DEMARCHE DELIVERED TO DUTCH ON GEORGIAN ELECTIONS

C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 002128

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/21/2013
TAGS: PREL SOCI KDEM GG NL OSCE DU
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED TO DUTCH ON GEORGIAN ELECTIONS

REF: STATE 242687

Classified By: CLASSIFIED BY DEPUTY CHIEF OF MISSION DANIEL RUSSEL FOR
REASONS 1.5 (B AND D)


1. (C) DCM AND POLOFF MADE REFTEL POINTS TO DUTCH MFA OSCE
TASK FORCE CHIEF AMB. DAAN EVERTS AND TASK FORCE STAFF IN
SEPARATE CONVERSATIONS ON AUGUST 22. AMB. EVERTS TOLD DCM
THAT DESPITE BEING "VERY DISAPPOINTED" WITH THE STATE OF
AFFAIRS IN GEORGIA, THE OSCE WOULD ENGAGE IN THE SELECTION OF
THE CHAIR OF THE CENTRAL ELECTION COMMISSION (CEC).


2. (C) OSCE TASK FORCE STAFF OFFICERS ALEX OOSTERWIJK AND
FRANK VAN BEUNINGEN REPEATED TO POLOFF DUTCH CONCERNS
(REFTEL) THAT GIVEN THAT THE GEORGIAN PARLIAMENT HAD NOT
APPROVED ARTICLE 18 OF THEIR UNIFORM ELECTION CODE (UEC),THE
NEW CEC WOULD BE TAINTED, AND THE OSCE MIGHT BE SEEN AS
"RUBBER-STAMPING" A FLAWED PROCESS. THEY ALSO RAISED
CONCERNS ABOUT REPORTS OF ALLEGED COLLUSION BETWEEN
OPPOSITION PARTIES REVIVAL AND THE INDUSTRIALISTS AND THE
GOVERNMENT WHICH WOULD DILUTE THE POTENTIAL INDEPENDENCE OF
THE CEC. NEVERTHELESS THEY SAID THE OSCE WOULD BE HEAVILY
INVOLVED IN OBSERVING AND MONITORING THE ELECTIONS.
OOSTERWIJK AND VAN BEUNINGEN MADE SOME PROCEDURAL
DISTINCTIONS AS WELL. THEY SAID THAT THE BAKER PLAN DID NOT
STIPULATE THAT THE OSCE APPOINT THE CEC CHAIRMAN BUT RATHER
THE OSCE WOULD ADVISE PRESIDENT SHEVARDNADZE AS TO WHOM HE
SHOULD APPOINT. TO THIS END, THE DUTCH HAVE IDENTIFIED
ROMANIAN HEAD OF DELEGATION TO THE OSCE (AND FORMER UN
SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE TO ABKHAZIA) LIVIO BOTA AND BULGARIAN
PLAMEN NICOLOV, COUNCIL OF EUROPE SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR
GEORGIA, TO SERVE ON AN AD HOC ADVISORY BODY TO ASSIST IN
APPOINTING A CEC CHAIR. THEY ALSO SAID THAT THE OSCE DOES
NOT HAVE THE CAPACITY TO APPOINT ALL 75 REGIONAL ELECTORAL
COMMITTEE CHAIRS.
SOBEL