on the UN Human Rights Council to Nana Shonia, First Secretary of the North America Division in the Department of Americas of MFA. Shonia expressed her understanding of the issue and promised to pass [...] |
2009-04-08 13:14:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM PREL GG |
| 09TBILISI697 |
GEORGIA: OSCE AND EUMM REPORT RUSSIAN TROOP [...] (C) Summary and Comment. While Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov keeps warning of potential Georgian belligerence on April 9, the view from Tbilsi looks exactly the opposite. OSCE, UNOMIG and EUMM monitors are reporting to us that they do not see a Georgian threat, but they do see a substantial [...] |
2009-04-08 14:46:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL RU GG |
| 09TBILISI711 |
GEORGIA: PROTESTS PEACEFUL, OPPOSITION TURNOUT [...] (SBU) Summary: The much anticipated April 9 protests proceeded peacefully, lasting about 6 hours from 2pm to 8pm. Non-parliamentary opposition leaders gave President Saakashvili twenty-four hours to resign or they will engage in further actions. The bulk of the protest took place in front [...] |
2009-04-10 14:42:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL GG |
| 09TBILISI715 |
GEORGIA: PREVIEW OF FM VASHADZE'S MEETING WITH THE [...] (C) The Secretary's April 14 meeting with Georgian FM Grigol Vashadze will help reassure Tbilisi that efforts to improve relations with Russia will not come at the expense of the U.S.-Georgia relationship. The meeting is an opportunity to recognize the restraint and flexibility Georgia has s [...] |
2009-04-13 12:53:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL GG |
| 09TBILISI716 |
GEORGIA: PROTESTS CONTINUE DESPITE WANING INTEREST [...] (C) Summary: Protests waned April 10-12 despite the expiration of the non-parliamentary opposition demand that President Saakashvili resign within 24 hours. On Friday, 5,000-8,000 protesters gathered in front of Parliament and then broke into three groups to block traffic and continue rall [...] |
2009-04-13 13:14:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL GG |
| 09TBILISI717 |
GEORGIA: DIP CORPS TOURS TBILISI PRISON [...] (U) Summary and comment: Minister of Corrections and Legal Assistance (MCLA) Dimitry Shashkin invited the diplomatic corps to visit Tbilisi's Gldani prison in order to assess the state of Georgia's prison system. The Ambassador, along with multiple ambassadors, diplomats, and NGO representati [...] |
2009-04-13 13:15:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PGOV PHUM KDEM GG |
| 09TBILISI719 |
GEORGIA: INCREASED RUSSIAN MILITARY ACTIVITY IN [...] (C) A non-paper passed to the Ambassador on April 11 from the Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicates movements of Russian Black Sea naval forces from Sevastopol into the Black Sea. We believe that this information was passed to the Georgians by the Ukrainians. An April 11 report from [...] |
2009-04-13 14:53:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR RU GG |
| 09TBILISI723 |
GEORGIA: FOREIGN MINISTRY TO FILE A BRIEF WITH ICJ [...] (SBU) Georgian MFA Legal Department Director Irakli Giviashvili called in the DCM April 13 to inform us that Georgia planned to submit a brief to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) arguig against the legality of Kosovo's declaration of independence. Giviashvili said First Deputy Minis [...] |
2009-04-14 08:00:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | AORC ECON EFIN GG PREL ICJ |
| 09TBILISI728 |
GEORGIA: PROTESTS TACTICS CHANGE SLIGHTLY, CROWDS [...] (C) Summary: A crowd of roughly 5,000-9,000 gathered in front of Parliament at about 3 pm Monday, April 13 to listen to another round of speeches and take further direction from non-parliamentary opposition leaders. At roughly 5:30 pm, the majority of the crowd (Embassy Observers estimate [...] |
2009-04-14 13:34:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL GG |
| 09TBILISI735 |
GEORGIA: PROTESTERS BLOCK MAJOR THOROUGHFARES, [...] (C) Summary: Protests on April 14 again drew a modest crowd of 4000 - 6000 protesters. About 500 protesters blocked a major avenue in the heavily trafficked Vake district near Tbilisi State University. At the direction of Levan Gachechiladze (former presidential candidate) and David Gamkr [...] |
2009-04-15 13:26:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL GG |
| 09TBILISI747 |
GEORGIA: PROTESTS CONTINUE THOUGH CROWD PALTRY [...] (SBU) Summary: The protests waned further on Wednesday, April 15 with only an estimated 1500-2000 protesters in front of Parliament. A small number of protesters (20-30) remained at the Presidential Residence. Approximately 30-40 protesters gathered at the Public Broadcasters building but [...] |
2009-04-16 12:26:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL GG |
| 09TBILISI748 |
GEORGIA: PUBLIC DEFENDER AND LAWYERS NGO WORK TO [...] (SBU) Summary: As protests drag on in front of Parliament in Tbilisi (ref A), two local organizations continue to monitor the situation. The government's Public Defender's Office (PDO) has maintained its monitoring teams (Ref B) with 24-hour coverage since April 9. The PDO uses uniformd four [...] |
2009-04-16 12:50:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM GG |
| 09TBILISI749 |
GEORGIA: UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL ELECTION [...] (SBU) On 16 April Emboff delivered reftel diplomatic note stating officially the intent of the United States to seek a seat on the UN Human Rights Council, as well as a copy of the United States Human Rights Commitments and Pledges, to First Secretary Nana Shonia of the U.S. and North America [...] |
2009-04-16 12:54:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM PREL GG |
| 09TBILISI750 |
GEORGIA: ECONOMY 2003 TO 2008 - A CASE STUDY OF [...] (C) Summary and comment. Although often overshadowed by political crisis and conflict over the separatist territories, the Georgian economy has been reformed and developed since the 2003 Rose Revolution. While the August 2008 war with Russia and the ongoing financial crisis continue to pres [...] |
2009-04-16 13:20:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON ENRG PGOV PREL RU GG |
| 09TBILISI751 |
GEORGIA: CRIMINAL PROCEDURE CODE MOVING FORWARD [...] (C) SUMMARY: On April 6, 2009, Embassy Resident Legal Advisor (RLA) met with Minister of Justice, Zurab Adeishvili, who stated emphatically that the draft Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) will move forward to second and third readings in the Parliament. Adeishvili stated that despite recent op [...] |
2009-04-16 13:58:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL GG |
| 09TBILISI752 |
GEORGIA REVERSES DECISION TO FILE ICJ CASE AGAINST [...] (SBU) Following up the discussion on 14 April between the Secretary and Minister of Foreign Affairs Grigol Vashadze in Washington, the Ambassador was informed on 16 April by Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Nalbandov of Georgia's decision not to submit a brief to the International Court of Jus [...] |
