Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05BAGHDAD4437
2005-10-28 18:10:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Baghdad
Cable title:  

UNAMI REAFFIRMS OCTOBER 28 DEADLINE

Tags:  PREL PGOV PNAT KDEM IZ 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 004437 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/28/15
TAGS: PREL PGOV PNAT KDEM IZ
SUBJECT: UNAMI REAFFIRMS OCTOBER 28 DEADLINE

REF: BAGHDAD 4381

Classified By: Political Counselor Robert S. Ford for reasons 1.4 (B) a
nd (D).

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 004437

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/28/15
TAGS: PREL PGOV PNAT KDEM IZ
SUBJECT: UNAMI REAFFIRMS OCTOBER 28 DEADLINE

REF: BAGHDAD 4381

Classified By: Political Counselor Robert S. Ford for reasons 1.4 (B) a
nd (D).


1. (C) In an October 28 meeting with the Charge, SRSG Qazi
and IECI international adviser Craig Jenness said they would
press the Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq (IECI) to
maintain the October 28 deadline for coalition registration
and candidate lists. Qazi and Jenness agreed that the
October 28 date must be kept as a rigid deadline for
coalition registration. Jenness noted that as a practical
matter there could be a few days flexibility on submission of
candidate lists. However, he and Qazi agreed that the IECI
must not be subjected to manipulation by parties that miss
the deadline; the December 15 election date cannot be put in
jeopardy.


2. (C) Noting that Saleh al-Mutlak and other Sunni Arab
hardliners have questioned the fairness of the vote, Qazi
reaffirmed that irregularities were not of a scale to have
affected the outcome. Jenness said that the report on the
post-referendum audit conducted in four governorates
(reftel) was being reviewed by the IECI commissioners and
would be released October 29. The UN officials agreed with
the Charge that the IECI must be convincingly transparent and
express readiness to hear complaints from all communities.


3. (C) Qazi said that the audit report will provide important
"lessons learned" for the December 15 election. He said that
it was important for the Iraqi public to feel confident that
these lessons were being applied. Qazi said that the audit
report as well as the results of the review of the Kirkuk
voter registration list should help deflate charges from
Sunni Arab hardliners of sectarian bias at the IECI. Qazi
said that he had responded to sectarian critics of the IECI
by noting that the Commission must be doing a good job since
it was the object of complaints from all communities.
Satterfield