EGYPT'S PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS: USG FUNDING

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CAIRO 008534

SIPDIS

NSC STAFF FOR POUNDS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/08/2015
TAGS: EAID PGOV KDEM KMPI EG
SUBJECT: EGYPT'S PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS: USG FUNDING
SUPPORTS WIDE RANGE OF DEMOCRACY ACTIVITIES


Classified by ECPO Minister Counselor Michael Corbin for
reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

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Summary
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1. (SBU) USAID and MEPI funds are supporting a wide range
of initiatives linked to Egypt's 2005 parliamentary
elections, which begin on November 9 and will continue
through December 7. This message provides an update on
unprecedented USG initiatives, which are proceeding without
GOE interference and which are enhancing democratic processes
in the parliamentary arena. They include direct support for
civil society monitors, training for journalists, and a
significant voter information program. Funding amounts noted
below cover additional activities that occurred prior to or
will occur after the parliamentary elections. End summary.

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NDI
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2. (SBU) Using a USAID grant ($997,000),the National
Democratic Institute has trained domestic civil society
trainers for a national network of volunteer observers
(currently estimated at 10,000 nationwide) to monitor and
report on the pre-election environment, election days, and
the immediate post-election period. NDI also is

--training political party candidates and agents to monitor
the integrity of the voting process;

--fielding an international assessment team of six
international "Long Term Observers," as well as another 15-20
"Short Term Observers," to visit polling centers, observe
polling, and talk with voters and election officials;

--NDI President Ken Wollack will visit Egypt, November 14-18;
Wollack's program includes a number of high-level GOE
meetings.

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IRI/ICEM
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3. (SBU) The International Republican Institute, also
supported by a USAID grant ($1,392,000),will field an
international assessment team for the second round of the
elections which take place on November 20. IRI has also

--supported the efforts of the Independent Coalition for
Electoral Monitoring (ICEM, led by a MEPI-grantee, the Ibn
Khaldun Center) to train and deploy more than 500 observers
during the pre-election period to monitor the candidate
registration process and media coverage;

--using a USAID sub-grant administered by IRI, ICEM will
field approximately 5,000 volunteer monitors to cover all 222
constituencies during the three rounds of elections and
runoffs.

Note: ICEM's work on the parliamentary elections is also
supported by MEPI funds left over from ICEM's work on the
presidential election, which was funded by MEPI. End note

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APRO
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4. (SBU) The Arab Penal Reform Organization (APRO),
supported by a USAID grant for $260,000, has trained 2000
election monitors to cover polling stations in most
constituencies. Its coalition members are also monitoring
the overall media environment and coverage, both print and
broadcast, of the electoral process.

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ICFJ
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5. (SBU) The International Center for Journalists (ICFJ),
supported by a USAID grant ($557,000),has continued
nationwide training programs for journalists to enable them
to report better on individual parliamentary districts. ICFJ
has placed particular emphasis on training journalists about
their responsibility to hold election winners accountable for
campaign promises.

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IFES
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6. (SBU) The International Foundation for Elections Systems
(IFES),using a USAID contract for $1.3 million, has shared
information on best practices for voter education with the
GOE's State Information Service, which has in turn created
voter awareness messages and printed and broadcast voter
information products, including in the leading national
newspaper, Al-Ahram. IFES has also

--facilitated the creation of a new voters' education NGO
network and helped develop a manual to educate voters,
particularly women, youth, and the disabled in Upper Egypt,
the Delta, and greater Cairo;

--helped a local NGO to develop a website to raise awareness
on elections and participation;

--sponsored civic dialogue sessions on topics such as
electoral reform and administration, campaigning and
Parliamentary representation.

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EASD
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7. (SBU) Using supplemental grant support from MEPI of
$75,000, the Egyptian Association for Supporting Democracy,
will field an additional 1500 election day monitors. (Note:
EASD, like the Ibn Khaldun Center, is a MEPI grantee for
other democracy activities not directly linked to the
parliamentary elections. End note.)

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Comment
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8. (C) All of these activities have been proceeding without
GOE interference. Despite the media backlash, and private
GOE pique, that we witnessed after the Embassy's announcement
of several MEPI democracy grants in March, we have
established a significant record of USG direct funding for
crucial democracy activities in Egypt. End comment.


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