2009-04-16 14:31:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | UNCLASSIFIED | AORC ECON EFIN PREL ICJ GG |
| 09TBILISI759 |
GEORGIA: NON-PARLIAMENTARY OPPOSITION NIXES [...] (C) Summary: Protests were largely halted over the April 17-20 orthodox Easter holiday weekend with only a symbolic number of protesters in the streets. Despite government and EU representative Peter Semneby's efforts to try to engage the non-parliamentary opposition in talks, on Saturday, [...] |
2009-04-21 13:43:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL GG |
| 09TBILISI760 |
GEORGIA SEEKS HELP ON TWO POINTS IN UN NEGOTIATIONS [...] (C) Deputy Foreign Minister Nalbandov called in the Ambassador April 21 to request U.S. assistance in encouraging the UN Secretary General (UNSYG) to focus on two particular points as he prepares for discussions on Georgia. First, Nalbandov noted the importance of maintaining a reference to G [...] |
2009-04-21 14:52:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MOPS KBTS KPKO GG |
| 09TBILISI769 |
GEORGIA: NON-PARLIAMENTARY OPPOSITION VOWS TO MAKE [...] (C) Summary: As the non-parliamentary opposition promised, rallies resumed on Tuesday, April 22 with roughly 5,000 protesters staging in front of Parliament. Levan Gachechiladze vowed to make Tbilisi a "cell" city and the non-parliamentary opposition brought 50-60 fake jail cells and place [...] |
2009-04-22 11:11:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL GG |
| 09TBILISI77 |
TBILISI OSAC CRIME AND SAFETY REPORT - JANUARY 2009 [...] (U) Overall Crime and Safety Situation: There are regular reports of crimes against Americans and other westerners in Tbilisi and Georgia as a whole, although the level of violent crime has decreased due to improvements in the standard of living and more visible law enforcement presence in th [...] |
2009-01-14 12:23:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | UNCLASSIFIED | AMGT APER ASEC GG |
| 09TBILISI770 |
TWO VERY DIFFERENT SIDES OF THE SAME COIN - [...] (C) Summary: Ethnic Armenian Georgians living in Samtskhe-Javakheti (S-J) generally want their province to remain as part of Georgia, albeit with tacit recognition by Tbilisi of Armenian as a regional language. For Ethnic Armenian Georgians (or Javakhsi), the grass is indeed not greener on [...] |
2009-04-22 11:31:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV EAID SCUL KIRF AM GG |
| 09TBILISI786 |
GEORGIA: OPPOSITION PROTESTERS INFLATE REGIONAL [...] (SBU) Summary: April 22 press reports that the radical opposition mustered 600-plus vehicles from the regions to join 30,000 protesters in front of Parliament were exaggerated and incorrect. Embassy observers and Ministry of Internal Affairs (MOIA) officials estimated no more than 5,000 prote [...] |
2009-04-23 13:24:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM GG |
| 09TBILISI787 |
GEORGIA: DEFINING THE ROOTS OF OPPOSITION [...] (C) Introduction and Comment: Beyond the constantly changing parties which define Georgia's opposition inside and outside of parliament, there are four core groups that have fundamentally opposed President Saakashvili since the early days of his tenure in 2004. In large part, these are the [...] |
2009-04-23 13:45:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV GG |
| 09TBILISI792 |
GEORGIA: OPPOSITION ENCOURAGES WOMEN PRISON RIOT [...] (C) Summary: Over Orthodox Easter night, April 18-19, approximately 600 women prisoners rioted in Tbilisi's Women's Prison Number Five. They reportedly were upset that they were not granted pardons as part of a general Government pardon of 400 other prisoners throughout the country. Minister [...] |
2009-04-24 12:03:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KDEM GG |
| 09TBILISI793 |
GEORGIA INFORMED ON PENDING TRANSFER OF SEIZED HEU [...] (S) Per ref B, on April 24, poloff informed Shalva Burduli, Head of Division for New Threats and Arms Control of the Georgian MFA, of the pending transfer to Russia of a ten-gram sample of the HEU seized in a 2006 nuclear smuggling sting operation in Georgia. Poloff explained that he transfer [...] |
2009-04-24 12:26:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | SECRET | PARM PREL KNNP MNUC RS GG |
| 09TBILISI795 |
GEORGIA: OPPOSITION ERECTS MORE "CELLS," PROTESTS' [...] (SBU) Summary: Radical opposition protests continued on April 23 and leaders called upon their dwindling supporters to maintain their presence throughout the weekend. Despite cold rain and meager numbers, the opposition continued to erect more "cells" in the areas surrounding Parliament, the [...] |
2009-04-24 13:00:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM GG |
| 09TBILISI799 |
GEORGIA SUPPORTS US CANDIDACY ON UN HUMAN RIGHTS [...] No summary [...] |
2009-04-27 11:52:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM PREL GG |
| 09TBILISI800 |
GEORGIA: PROTESTS TO CONTINUE BUT STRAINS ARE [...] (C) Summary: Modest numbers of protesters turned out both on Saturday, April 25 and Sunday, April 26 with crowds numbering around 2-3000 and 500-1000 respectively. "Cells" continued to block traffic in front of the Georgia Public Broadcaster (GPB) Building, Freedom Square, the Ministry of [...] |
2009-04-27 12:40:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL GG |
| 09TBILISI807 |
GEORGIA: UPDATING INFORMATION FOR TERRORISM [...] No summary [...] |
2009-04-28 12:57:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | KTFN EFIN ETTC PTER GG |
| 09TBILISI808 |
GEORGIA: FIRST MEETING OF INCIDENT PREVENTION [...] (C) Summary and comment. The first meeting of the Joint Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (JIPRM) was held on April 23 on the South Ossetian administrative boundary line at Ergneti. The fact the meeting occurred was a minor victory itself, and the parties agreed to hold a subsequent [...] |
2009-04-28 13:00:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV MOPS RS GG |
| 09TBILISI809 |
GEORGIA: PROTEST UPDATE - NO IDEAS, NO PROTESTERS, [...] (C) Summary: Protests on Monday, April 27 which were supposed to include announcement of a new action plan consisted of no more than 1000 protesters in front of Parliament and a few more scattered at the Presidential Residence, Public Broadcasters Building, State Chancellery, and Freedom Sq [...] |
2009-04-28 13:57:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL GG |
| 09TBILISI81 |
GEORGIA: A LOOK INSIDE THE INFLUENTIAL GEORGIAN [...] (SBU) Begin Summary: The Georgian Orthodox Church wields a great deal of influence in Georgian society and ON the Georgian Government. Much of the credit goes to the very popular Patriarch Ilia II, who recently II celebrated his 76th birthday and 31 years as Georgia's Catholicos-Patriarch. [...] |
