HAITI ELECTORAL OBSERVATION REQUEST: GOES FOREIGN

UNCLAS SAN SALVADOR 002416 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL EAID HA ES SUBJECT: HAITI ELECTORAL OBSERVATION REQUEST: GOES FOREIGN MINISTRY OPEN TO CONSIDERING OBSERVER PARTICIPATION REF: STATE 157629 During an August 29 courtesy call by Polcouns, GOES Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Eduardo Calix said that his government had not yet considered an open request made by Haitian interim President Alexandre at the July 28-29 Panama Summit for electoral observers, nor had the Foreign Ministry discussed Salvadoran participation with the Canadian Embassy here. Nonetheless, Calix assured that he would initiate internal discussion on the subject, which would include consultations with El Salvador's Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE),and added that, in his view, the GOES would be open to such a request. Calix promised to have an answer for us as soon as possible. MFA Multilateral Affairs officer Felix Ulloa, who participated in the meeting, said that he would brief the MFA Multilateral Affairs Director on the issue, and that he would also contact his Canadian Embassy counterpart to coordinate possible GOES actions. Separately, Embassy will approach appropriate Canadian Embassy officials this week to map out a joint strategy. Barclay