Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06DHAKA6301
2006-10-16 10:21:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Dhaka
Cable title:
INTER-PARTY ELECTION TALKS RESUME: MORE FORM OVER
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C O N F I D E N T I A L DHAKA 006301
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/16/2011
TAGS: KDEM PHUM PGOV BG
SUBJECT: INTER-PARTY ELECTION TALKS RESUME: MORE FORM OVER
SUBSTANCE
REF: DHAKA 06224
Classified By: CDA Geeta Pasi, reason para 1.4 d.
C O N F I D E N T I A L DHAKA 006301
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/16/2011
TAGS: KDEM PHUM PGOV BG
SUBJECT: INTER-PARTY ELECTION TALKS RESUME: MORE FORM OVER
SUBSTANCE
REF: DHAKA 06224
Classified By: CDA Geeta Pasi, reason para 1.4 d.
1. (SBU) On October 16, Bangladesh Nationalist Party
secretary-general Mannan Bhuiyan and Abdul Jalil, his
SIPDIS
counterpart from the opposition Awami League, met for 45
minutes in the fifth round of inter-party talks on the
upcoming election. Afterwards, both leaders told reporters
they had made progress, and are hopeful of a positive
outcome. Jalil claimed a consensus had been reached. The
next step, they agreed, is to discuss the talks at the party
level after PM Zia returns on October 21 and Awami League
president Hasina returns on October 22 or 23.
2. (C) In a subsequent private conversation, Bhuiyan told us
there has in fact been no substantive progress beyond the
further clarification of both sides' positions. "Everything
depends on the two leaders," he said, "and neither of them
left any guidelines for concessions." In a separate
conversation, Jalil confirmed there was no agreement on
anything "concrete."
3. (C) Comment: There continues to be a huge gap between what
BNP and AL leaders say publicly and privately about the
talks. Instead of being the decisive round as widely
anticipated, today's inconclusive session shows that neither
party, including the Awami League, is ready to pull the plug
and perhaps spark a crisis before the government gives way to
the caretaker regime on or about October 28. By the same
token, prospects for a breakthrough deal on the selection of
the chief caretaker adviser are looking more and more remote.
PASI
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/16/2011
TAGS: KDEM PHUM PGOV BG
SUBJECT: INTER-PARTY ELECTION TALKS RESUME: MORE FORM OVER
SUBSTANCE
REF: DHAKA 06224
Classified By: CDA Geeta Pasi, reason para 1.4 d.
1. (SBU) On October 16, Bangladesh Nationalist Party
secretary-general Mannan Bhuiyan and Abdul Jalil, his
SIPDIS
counterpart from the opposition Awami League, met for 45
minutes in the fifth round of inter-party talks on the
upcoming election. Afterwards, both leaders told reporters
they had made progress, and are hopeful of a positive
outcome. Jalil claimed a consensus had been reached. The
next step, they agreed, is to discuss the talks at the party
level after PM Zia returns on October 21 and Awami League
president Hasina returns on October 22 or 23.
2. (C) In a subsequent private conversation, Bhuiyan told us
there has in fact been no substantive progress beyond the
further clarification of both sides' positions. "Everything
depends on the two leaders," he said, "and neither of them
left any guidelines for concessions." In a separate
conversation, Jalil confirmed there was no agreement on
anything "concrete."
3. (C) Comment: There continues to be a huge gap between what
BNP and AL leaders say publicly and privately about the
talks. Instead of being the decisive round as widely
anticipated, today's inconclusive session shows that neither
party, including the Awami League, is ready to pull the plug
and perhaps spark a crisis before the government gives way to
the caretaker regime on or about October 28. By the same
token, prospects for a breakthrough deal on the selection of
the chief caretaker adviser are looking more and more remote.
PASI