2009-01-15 12:11:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | KRF PHUM PGOV RU GG |
| 09TBILISI816 |
GEORGIA: PROTESTS TO CONTINUE DESPITE HANDSHAKE - [...] (SBU) Summary: Protests were largely abandoned on Tuesday, April 28 as non-parliamentary leaders attended church services for the day of reconciliation. Crowds in front of Parliament were estimated at 500 or less. At a church service led by the Patriarch, that only Irakli Alasani (Allianc [...] |
2009-04-29 11:04:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL GG |
| 09TBILISI819 |
The Roma in Georgia [...] (SBU) Summary: In response to reftel marking International Roma Day, the Embassy posted the Secretary's message on its website and took the opportunity to meet with the Executive Director of the Human Rights Center in Georgia and a representative of the Civil Registry of the Ministry of Justi [...] |
2009-04-29 14:25:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM KPAO GG |
| 09TBILISI82 |
GEORGIA: MOD CLOSE TO SIGNING MOU WITH EUMM [...] (U) This is an action cable. Please see paragraph 5. 2. (C) Summary and comment. On January 14, Deputy Defense Minister Giorgi Muchaidze summoned PolOff and Acting DATT to explain the government's position on a draft agreement with the EU Monitoring Mission (EUMM) and seek U.S. comment. T [...] |
2009-01-15 14:30:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL MOPS KBTS RU GG |
| 09TBILISI821 |
GEORGIA: GREEK AMBASSADOR SEEKS HELP ON OSCE [...] (U) This is an action message. Please see paragraph 4. 2. (SBU) Greek Ambassador Georgios Chatzimichelakis, as a representative of the sitting OSCE Chairman-in-Office, came to see the Ambassador April 29 to relay a request for assistance. He explained that the Greek government is in the p [...] |
2009-04-29 14:34:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL OSCE GR RS GG |
| 09TBILISI827 |
GEORGIA: PROTESTS STAGNANT - SIGNS OF DESPERATION [...] (C) Summary: Protests continued on Wednesday, April 29 although only about 2000-3000 attended, a number of who appeared to be onlookers enjoying a nice day rather than dedicated supporters. Protest leaders have vowed to continue, but have not articulated a concrete plan. GOG representativ [...] |
2009-04-30 13:20:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL GG |
| 09TBILISI83 |
GEORGIA: PARLIAMENTARY AND NON-PARLIAMENTARY [...] (C) Summary/Comment: The comments of both Parliamentary and non-Parliamentary opposition leaders indicate that their interests and visions for the near and longer term future continue to diverge. Cooperation between the Parliamentary and non-Parliamentary opposition camps is limited at best. [...] |
2009-01-15 14:32:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL GG |
| 09TBILISI836 |
GEORGIA: JOINT DEMARCHE DELIVERED [...] No summary [...] |
2009-05-01 10:08:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | UNCLASSIFIED | PARM KNNP RS NL PREL PTER MNUC KGIC GG |
| 09TBILISI838 |
GEORGIA WILL ABSTAIN IN VOTE ON KOSOVO'S IMF AND [...] No summary [...] |
2009-05-01 12:27:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EFIN PREL KV |
| 09TBILISI840 |
MGSF01 GEORGIA'S SWINE FLU RESPONSE [...] (SBU) As of May 1, no cases of swine flu have been reported in Georgia. The EAC convened on April 28, ensured that pandemic tripwires were reviewed, and shared ref A with American employees per ref A. Schools with U.S. Embassy dependents have been notified of the swine flu problem. Appropri [...] |
2009-05-01 13:55:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | UNCLASSIFIED | KFLU AEMR ASEC CASC KFLO TBIO KSAF KPAO PREL PINR |
| 09TBILISI841 |
GEORGIA: EUMM CONFIRMS COMPLIANCE WITH MOU ON [...] (C) Summary and comment. The EU Monitoring Mission (EUMM) released a public statement April 28 announcing the automatic renewal of its MOU with the Georgian Ministry of Defense (MOD) and Georgia's continued compliance with its provisions. The statement notes that the EUMM has not been able to [...] |
2009-05-01 14:19:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MOPS KBTS RS GG |
| 09TBILISI842 |
GEORGIA: PROTESTS CONTINE TO DWINDLE, BUT NO END [...] (SBU) Summary: Non-parliamentary opposition leaders addressed a crowd of about 1500 in front of Parliament on Thursday, April 30 and announced their plan to picket the Public Broadcasters Building starting at 9:00 am on May 1. Nino Burjanadze stated that the opposition needed to take more e [...] |
2009-05-01 14:19:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL GG |
| 09TBILISI843 |
GEORGIA: DFM NALBANDOV ON UN, OSCE [...] (C) Summary. Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Nalbandov summoned the Ambassador April 29 to request further U.S. help in encouraging the UN Secretary General to title his report "Situation in Abkhazia, Georgia." He also identified particular redlines for Georgia in the negotiations for a new [...] |
2009-05-01 14:21:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL OSCE GR RS KZ GG |
| 09TBILISI847 |
GEORGIA: GOVERNMENT PLEDGES CONTINUED RESTRAINT ON [...] (C) Summary. Minister of Internal Affairs Vano Merabishvili and Deputy FM Giga Bokeria both assured the Ambassador during separate meetings May 1 that the Government would be patient with the demonstrators and that no force would be used against them. Merabishvili also agreed that there wo [...] |
2009-05-04 12:41:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL GG |
| 09TBILISI849 |
GEORGIAN PM SAYS TURKMEN INTERESTED IN WESTERN [...] No summary [...] |
2009-05-04 14:27:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | ENRG ECON PGOV PREL RU AZ GG |
| 09TBILISI850 |
GEORGIA: PROTESTS CONTINUE - NO NEGOTIATIONS FOR [...] (C) Summary: Protests continued through the weekend although crowds only numbered around 500-1500. Roads remained blocked by "cells" and the opposition announced that more disruptions are being planned. A May 2 concert featuring Levan Gachechiladze's brother, Utsnobi ("Unknown" or "Anonym [...] |
2009-05-04 14:28:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL GG |
| 09TBILISI857 |
GEORGIAN FORCES IN CONTROL OF MILITARY BASE, [...] (C) SUMMARY: The Ministry of Internal Affairs (MOIA) reported that at 1440 local time the mutineers at the Mukhravani military base surrendered. The soldiers involved have surrendered and laid down their weapons and the MOIA is in control of the base. According to the media, President Saak [...] |
2009-05-05 12:27:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV RRB GA |
| 09TBILISI858 |
GEORGIA: ESCALATION OF PROTESTS POSTPONED AFTER [...] (C) Summary: The non-parliamentary opposition told the press that it intends to escalate the protests by blocking major roads into Tbilisi between 4pm and 5pm local time on Tuesday, May 5. Non-parliamentary leaders intend to give President Saakashvili 72 hours to resign or else they will c [...] |
2009-05-05 13:31:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL GG |
