IRISH REACTION TO ETHIOPIAN POST-ELECTION PERIOD

C O N F I D E N T I A L DUBLIN 000679

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/27/2014
TAGS: PREL KDEM PGOV PHUM
SUBJECT: IRISH REACTION TO ETHIOPIAN POST-ELECTION PERIOD

REF: STATE 99185

Classified By: ACTING POL/ECON CHIEF JOE YOUNG,
FOR REASONS 1.4 (B),(D)


1. (C) Summary. In response to reftel points, Department of
Foreign Affairs Deputy Sub-Sahara Africa Director Pat Kelly
noted that the vote counting process in Ethiopia lacks
transparency and is a cause for concern. He said the Irish
participants in the European Union Election Observer Mission
(EUEOM) are promoting dialogue and the use of legal recourse
in filing complaints. Overall, according to Kelly, the EUEOM
was "genuinely impressed" with the election campaign and
voting procedures, noting that campaigns were well-organized,
rallies and demonstrations were peaceful, and the GOE allowed
the media appropriate air time and impartial coverage. He
added that the EUEOM is now pressing the GOE to allow
adequate media coverage of the vote counting to promote
reconciliation between the government and the opposition. He
said that the final tally may need to be delayed beyond the
June 8 deadline in order to ensure transparency and a fair
count. End summary


2. (C) Kelly's answers below are keyed to reftel questions:

--According to Kelly, the EUEOM visited approximately 500
polling stations and found more support for the opposition
than the government is now reporting. The National Election
Board's preliminary reports do not tally with observations
and early EUEOM predictions for results. Though the
elections were handled with credibility, the vote counting is
not transparent and is cause for concern.

--Bilaterally, the GOI will not issue any statement or take
steps to assist in managing the post-election process or
fraud elections. Kelly said proper vote counting in this
election is very important to Ireland, but it is important
that the EU speak in one voice for all Member States.

--Kelly said that the decision of how long to remain in
country needs to be addressed by the EU Commission and the
EUEOM. He added that Ireland stands ready to support the
current vote counting and future elections. Kelly, along
with two Irish parliament members, and five other observers
had monitored the Ethiopian elections, primarily in the
Somali region of Eastern Ethiopia. This region maintains 23
Ethiopian constituencies, but due to security concerns voting
in this region has been tentatively deferred until August

2005.

--Kelly observed that unfettered access to all aspects of the
vote tabulation process for the monitors and media should
have been in place from the beginning, and should apply in
future elections. He added that access is to be granted in
pending run-offs and that elections will take place in
disputed areas such as the Somali region in Eastern Ethiopia.


--Kelly said that the most important steps to take with the
opposition include providing legal avenues to file disputes
with the National Election Board (NEB) and pressing the
government to allow ample media coverage to the vote tally
process. He said that it would be more effective for the EU
to deliver this message with a single voice than for the
Member States to speak separately. Ireland has no plans to
make direct overtures. He added that in order to reach a
fair outcome of the tally, the results may need to be delayed
beyond the June 8 deadline.
KENNY