ZIMBABWE NIXES INITIAL VISIT BY EU ELECTION OBSERVERS

1. (C) EU ACTING CHIEF OF MISSION ALEX KREMER, ACCOMPANIED BY
BRUSSELS-BASED EU STAFFER TIM SHEEHY, DESCRIBED TO POLITICAL
SECTION CHIEF ON SEPTEMBER 17 THE HEADACHES EXPERIENCED BY THE EU
IN TRYING TO GET A NINE-PERSON TECHNICAL TEAM ON THE GROUND TO LAY
THE GROUNDWORK FOR A SUSTAINED ELECTION OBSERVATION EFFORT.
ACCORDING TO KREMER, THE EU MISSION IN HARARE INFORMED THE
GOVERNMENT OF ZIMBABWE IN A NOTE VERBALE ON SEPTEMBER 14 THAT THE
TEAM WOULD BE ARRIVING ON SEPTEMBER 23, AND PROVIDED THE TEAM'S
TERMS OF REFERENCE. KREMER RECEIVED A POLITE BUT FIRM LETTER IN
RESPONSE FROM DEPUTY PRESIDENTIAL SPOKESMAN GEORGE CHARAMBA
STATING THAT THE EU SHOULD WAIT TO SEND ELECTION OBSERVERS UNTIL
IT IS INVITED TO DO SO. CHARAMBA OFFERED NO DETAILS ON WHEN THE
EU MIGHT EXPECT SUCH AN INVITATION.



2. (C) THE FOREIGN MINISTRY'S DIVISION DIRECTOR FOR EUROPE AND
THE AMERICAS JONATHAN WUTAWUNASHE ASKED TO SPEAK WITH KREMER AND
THE BELGIAN AMBASSADOR ON SEPTEMBER 17 TO DISCUSS THE MATTER
FURTHER. WUTAWUNASHE REPORTEDLY SAID THE GOZ DOES NOT OBJECT "IN
PRINCIPLE" TO EU ELECTION SUPPORT, BUT EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT THE
LANGUAGE IN THE EU'S NOTE VERBALE AND TERMS OF REFERENCE RAISED
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE TEAM'S REAL OBJECTIVES. THE MFA OFFICIAL
RECOMMENDED THAT THE EU SEND ANOTHER NOTE VERBALE PROPOSING THE
VISIT OF THE TEAM AND SUGGESTING A DISCUSSION OF ITS TERMS OF
REFERENCE. KREMER TOLD US THAT THE EU PLANS TO PROCEED ALONG THE
LINES SUGGESTED BY WUTAWUNASHE. ASKED WHETHER THE EU CONSIDERED
THIS THE END OF THE ROAD FOR ITS ELECTION OBSERVATION EFFORT,
SHEEHY SAID NO, BUT HE FULLY EXPECTED THE GOZ TO ERECT ALL SORTS
OF OBSTACLES, ENSURING THAT NO OBSERVERS ARE ADMITTED UNTIL MUCH
CLOSER TO THE DATES OF THE ELECTION.
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COMMENT


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3. (C) WE AGREE WITH KREMER THAT THE GOZ WILL MAKE ALL PROPOSED
OBSERVER GROUPS -- PARTICULARLY THOSE FROM WESTERN GOVERNMENTS AND
ORGANIZATIONS -- JUMP THROUGH A NUMBER OF INCREASINGLY NARROW
HOOPS IN THE RUN-UP TO THE ELECTION. THE GOZ'S LIKELY GOAL IS TO
PREVENT OUTSIDE GROUPS FROM WITNESSING THE PRE-ELECTION VIOLENCE
AND INTIMIDATION THAT IS ALREADY A FACT OF LIFE FOR MANY
ZIMBABWEANS, AND TO ALLOW THEM IN AT THE LAST MINUTE, JUST IN TIME
TO PUT THEIR STAMP OF APPROVAL ON THE VOTING DAYS THEMSELVES,
WHICH HISTORICALLY HAVE BEEN PEACEFUL. THUS IT IS IMPORTANT TO
KEEP THE PRESSURE ON, AND WE WILL PRESS THE GOZ FOR A RESPONSE TO
OUR SEPTEMBER 13 DIPLOMATIC NOTE REGARDING THE IFES TEAM'S
EXPULSION (REFTELS) BY THE END OF THIS WEEK.

ROTH

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