| 09TBILISI865 |
GEORGIA: MUTINY DISRUPTS PROTESTS - FALLOUT UNCLEAR [...] (C) Summary: The mutiny of a tank battalion at Mukhrovani base forced the non-parliamentary opposition to scratch plans for a temporary blockade of major roads leading in and out of Tbilisi from 4pm - 5pm May 5. The non-parliamentary opposition, including Irakli Alasania, responded to the m [...] |
2009-05-06 14:41:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL GG |
| 09TBILISI866 |
GEORGIA: FOREIGN MINISTER BRIEFS ON MUTINY [...] (C) Summary. On May 5, Foreign Minister Grigol Vashadze briefed the diplomatic corps on the attempted mutiny earlier in the day, which ended peacefully. He offered additional details on the event itself, which he described as designed to disrupt the NATO Partnership for Peace exercise; he and [...] |
2009-05-07 04:59:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL MOPS RS GG |
| 09TBILISI875 |
GEORGIA: PROTESTERS TRY TO ENTER POLICE STATION, [...] (C) Summary: Georgian non-parliamentary opposition protests turned violent, May 6 when Giorgi Gachechiladze (a pop singer known as "Utsnobi" - "Anonymous"), his brother Levan Gachechiladze and other radical opposition leaders lead a group of protesters from Parliament to Digomi police stati [...] |
2009-05-07 12:40:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL GG |
| 09TBILISI876 |
GEORGIA: IRI FOCUS GROUPS PROVIDE INSIGHT ON [...] (C) Summary: The International Republican Institute (IRI) ran a series of focus groups May 4-5 in Tbilisi to gauge political opinion on the ongoing opposition-led protests and domestic political environment. The groups consisted of eight people each with one group being pro-government ("pr [...] |
2009-05-07 14:40:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL GG |
| 09TBILISI89 |
GEORGIA: NINO BURJANADZE FROM THE OUTSIDE LOOKING [...] (C) Summary/Comment: The transition from being Speaker of Parliament and interim President to being one of many in a marginalized non-Parliamentary opposition has been a difficult one for Nino Burjanadze. Burjanadze has been unable to garner much more than a meager level of public support s [...] |
2009-01-16 13:32:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL GG |
| 09TBILISI894 |
GEORGIA: PROTESTS - OPPOSITION APPEARS TO STEP [...] (C) Summary: On May 7, a day after violence erupted when opposition protesters charged a police station, non-parliamentary opposition leaders indicated a new willingness to engage in dialogue, although they did not present a united message. Irakli Alasania (Alliance) called for dialogue wi [...] |
2009-05-08 13:05:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL GG |
| 09TBILISI899 |
GEORGIA: PROTESTS: NEGOTIATIONS TO BEGIN [...] (C) Summary: Protests continued through the weekend, bu with no major incidents. The one month anniversary of the start of the protests on Saturday, May 9 drew what might have been as many as 15,000 protesters on a beautiful sunny day. On Friday, May 8, Speaker Bakradze met with a group of [...] |
2009-05-11 12:30:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL GG |
| 09TBILISI9 |
GEORGIA: THE NETHERLANDS TO HOST FIFTH GLOBAL [...] (U) Dutch Ambassador Onno Elderenbosch and Poloff delivered reftel demarche to Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Nalbandov on December 31 per reftel instructions. Given the lack of diplomatic relations with Russia following the August conflict, the Russian Embassy did not participate in the de [...] |
2009-01-05 11:37:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | UNCLASSIFIED | PARM PINR PINS PREL PTER KGIC RS NL GG |
| 09TBILISI90 |
GEORGIA: PRIME MINISTER ILL, AND RUMORED TO BE [...] (C) Summary: After undergoing several weeks of medical treatment in Germany, Prime Minister Grigol Mgaloblishvili returned to Tbilisi following the Georgian Orthodox Christmas holiday. Throughout his absence, rumors circulated in the capitol, despite denials by President Saakashvili, that Mg [...] |
2009-01-16 13:53:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL ECON GG |
| 09TBILISI906 |
GEORGIA: PROTESTS - SAAKASHVILI MEETS WITH [...] (C) Summary: President Saakashvili met separately with both the non-parliamentary and parliamentary opposition May 11. The non-parliamentary meeting reached no public agreement other than a commitment by some in the non-parliamentary opposition to continue to talk. Nonetheless, privately [...] |
2009-05-12 14:37:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL GG |
| 09TBILISI907 |
GEORGIAN ECONOMY WORSENS, BUDGET CRISIS POSSIBLE [...] (C) SUMMARY: Buffeted by the global economic crisis and domestic political instability, the Georgian economy is in decline. The economy constricted 6.5 percent in the first quarter of 2009, and initial April numbers are not promising. Remittances from abroad, especially Russia, have decline [...] |
2009-05-12 15:11:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON ENRG PGOV PREL GG |
| 09TBILISI908 |
GEORGIA: EU DISCUSSIONS REGARDING EUMM'S FUTURE [...] (C) Summary and comment. According to EU Monitoring Mission (EUMM) Head of Mission Haber, EU member states do not have a clear vision of the EUMM in the future. The mission will almost surely be extended for a year, but some elements in the EU would prefer to see it end at that point. Assumi [...] |
2009-05-12 15:13:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MOPS KBTS RS GG |
| 09TBILISI909 |
GEORGIA: PROTESTS - SOME BLUSTER, LITTLE ACTION [...] (C) Summary: A small crowd of 2000-2500 appeared in front of Parliament Tuesday May, 12 for what was scheduled to be a major announcement on the non-parliamentary opposition's new action plan in response to their meeting with Saakashvili. No announcement of blocking roads or other near ter [...] |
2009-05-13 13:42:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL GG |
| 09TBILISI91 |
CODEL SCHWARTZ (HDAC) VISITS GEORGIA [...] (U) Summary and Comment: In support of its ongoing partnership with Georgia's Parliament on democratic and institutional reform (reftel), CODEL Schwartz and the House Democracy Assistance Commission (HDAC) visited the Republic of Georgia from December 17-19, 2008. CODEL Schwartz met with Parli [...] |
2009-01-20 04:55:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PGOV PHUM KDEM GG |
| 09TBILISI910 |
GEORGIA: SPEAKER BAKRADZE EXPLAINS POSITION ON PROTESTS TO [...] (SBU) Summary: Parliamentary Speaker David Bakradze met May 8 with the members of Codel Davis to discuss the current political situation in Georgia. Bakradze explained the GoG's plans to handle the ongoing protests and to implement political reforms. End Summary. GoG Wants to Break Cycle [...] |
2009-05-14 11:18:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PHUM PREL GG |
| 09TBILISI911 |
