VZCZCXRO3748
PP RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHNP RUEHROV RUEHSL RUEHSR
DE RUEHSI #2180/01 3451436
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 111436Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY TBILISI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2595
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/OSD WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TBILISI 002180 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/09/2019 
TAGS: PREL PGOV LV GG
SUBJECT: GEORGIA: LATVIAN PRESIDENT OFFERS MISHA MORAL 
SUPPORT 
 
Classified By: DEPUTY CHIEF OF MISSION KENT LOGSDON FOR REASONS 1.4 (b) 
 AND (d) 
 
¶1. (C) Summary:  Latvian President Valdis Zatlers, 
accompanied by his wife and 65 Latvian businessmen, paid an 
official visit to Georgia in early December.  With the 
economies of both Latvia and Georgia struggling, the visit 
centered on shared possibilities for enhanced business 
relationships.  Geopolitics and the influence of Russia in 
former Soviet states figured prominently in media reports. 
Latvian embassy representatives told us that President 
Zatlers delivered clear points to President Saakashvili on 
Latvia's willingness to support Georgia and share expertise, 
while ensuring that this "unwavering support" was balanced 
with a message that Georgia needed to "do its homework," 
closely follow EU guidance on international affairs, and be 
ready to counter with facts Russian statements to the 
international community.  This visit continues President 
Saakashvili's efforts to build personal relationships with 
European leaders, while also doing everything he can to sell 
the opportunities present in the Georgian market to 
international investors.  End Summary. 
 
"Georgia's Place is in Europe" 
 
¶2.  (SBU)  Latvian President Valdis Zatlers, following up an 
earlier 2009 visit to Baku, traveled again to the south 
Caucasus in early December, visiting Georgia December 7-9, 
prior to traveling onward to Armenia.  Starting in Batumi and 
small towns in Ajara, President Zatlers, accompanied by 
cabinet members, his wife, and 65 Latvian businessmen, began 
the state visit with a clear demonstration of the importance 
economics will play in the bilateral relationship.  Prior to 
arriving in Georgia, President Zatlers stated in an interview 
with Georgia Today that the highest priority of the trip 
would be to enhance the economic cooperation between the two 
nations.  In the same article, Zatlers stressed his support 
for Georgian integration into the EU and NATO, emphasizing 
that "Georgia's place is in Europe," and he stated, in 
response to a question about who started the August 2008 war, 
that the issue was pointless to discuss since the entire war 
took place in Georgian territory. 
 
Meetings and Medals 
 
¶3.  (SBU)  In addition to the 65 Latvian businessmen, 
President Zatlers also included in the delegation to Georgia 
the Latvian Economic, Interior, and Environment ministers, as 
well as several senior foreign policy and economic advisors. 
After a brief courtesy call with President Saakashvili, The 
Latvians met Parliamentary Chairman Davit Bakradze, Prime 
Minister Nika Gilauri, Deputy Foreign Minister Giga Bokeria, 
as well as Autonomous Republic of Ajara government head Levan 
Varshalomidze during the stop in Batumi.  Latvian Economics 
Minister Artis Kampara and Georgian Minister of Economic 
Development Zurab Pololikashvili signed an economic 
cooperation agreement in the field of information technology, 
and the respective minister of interiors signed a border 
cooperation agreement.  The state visit could not avoid the 
exchanging of presidential medals, with President Zatlers 
awarding the Cross of Recognition to Saakashvili, and 
President Saakashvili awarding the St. George's Order to 
Zatlers. 
 
Business is Big 
 
¶4.  (C)  Latvian Embassy Second Secretary and coordinator of 
the visit Raimonds Vingris told us that this visit was the 
natural next step for President Zatlers after what the 
Latvians perceived as a highly successful initial trip to the 
QLatvians perceived as a highly successful initial trip to the 
Caucasus when he visited Baku.  Noting that Zatlers and 
Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev had built a strong personal 
bond during the state visit ("they genuinely like each 
other," according to Vingris) that directly led to concrete 
economic bilateral progress, the Latvian president was hoping 
to achieve similar results in Georgia and Armenia.  Vingris 
stressed that economic growth was the highest priority for 
the Latvian MFA and its embassies overseas, and the focus of 
the visit to Georgia was opening up export markets for 
Latvian goods, as well as potentially identifying investment 
opportunities that would ultimately benefit the troubled 
Latvian economy. 
 
But Don't Forget the Politics 
 
¶5.  (C)  According to Vingris, first and most publicly, 
President Zatlers stressed repeatedly Latvia's support for 
Georgian integration into the EU and NATO.  Publicly and 
privately, he also stressed Latvia's willingness to pass 
along its expertise in any way it could as Georgia navigated 
 
TBILISI 00002180  002 OF 002 
 
 
the difficult route to eventual EU/NATO membership, stressing 
that Latvia would lobby as much as it could to ensure 
eventual success.  Vingris stated that President Zatlers more 
quietly emphasized the importance of Saakashvili supporting 
EU positions as it related to Russia and the south Caucasus, 
and ensure that Georgia "did its homework" in countering 
Russian efforts to shape public information and influence 
international organization opinions regarding 
Georgia-specific issues.  Elaborating, he said that Georgia 
must always be prepared to immediately put forth factual 
evidence to rebut any charges the Russians made towards them. 
 
State Visits to Georgia Remain Interesting Experiences 
 
¶6.  (C)  Mr. Vingris also provided a few anecdotes about 
setting up and conducting the state visit that would be 
easily recognized by all who have worked with President 
Saakashvili's protocol staff.  While exhausting, Vingris 
stated that he was eventually resigned to the fact that 
however things might have been planned, they would inevitably 
be changed, avoided, or completely forgotten as the event 
took place.  An initial meet and greet upon President 
Zatlers' arrival into Tbilisi with President Saakashvili 
which had been planned as a quiet introduction without press 
turned into a media circus as dozens of reporters arrived at 
the location beforehand, and responded to Latvian challenges 
by stating that they had been invited by the president's 
staff.  The formal meeting at the presidency with its 
previously-set seat locations and attendees was also 
unexpectedly changed, resulting in President Saakashvili 
moving chairs as the meeting began to get a spot closer to 
President Zatlers.  In spite of these instances of 
exasperation, Vingris stressed that Saakashvili was highly 
personable and gracious towards President Zatlers, and the 
Latvian president left Georgia "all smiles." 
 
¶7.  (C)  Comment:  President Saakashvili continues to 
emphasize international investment for future economic growth 
in Georgia, and his ability to personally affect the 
situation remains one of Georgia's most potent weapons as it 
continues to strive for growth following the August 2008 war. 
 Baltic countries remain some of Georgia's most natural 
allies, both politically and economically, and it is clear 
that while Georgia recognizes the overriding importance of 
its alliance with the United States, it very much appreciates 
the opportunity to enhance and develop its bonds with other 
nations closer to home that share its aversion to Russian 
efforts to exert its influence.  With nothing to lose and 
much to gain with enhanced cooperation with countries such as 
Latvia, Georgia stands to continue its outreach efforts, 
seeking to attract as much international investment as 
possible, while touting its positive reviews in the areas of 
anti-corruption and business friendliness.  Latvia also 
provided welcome advice and guidance on how to further 
integrate into European structures, and Georgia will continue 
to take this advice going forward.  End Comment. 
BASS