Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05CAIRO5591
2005-07-21 16:19:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Cairo
Cable title:  

JULY 18 MEETING OF THE EMBASSY'S INSTITUTIONS OF

Tags:  PHUM KDEM KMPI PGOV PREL EG 
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UNCLAS CAIRO 005591 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

FOR NEA, NEA/ELA, NEA/PI

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM KDEM KMPI PGOV PREL EG
SUBJECT: JULY 18 MEETING OF THE EMBASSY'S INSTITUTIONS OF
DEMOCRACY WORKING GROUP (IDWG)

REF: CAIRO 5446

Sensitive but unclassified. Please protect accordingly.

UNCLAS CAIRO 005591

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

FOR NEA, NEA/ELA, NEA/PI

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM KDEM KMPI PGOV PREL EG
SUBJECT: JULY 18 MEETING OF THE EMBASSY'S INSTITUTIONS OF
DEMOCRACY WORKING GROUP (IDWG)

REF: CAIRO 5446

Sensitive but unclassified. Please protect accordingly.


1. (SBU) Summary: The Charge chaired the July 18 meeting
of the Embassy's Institutions of Democracy Working Group
(IDWG),which was attended by the USAID Director, USAID
Democracy and Governance (D & G) staff, PAO, ECPO Counselor,
and ECPO staff. The meeting included discussion on
facilitating USG-funded election assistance, a review of
pending elections-related grants, and an update on MEPI
Regional Director Peter Mulrean's current trip to Egypt. End
summary.


2. (SBU) In discussing USG-funded assistance to support the
upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections, USAID
first reviewed grants (per reftel) signed June 30 to the
National Democratic Institute ($1,000,000); the Arab Penal
Reform Organization, a coalition of Egyptian NGOs organizing
domestic election monitoring efforts ($246,600); and the
International Center for Journalists ($493,350). USAID also
reviewed the contract ($1,300,000) signed June 30 for the
International Foundation for Election Systems (IFES),which
focuses on voter education, civic dialogue, and support for
the presidential and parliamentary election commissions.


3. (SBU) IDWG members discussed strategy for communicating
and working with the presidential and parliamentary election
commissions, highlighting the need to stay apprised of the
commissions' membership and activities. IDWG members agreed
on the importance of developing good relationships with these
commissions.


4. (SBU) The IDWG also reviewed and approved pending
elections-related grants, which are expected to be signed by
July 30, to the International Republican Institute (IRI)
($1,000,000),IFES ($360,000),and the Public Administration
Research and Consultation Center (PARC) of Cairo University
($99k). Specifically:

--IRI's activities will involve assessing the electoral
environment (party activities, candidate platforms, and media
coverage) and providing political parties with electorate
survey research;

--IFES' grant proposal (different from the contract signed
June 30) focuses on disabled voter access to polling
stations;

--PARC's proposal seeks to contribute to the engagement of
marginalized youth in the electoral and political processes,
through promoting knowledge of democratic practices and
processes among university-age students, including women.

IDWG members agreed that these proposals would make
significant contributions to improved democratic practices as
Egypt gears up for presidential and legislative elections
this fall.


5. (SBU) ECPO staff also updated the IDWG on the visit of
MEPI Regional Director Peter Mulrean, who had just returned
to Cairo after productive meetings in Alexandria with 3 MEPI
grantees and the Biblioteca Alexandrina (septel).


Visit Embassy Cairo's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/cairo

You can also access this site through the
State Department's Classified SIPRNET website.

JONES