GEORGIA: ALASANIA LEANS TOWARDS DIALOGUE; [...] (C) Summary: Only about 500 protesters attended the meeting in front of Parliament on May 13. Irakli Alasania (Alliance), who did not attend the meeting at Parliament on Wednesday, announced separately that his supporters would not continue to block the road in front of the Georgian Public [...] |
2009-05-14 11:59:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL GG |
| 09TBILISI912 |
GEORGIA: FOLLOW-UP COMMENTS ON CS-137 DISCOVERY [...] (S) As requested in ref A, poloff obtained additional information from the Government of Georgia regarding its response to the discovery of four Cs-137 sources buried near Kopitnari Airport. While not completely ruling out the possibility that the material was abandoned by smugglers, the gove [...] |
2009-05-14 12:00:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | SECRET | KNNP MNUC ASEC KCRM PARM PINR PREL GG |
| 09TBILISI92 |
GEORGIA: ANNOUNCEMENT ON RATIFICATION OF U.S.-IAEA [...] Poloff delivered reftel demarche to MFA Division of Americas desk officer Nana Shonia on January 13. She promised to relay the information to the appropriate MFA officials. TEFFT [...] |
2009-01-20 13:45:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | UNCLASSIFIED | AORC IAEA ENRG NPT PREL KNNP TRGY KTIA PARM |
| 09TBILISI920 |
GEORGIA: PROTESTS - NON-PARLIAMENTARY OPPOSITION [...] (C) Summary: The non-parliamentary opposition's pledge to unblock the road in front of the Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB) was rescinded, then reinstated and finally implemented early May 14. The back and forth highlighted the now open and obvious rift within the leadership of the non-par [...] |
2009-05-15 11:31:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL GG |
| 09TBILISI923 |
GEORGIA: SOUTH OSSETIA SNUBS INTERNATIONAL [...] (C) Summary and comment. South Ossetian de facto authorities' willingness to cooperate with the international community -- meager as it was -- took several steps backward in recent days. On May 7, they blocked the second meeting of the Incident Prevention Mechanism; on May 5, they blocked a [...] |
2009-05-15 14:23:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL MOPS RS GG |
| 09TBILISI924 |
GEORGIA: ARRIVAL OF RUSSIAN BORDER GUARDS IN [...] (C) Summary and comment. Two agreements signed April 30 by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Abkhaz and South Ossetian de facto "presidents" Sergey Bagapsh and Eduard Kokoity on "joint efforts for protection of state borders of Abkhazia and South Ossetia," has further reinforced Russian c [...] |
2009-05-15 14:27:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PARM PBTS PGOV PREL MARR MOPS RS GG |
| 09TBILISI925 |
GEORGIA: CODEL DAVIS DISCUSSES BILATERAL TIES WITH [...] (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 re [...] |
2009-05-18 04:57:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PGOV PHUM KDEM GG |
| 09TBILISI93 |
GEORGIA: DEMARCHE ON TERRORISM FINANCE: U.S. [...] (SBU) Poloff delivered reftel demarche to MFA Division of Americas desk officer Nana Shonia on January 13. She promised to relay the information to the appropriate MFA officials. TEFFT [...] |
2009-01-20 13:46:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EFIN KTFN PTER ETTC PREL PINR LE GG |
| 09TBILISI932 |
GEORGIA: PROTESTS QUIET OVER THE WEEKEND [...] (C) Summary: Only about 1000 protesters showed up on Saturday and Sunday in front of Parliament. The non-parliamentary opposition announced its plans to hold rallies in all of Georgia to prove to President Saakashvili that the whole country demanded his resignation. The non-parliamentary [...] |
2009-05-18 13:56:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL GG |
| 09TBILISI937 |
GEORGIA: PROTESTS: NOT MUCH NEW IN OPPOSITION'S [...] (C) Summary: The non-parliamentary opposition responded to the GoG's offer of dialogue on six concrete points with six proposals of its own, with a deadline of May 26 for implementation. The non-parliamentary offer is still calling for new presidential and parliamentary elections this year, [...] |
2009-05-19 14:26:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL GG |
| 09TBILISI94 |
GEORGIA: MFA REQUESTS INFO RE U.S. APPROACH TO [...] (U) This is an action request - see paragraph 4. 2. (C) DFM Nalbandov called in DCM January 20, 2009, to request an update on the USG's approach to the upcoming UNOMIG renewal discussion in New York. Joined by former NSC Secretary (and Georgia's next Ambassador to the UN) Lomaia, Nalba [...] |
2009-01-20 13:47:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV UN GG RU |
| 09TBILISI940 |
GEORGIA: PROTESTS - FURTHER SIGNS OF OPPOSITION [...] (C) Summary: A small group of protesters blocked the main road to the Tbilisi International Airport in front of the new Ministry of Internal Affairs building for about 45 minutes on May 19. Other protest leaders addressed a small crowd in front of Parliament. Salome Zourabichvili (Georgia [...] |
2009-05-20 13:16:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL GG |
| 09TBILISI942 |
GEORGIA: SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT UN REPORT ON [...] (C) Summary and comment. The Georgian Government has made clear, both publicly and privately, its discontent with the UN Secretary General (UNSYG)'s report on Abkhazia, Georgia. It perceives both the title and key elements of the report's substance as a capitulation to Russian pressure, as evi [...] |
2009-05-20 14:09:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MOPS KBTS RS GG |
| 09TBILISI945 |
GEORGIA: PROTESTS GEARING UP FOR MAY 26 [...] (C) Summary: Protests remained small on May 20. Utsnobi (Giorgi Gachechiladze) performed a rally concert in Batumi to kick off the non-parliamentary opposition's plan to bring "all of Georgia" to Tbilisi for a May 26 rally (independence day parade). Post heard payments to protesters have r [...] |
2009-05-21 11:08:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL GG |
| 09TBILISI95 |
GEORGIA: DEMARCHE ON NONPROLIFERATION SANCTIONS: [...] (SBU) Poloff delivered reftel demarche to MFA Division of Americas desk officer Nana Shonia on January 13. She promised to relay the information to the appropriate MFA officials. TEFFT [...] |
2009-01-20 13:47:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | KNNP MNUC GM PREL PARM EFIN GG |
| 09TBILISI951 |
GEORGIA: SHOOT OUT WITH AT-LARGE MUTINY SUSPECTS [...] No summary [...] |
2009-05-21 13:38:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL RU GG |
| 09TBILISI952 |
GEORGIA: SECURITY SITUATION AT THE MTSKHETA [...] (U) This is an action cable. Please see paragraph 7. 2. (C) Summary and Comment. The radioactive storage facility in Mtskheta, the permanent storage facility in Georgia for disused radioactive sources, is in need of a strengthened security guard presence, according to local experts and pol [...] |
2009-05-21 14:05:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | KNNP MNUC KCRM PARM PINR GG |
| 09TBILISI956 |
