US embassy cable - 04ANKARA2948

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 002948 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/25/2014 
TAGS: ECON, GG, PREL, TU 
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT SAAKASHVILI'S FIRST VISIT TO TURKEY 
 
REF: 2003 ANKARA 0541 
 
 
(U) Classified by DCM Robert Deutsch, E.O. 12958, reasons 1.4 
(b) and (d). 
 
 
1.  (C) Summary:  During President Saakashvili's first-ever 
May 20-22 visit to Turkey, he expressed satisfaction with the 
GOT's position on Ajara and asked the Turks to help convince 
Russia to give up its Georgian bases, according to Georgian 
DCM Tabatadze.  His GOT interlocutors expressed support for 
Georgian territorial integrity and sovereignty, encouraged 
Saakashvili to peaceably settle differences with South 
Ossetia and Abkhazia, and made a surprisingly strong pitch 
for resettlement of Meskhetian Turks.  The GOT promised to 
continue military assistance to Georgia.  The GOT appears to 
have convinced Saakashvili to ease controls and fees at the 
border, but other economic and commercial overtures yielded 
no definite results.  End Summary. 
 
 
Regional Issues 
 
 
2.  (C) Saakashvili expressed his satisfaction with the 
position the GOT took during the Ajara confrontation that 
ended with Abashizde's May 6 departure.  Turkish 
interlocutors said they support for Georgian territorial 
integrity and sovereignty but cautioned that differences with 
South Ossetia and Abkhazia should be solved peacefully. 
Saakashvili asked the Turks to push Russia to give up its 
Georgian bases.   FM Gul raised Azeri/Armenian relations, 
saying he hoped Georgia would help foster dialogue and 
encourage Armenian withdrawal from occupied territory. 
 
 
3.  (C) From the beginning, the Turks pushed Saakashvili for 
resettlement of Meskhetian Turks; Tabatadze said this was a 
major GOT issue in all meetings.  The GOT was previously 
reluctant to push the GOG on this, due to Georgia's delicate 
internal political situation (reftel).  Saakashvili 
reiterated the GOG's commitment to fulfill its COE 
obligations, but said Georgia's economic problems presented 
too great a burden to permit resettlement now; Georgia will 
focus first on its own IDPs.  In any event, Saakashvili 
added, the GOG will not resettle the Meskhetians in their 
areas of origin, which are currently occupied by ethnic 
Armenians, because this could lead to ethnic tension. 
 
 
Military Issues 
 
 
4.  (C) Saakashvili expressed appreciation for Turkish 
military assistance, noting that Turkish-trained units had 
high morale and good discipline.  The Turks promised to 
continue assistance to the 11th Brigade and a commando 
brigade, assistance to the Tbilisi military academy, and 
refurbishment of the Tbilisi military airport, including 
supply of communications equipment. 
 
 
Economic/Commercial 
 
 
5.  (C) The Turks asked Saakashvili to reduce fees and 
streamline procedures for Turkish truckers crossing the 
Georgian border.  The GOT blamed current border controls for 
a reduction in annual truck traffic from 25,000 to 8,000. 
According to a Georgian press report, upon his return from 
Turkey, Saakashvili went straight to the Sarpi border 
crossing and ordered customs officials to ease crossing 
procedures. 
 
 
6.  (C) The Turks had less luck in pressing Saakashvili for a 
double taxation agreement.  Among other provisions, the GOT 
wants an agreement including a one-year tax exemption for 
Turkish construction firms; since most projects can be 
completed within a year, this would amount to a permanent 
exemption for Turkish firms.  The two sides decided only to 
continue negotiations. 
 
 
7.  (C) Saakashvili highlighted his commitment to fight 
corruption and improve Georgia's foreign investment climate. 
The sides discussed possible Turkish renovation of the Batumi 
airport, construction of a railway linking Kars and 
Akhalkalaki, and other commercial ventures.  Tabatadze said 
he heard lots of "talk" but no definite proposals; he expects 
no concrete commercial projects coming out of the visit. 
EDELMAN