GEORGIA: DASD WARLICK'S MEETING WITH DEPUTY [...] (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 polit [...] |
2009-05-22 10:24:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV GG |
| 09TBILISI957 |
GEORGIA PROTESTS: QUIET TALKS ONGOING - WESTERN [...] (C) Summary: A small group of protesters locked the major roads on both sides of the river that flows through downtown Tbilisi for roughly 40 minutes May 21 prompting an angry response from motorists that was widely covered in the press. Non-parliamentary opposition rallies in Zugdidi and [...] |
2009-05-22 11:19:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL GG |
| 09TBILISI96 |
GEORGIA: WINTER LULL IN INCIDENTS ABRUPTLY ENDS [...] (C) Summary and comment. After a few weeks of relative calm over the holidays -- which saw several attacks, but no injuries -- a number of serious incidents occurred along the administrative boundaries with South Ossetia and Abkhazia in recent days. On January 16 a Georgan police officer was [...] |
2009-01-20 14:32:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL MOPS KBTS RU GG |
| 09TBILISI961 |
GEORGIA: INJURED MUTINY ORGANIZERS STABLE, [...] (C) Summary. The two mutiny suspects detained following a firefight yesterday, Levan Amiridze and Koba Otanadze, remain in stable condition in a government-controlled hospital, according to the press. According to the Ombudsman,s Office, Otanadze,s brother Nugzar Otanadze was arrested two w [...] |
2009-05-22 15:39:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL RU GG |
| 09TBILISI968 |
GEORGIA: OPPOSITION PROMISED SURPRISES - PATRIARCH [...] (C) Summary: On Georgian Independence Day, May 26, the non-parliamentary opposition drew its largest crowd since beginning protests on April 9. Between 45,000-50,000 rallied at Dynamo Stadium, where various non-parliamentary opposition leaders spoke to a largely subdued audience. Only sing [...] |
2009-05-27 12:36:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL GG |
| 09TBILISI97 |
GEORGIA: MINISTER OF ENERGY ON ENGURI AO DEAL, [...] (C) Summary: Minister of Energy Alexander Khetaguri provided the Ambassador with more details and his private thoughts on the recent deal to enter into a joint management agreement for the Enguri power facility with Russian firm InterRAO-UES (ref A). Despite the negative press the Minister [...] |
2009-01-20 14:35:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON ENRG PGOV PREL RU GG |
| 09TBILISI972 |
GEORGIA: PROTESTS SMALL - QUIET [...] (SBU) Summary and Comment: On May 27, a day after large scale demonstrations, only a small group of protesters numbering roughly 1000-1500 gathered in front of Parliament. The crowd listened to largely subdued speeches by non-parliamentary leaders who have decided to continue protests in sp [...] |
2009-05-28 11:30:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL GG |
| 09TBILISI979 |
GEORGIA: PATRIARCHATE BACKTRACKS - VIOLENCE ERUPTS [...] (C) Summary: A group of about 500 protesters picketed the Mayor's office on May 28 from about noon until 3pm. The rally with about 1000-2000 protesters reconvened for a concert in front of Parliament later that evening. Violence erupted around 9pm local time when protesters allegedly atta [...] |
2009-05-29 12:24:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL GG |
| 09TBILISI980 |
GEORGIA: UK FCO DIRECTOR ON ABKHAZIA TRIP, NEED [...] (C) Summary. During a visit to Tbilisi, Michael Davenport, Director of the Russia, South Caucasus and Central Asia Directorate at the British FCO, urged the United States to set a clear example for the international community on how to move forward on Georgia, in particular with regard to Rus [...] |
2009-05-29 12:39:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UNSC UNOMIG RS GG |
| 09TBILISI982 |
GEORGIA: CONTROVERSY OVER MAY 31 ELECTIONS IN [...] (C) Summary and comment. On the eve of May 31 parliamentary elections in South Ossetia, controversy has erupted over the electoral system and establishment of political parties by the "de facto" administration. While Russian officials and South Ossetian "de facto" administration officials cl [...] |
2009-05-29 14:10:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV KBDS RU GG |
| 09TBILISI984 |
GEORGIA: FM VASHADZE UNDERLINES REDLINES ON UN [...] (C/NF) On May 29, Georgian Foreign Minister Vashadze called in the Ambassador to ensure the United States understood Georgia's redlines regarding a new UN mandate. Referring to his May 22 letter to the Secretary, Vashadze emphasized Georgia's absolute commitment to the following minimum requir [...] |
2009-05-29 14:36:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PREL UNSC UNOMIG RS GG |
| 09TBILISI999 |
GEORGIA: WEEKEND PROTESTS QUIET - CELLS REMOVED AS [...] (SBU) Summary: A small crowd of 1500 rallied on May 29 the day after scuffles along Rustaveli Avenue turned violent injuring 14, including eight policemen. A similarly small crowd rallied May 30; only a crowd of about 400-500 rallied May 31. Cells were cleared from Freedom Square overnight [...] |
2009-06-01 12:05:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL GG |
| 09TILISI1526 |
GEORGIA: NATIONAL FORUM - QUIETLY BECOMING A PLAYER [...] No summary [...] |
2009-08-11 11:46:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL GG |
| 10TBILISI103 |
GEORGIA: NEW DOCUMENT REQUIREMENTS IN PEREVI AND [...] (C) Summary and comment. The EUMM reported new Russian requirements that local residents of Akhalgori (an ethnic Georgian city on the South Ossetian side of the administrative boundary line) and Perevi (in undisputed Georgia, but occupied by Russian forces) must have documents in Russian or [...] |
2010-01-27 14:50:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PBTS MOPS RS GG |
| 10TBILISI125 |
GEORGIA APPROVES STATE STRATEGY ON OCCUPIED [...] (C) Summary. The Government of Georgia approved the "State Strategy on Occupied Territories: Engagement Through Collaboration" on January 27. The strategy presents the government's vision for engaging the disputed territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia and preventing their isolation. Stat [...] |
2010-01-29 14:37:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PBTS EAID RS GG |
| 10TBILISI126 |
GEORGIA: FM EXPRESSES CONCERNS OVER ARMENIAN [...] (U) This is an action request. Please see paragraph six. 2. (C) FM Grigol Vashadze called the Ambassador in to underscore the GoG's deepening concern over Armenian military cooperation with Russia. He reiterated past notice of concern that the Armenians have requested more than 500 ove [...] |
2010-01-29 15:31:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV AR GG |
| 10TBILISI146 |
GEORGIA: RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ON [...] (S/NF) In response to ref A the following is further information regarding the Northern Distribution Network in Georgia. A. (C) PLEASE DESCRIBE THE HOST COUNTRY LEADER VIEWS ON THE US MILITARY LOCAL PURCHASE PLAN'S PROGRESS AND ANY BENEFIT TO THE HOST COUNTRY'S ECONOMY. HOW SATISFIED AR [...] |
2010-02-02 14:42:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | SECRET | PGOV PREL PINR MOPS KG KZ TI TX UZ GG |
| 10TBILISI147 |
GEORGIA: FM VASHADZE ON NEXT STEPS WITH IRAN [...] (C) Ambassador discussed the summary of next steps on Iran (ref A) with FM Vashadze on January 31, noting that the new demarche echoed our discussions prior to Vashadze's January 18-19 visit to Tehran (ref B). The Ambassador outlined that the West was prepared to move forward on the steps pr [...] |
2010-02-02 15:14:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ECON EINV PGOV IR GG |
| 10TBILISI148 |
GEORGIA: SCENESETTER FOR DEPUTY SECRETARY [...] (S) Georgia is calmer and more stable than it was when you visited last summer, but those improvements are far from durable and a palpable sense of insecurity still permeates society and politics. Miscalculations and provocations - domestically, in the territories or north across the mounta [...] |
2010-02-02 15:29:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | SECRET//NOFORN | PREL PGOV OTRA OVIP RS GG |
| 10TBILISI155 |
GEORGIA WELCOMES THE SECRETARY'S SPEECH ON [...] (SBU) Government and non-governmental figures alike welcomed the Secretary's 29 January speech on European security. President Saakashvili's spokeswoman on 30 January noted that the remarks demonstrated Washington's support for Georgia. He welcomed the "unambiguous position and support" from [...] |
2010-02-03 15:15:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PGOV GG |
| 10TBILISI176 |
GEORGIA: UPDATE ON KAZBEGI/LARSI CHECKPOINT [...] (C) SUMMARY: Georgia's lead negotiator for the talks with Russia on opening the Kazbegi/Larsi checkpoint told us that Georgia is waiting for Russia to respond to the most recent Georgia proposal that would open the border point between Russia and Georgia in early March. The agreement would all [...] |
2010-02-10 14:46:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV RS GG |
| 10TBILISI177 |
GEORGIAN OFFICIALS HOPE FOR CONTINUED FRIENDSHIP [...] (SBU) Summary. Georgian government responses to the apparent election of Victor Yanukovych in Ukraine has been generally positive, with all following President Saakashvili's lead in congratulating the Ukrainian people for their well-run election. Additionally, officials from Saakashvili to t [...] |
2010-02-10 14:47:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PGOV UP GG |
| 10TBILISI195 |
EXBS: GEORGIA MONTHLY REPORT JANUARY 2010 [...] EXBS Tbilisi welcomes Ms. Eka Parghalava who has been selected as our new Assistant Program Coordinator. Eka will assume her duties on March 1, 2010. 2. A NATO contingent visited Poti, Georgia, January 27-28 to meet with Georgian Coast Guard (GCG) leadership to discuss NATO partnership goal [...] |
2010-02-16 05:28:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | UNCLASSIFIED | ETTC MNUC PARM PREL KSTC KNNP GG |
| 10TBILISI196 |
GEORGIA: CHALLENGES FACING ETHNIC ARMENIANS [...] (C) SUMMARY. New and expanding economic opportunities should serve to lessen the isolation of many of the 250,000 ethnic Armenians resident in Georgia, enabling them to branch out of their traditional region of Samtskhe-Javakheti and allowing younger ethnic Armenians to pursue their goals of h [...] |
2010-02-16 07:27:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | KIRF PGOV PHUM AM GG |
| 10TBILISI198 |
GEORGIA: INVESTMENT CLIMATE STATEMENT FOR 2010 [...] Per reftel, below is Embassy TbilisiQs Investment Climate Statement for submission for 2009. Introduction Since 2004,, the Georgian Government has undertaken an ambitious program to modernize and liberalize its economy. Institutional reforms include restructuring and downsizing governmen [...] |
2010-02-17 07:25:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EINV EFIN ETRD ELAB KTDB PGOV |
| 10TBILISI199 |
GEORGIA: SENATORS MCCAIN, THUNE AND BARRASSO INVESTIGATE [...] (SBU) Summary: Senators John McCain (R-AZ), John Thune (R-SD) and John Barrasso (R-WY) met January 10-11 in the Black Sea resort city of Batumi with President Saakashvili and other members of the GoG as well as opposition representatives. They also traveled to Zugdidi near the administrative [...] |
2010-02-17 08:41:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL GG |
| 10TBILISI20 |
GEORGIA: CHARTER FLIGHTS TO RUSSIA SET TO RESUME JANUARY [...] (SBU) Summary: Private airline Georgian Airways (formerly Airzena) is scheduled to initiate charter flights to Moscow and St. Petersburg on January 8, 9, and 10. Russia ended direct flights as a part of its embargo against Georgia in October 2006. The new temporary routes will be the first [...] |
2010-01-06 05:43:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL ECON EAIR ECIN RR GG |
| 10TBILISI201 |
GEORGIA: 2009 WORST FORMS OF CHILD LABOR REPORT [...] Summary: Child labor is uncommon in Georgia because of societal norms, legal prohibitions against it and high unemployment has resulted in a large pool of adult workers willing to work for low wages. There have been no reported cases of forced child labor or exploitive child labor. While ch [...] |
2010-02-17 11:04:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ELAB EIND ETRD PHUM SOCI USAID |
| 10TBILISI203 |
GEORGIA: SCENESETTER FOR SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE [...] (S) Summary. Georgia is calmer and more stable than at any time since the war, but those improvements are far from durable. A palpable sense of insecurity still permeates society and politics. Miscalculations and provocations - domestically, in the territories or north across the mountains - could [...] |
2010-02-18 05:28:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | SECRET//NOFORN | PREL PGOV MOPS MARR OTRA OVIP AF RS GG |
| 10TBILISI205 |
GEORGIA: SCENESETTER FOR EWG AND VISIT OF EEB A/S [...] (C) SUMMARY: Once infamous for its rampant corruption and organized crime, Georgia is now a model of reform among post-Soviet economies. The economy and Georgia's pro-business orientation are top priorities for President Saakashvili and he is quick to highlight his government's successes. [...] |
2010-02-18 14:29:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | SECRET | ECON EINV PGOV PREL GG |
| 10TBILISI206 |
OPIC FINANCING: BETSY'S HOTEL PROJECT [...] Summary: In response to reftel, Post's inquiry into Betsy's Hotel revealed no negative information that would impede issuance of OPIC credit to the company. End Summary. 2. Betsy's is a boutique hotel overlooking the center of Tbilisi. The hotel has been functioning successfully for about [...] |
2010-02-18 14:29:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EINV EFIN GG |
| 10TBILISI222 |
GEORGIA: THREE MONTHS BEFORE LOCAL ELECTIONS - [...] (C) Summary: Recent internal United National Movement (UNM) polling shows officially-undeclared mayoral candidate Gigi Ugulava with a commanding lead over opposition rivals. The trend lines indicate that Ugulava's active grassroots outreach has paid significant dividends while opposition in [...] |
2010-02-22 14:41:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL GG |
| 10TBILISI32 |
GEORGIA: MFA UNSURE OF ROLE OF IRAN EXPORT BANK IN [...] (C) Charge d'affaires delivered ref A talking points to Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Nalbandov on January 6 noting that the USG was concerned about any possible energy deals with Iran, and urged that Georgia not seek Iran or Iranian businesses as partners. The Charge also expressed conce [...] |
2010-01-08 15:12:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | ENRG ETRD PREL IR GG |
| 10TBILISI43 |
EXBS: GEORGIA MONTHLY REPORT DECEMBER 2009 [...] The EXBS Advisor (EA) is in the U.S. for consultation and leave from December 14th through January 22nd. 2. Information regarding nominations for the U.S. Coast Guard Academy class of 2014 was provided to the Public Affairs Office, Office of Defense Cooperation and the Georgian Coast Guard ( [...] |
2010-01-12 13:38:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | UNCLASSIFIED | ETTC MNUC PARM PREL KSTC KNNP GG |
| 10TBILISI50 |
GEORGIANS OFFER LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING FOR IRAQI [...] (U) This is an action request. See paragraph 4. 2. (C) Post received the below letter addressed to the Ambassador from Minister of Internal Affairs Vano Merabishvili offering law enforcement training assistance for Iraqi and Afghan police. The Embassy received identical letters addressed [...] |
2010-01-13 14:46:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL SNAR MARR GG AF IZ |
| 10TBILISI55 |
GEORGIA: 2009 COUNTRY REPORT ON TERRORISM [...] (U) BEGIN TEXT. GEORGIA In 2009, Georgia continued to support U.S. efforts in the fight against terrorism, increasing its role by providing a battalion of Georgian soldiers, approximately 750 troops, to be trained by the U.S. in preparation for a spring 2010 deployment as part of the I [...] |
2010-01-14 14:20:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PTER ASEC GG |
| 10TBILISI56 |
GEORGIA: GBLT LEADER EXPLAINS CIRCUMSTANCES AROUND [...] (C) Summary: Charge D'affaires met with Paata Sabelashvili, head of Inclusive Foundation (a gay and lesbian rights organization), regarding his arrest on December 15 and his subsequent imprisonment. Sabelashvili admitted to possessing a small amount of marijuana but said the police tampere [...] |
2010-01-14 14:31:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL GG |
| 10TBILISI57 |
GEORGIA: MISHA'S CEC PICKS -- AN UNIMPRESSIVE [...] (C) Summary: As required by law, President Saakashvili has chosen three candidates to fill the job of Chairman of the Central Election Commission from a list of 14 presented to him by an NGO advisory group. Saakashvili's picks included outgoing CEC Chairman Levan Tarknishvili, Zurab Kharat [...] |
2010-01-14 14:48:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL GG |
| 10TBILISI59 |
GEORGIA: DEMARCHE ON CLIMATE CHANGE NEXT STEPS [...] No summary [...] |
2010-01-15 08:16:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | UNCLASSIFIED | SENV ENRG GG |
| 10TBILISI65 |
GEORGIA: OFFER OF ASSISTANCE FOR HAITI [...] No summary [...] |
2010-01-15 11:30:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | UNCLASSIFIED | KFLO AEMR ASEC CASC MARR PREL PINR AMGT GG |
| 10TBILISI66 |
GEORGIA: CLARIFYING THE TRANSITION TO AFGHAN LEAD [...] No summary [...] |
2010-01-15 12:49:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | MARR MOPS NATO PREL AF GG |
| 10TBILISI67 |
GEORGIA: SOLICITING INFORMATION FOR REVIEW OF [...] No summary [...] |
2010-01-15 12:56:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | UNCLASSIFIED | GG KTFN PREL PTER |
| 10TBILISI68 |
GEORGIA: DEMARCHE ON GICNT TERMS OF REFERENCE [...] No summary [...] |
2010-01-15 13:03:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | UNCLASSIFIED | PARM PREL PTER KGIC GG |
| 10TBILISI69 |
GEORGIA: DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON PEACEFUL USE OF [...] No summary [...] |
2010-01-15 13:13:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | UNCLASSIFIED | PARM EAID TBIO IAEA NPT AORC CDG ENRG KNNP |
| 10TBILISI70 |
GEORGIA: CONSIDERING ENERGY COOPERATION WITH [...] (U) This is an action request. Please see paragraph 5. 2. (C) Summary: Foreign Minister Vashadze told the Charge that during an upcoming trip to Iran he intends to discuss Iran's non-recognition of the separatist territories and economic ties. He has promised a full readout upon his re [...] |
2010-01-15 15:17:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL ECON ENRG IR GG |
| 10TBILISI71 |
GEORGIA: VERDICT ANNOUNCED IN MUKHROVANI ATTEMPTED [...] (C) Summary and comment. Verdicts in the trials of 20 people accused of participating in the attempted mutiny at Mukhrovani military base in May 2009 were announced on January 11. One defendant, retired General Koba Kobaladze, was cleared of coup charges but found guilty of possession of i [...] |
2010-01-15 15:18:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL MOPS RS GG |
| 10TBILISI72 |
GEORGIA: TRYING TO WORK WITH TURKEY ON SHIP ISSUES [...] (C) Summary and comment. Georgia is willing to negotiate with Turkey to find a way forward on Turkish commercial vessel travel to Sukhumi, but is looking for cooperation from the Government of Turkey to resolve technical issues. The only Georgian redline is that all vessels stop at a port in [...] |
2010-01-15 15:20:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PBTS PHSA EWWT MOPS RS TK GG |
| 10TBILISI82 |
EMBASSY TBILISI BFIF PROPOSAL FOR 2010 [...] No summary [...] |
2010-01-22 14:24:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL ECON EAIR ECIN RR GG |
| 10TBILISI98 |
GEORGIA: OUTREACH ON LONDON CONFERENCE ON [...] (SBU) We delivered reftel talking points to officials in the Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, America Department on January 25, 2010. We also inquired about whether Georgia expected to make any announcements at the London conference. MFA officials were not aware of any planned announceme [...] |
2010-01-27 12:18:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PGOV ECON EFIN AF GG |
| 10TBILISI99 |
GEORGIA: DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON DISTRACTED DRIVING [...] (SBU) We delivered reftel points on 25 January 2010 to the Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Americas Department, and noted our request for additional information on the status of Georgian laws and experiences related to text messaging while driving. MFA officials assured us that they wo [...] |
2010-01-27 12:19:00 | Embassy Tbilisi | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ACTION ECON EU SOCI UNDP UNGA GG |