PRT/MAZAR-E SHARIF - PROVINCIAL COUNCIL MUCH IMPROVED

Show metadata

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 KABUL 001537

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

RELEASABLE TO NATO/AUST/NZ/ISAF

STATE FOR SCA/FO, SCA/A, SCA/PAB, S/CT, EUR/RPM

STATE PASS TO USAID FOR AID/ANE, AID/DCHA/DG

NSC FOR AHARRIMAN, KAMEND

CENTCOM FOR CG CFC-A, CG CJTF-76, POLAD

E.O. 12958 N/A

TAGS: PGOV, EAID, SOCI, AF

SUBJECT:PRT/MAZAR-E SHARIF - PROVINCIAL COUNCIL MUCH

IMPROVED

KABUL 00001537 001.2 OF 004

1. Summary: The Balkh Provincial Council has made

great strides since January. Although still lacking

a clear mandate from the central government, it is

developing a role for itself in provincial

governance. Challenges still remain as the Council

struggles to define itself to the people by whom it

was elected. End Summary.

Background

--------------

2. When PRToff met on January 31 with Farhad Azimi,

Chairman of the Balkh Provincial Council, the

results were frustrating. Azimi complained

repeatedly about a lack of "financial and logistical

support," citing a shortage of cars (the council has

two) as the chief reason he and his council were

unable to perform any work. Another concern was the

continued delay in receiving a legislated mandate

for the council, without which the relationship

between the council and the governor was complicated

and unclear. According to Mr. Azimi, until Kabul

clearly defined the role of the council in the

province, it was simply a group of men and women who

sat in their office and turned away requests from

the people of Balkh.

Recent Improvements

--------------

3. In a discussion with PRToff March 25, Azimi

indicated things had changed since January, and a

combination of training and time has resulted in the

council's increasing activism in the province. The

council held an open meeting at the Governor's

offices in Mazar-e Sharif on March 20 to which

residents of all ten districts in the city were

invited. At the meeting, they explained to their

constituents the purpose of the Provincial Council

and asked all present to submit their grievances so

that the council could work toward addressing them.

Using the people's complaints as both agenda and

benchmark, the council developed a three-month

r />
strategic plan with the assistance of USAID-trained

Provincial Council mentors. They plan to meet with

Governor Atta in early April to present their plan

in hopes of securing his cooperation in their

objectives.

Role of the Provincial Council

--------------

4. At present, the Provincial Council's primary

service is negotiating area land disputes. The

large number of returnees and poor or nonexistent

recordkeeping have made land-related problems an

ongoing concern for the region. The council members

began handling these disputes shortly after being

elected when the people of Balkh began approaching

them with such problems, seeking a solution from a

legitimate elected body. Since then, the council has

leveraged both its legitimacy as an electoral body

and its ethnic diversity to bring many complaints to

resolution. One recent example involved a landlord

who had let a shopkeeper operate on some of his

property in his absence. The landlord returned to

KABUL 00001537 002.2 OF 004

evict the shopkeeper, since he planned to redevelop

the land in the near future. The shopkeeper brought

his complaint to the council, which ultimately

decided in favor of the landlord as he owned the

property outright. At the same time, however, they

convinced the landlord to give the shopkeeper a

small sum of money from which he could lease a shop

space elsewhere in the city. Azimi told PRToff the

landlord complied with this request because he

considered it to be reasonable, neutral, and

carrying with it the authority of a body he himself

took part in electing.

5. Another niche the council has found for itself is

in the review of provincial regulations, procedures

and activities. As Azimi said, "We have no

authority, but as representatives of the citizens of

this country we have the right to review procedures

and question them. We have no power of appointment,

but we can ask the police why they are not taking

more action in certain areas." According to Azimi,

Gov. Atta is optimistic about this process and views

it as a means to improve communication between the

governor and the people. Unfortunately, as Azimi

also pointed out, the council is housed in a rented

space at the pleasure of the governor, and until the

members are able to find an office independent of

the governor they must be careful not to anger him

and risk eviction.

6. Another component of the council's growth has

been the exchange of ideas and experiences with

neighboring councils. On a semi-regular basis, the

councils meet in a central location to discuss

progress and areas in need of improvement. This

system, which has developed naturally with some

urging from the PRT, has ensured a continuous

organic growth shared by all regional councils,

rather than uneven development driven by individual

experience.

7. In an effort to better define itself, the council

has developed a Power Point presentation for both

internal and external consumption. The presentation

includes procedures and rules for meetings ("No

mobile phones," "No insults," "No bringing of

private problems to the table," etc.) as well as a

structural breakdown of the committee's

organization, subcommittee membership, areas of

responsibility, and mandate. The presentation,

while erring on the side of thoroughness, shows the

effort the council has made to determine its

direction and its goals and how best to achieve

them.

Some Problems Remain

--------------

8. Despite all the improvements, the Provincial

Council still faces some difficulties. Azimi is

growing irritated at the lack of coordination

between the council and the NGO community in Balkh

Province. He claims they do not consult with the

council at all, choosing rather to execute their

activities with the local ministerial

representatives or, worse, on their own. PRToff has

KABUL 00001537 003.2 OF 004

arranged some meetings between Azimi, UNAMA and

ACBAR in hopes of moving this issue towards a

solution.

9. A second problem involves perceived international

and UN interference in council affairs. During the

meeting between Azimi and PRToff on January 31, a

Finnish Development Advisor was present. Wanting to

build on an idea developed by a previous State

PRToff, the advisor approached Azimi about

distributing leaflets to Balkh residents explaining

what the Provincial Council does, who the members

are, and how to reach them. Azimi warmed to this

idea, requesting that it be developed in

consultation with the council. Unfortunately, the

advisor released the leaflet, which contained the

line, "Although the Provincial Council can advise

the governor, he does not need to listen to what

they say," on her own. Although the statement was

technically true, Azimi rightfully pointed out it

made the council look weak and passive, and

suggested the idea could have been conveyed

differently. He believes as things stand now, an

image of an ultimately ineffectual council is being

propagated. The leaflet has been cancelled and a new

version is being developed.

10. Azimi also referenced a recent poll issued by

the UN. A questionnaire developed by UNAMA was

distributed across the province asking fairly

pointed questions about the council's track record

and efficacy. Azimi said he believed this move to

be premature, especially as regards the more remote

districts which are still inaccessible. The council

has been elected for six months and been an active

body for, at best, two -- the UNAMA assessment seems

to be getting ahead of itself, presumably to meet

internationally-imposed reporting guidelines.

11. In the meeting with PRToff, Azimi again

requested "logistical and financial support".

According to Azimi the Council has only two

vehicles, making trips out to the districts quite

difficult. If one group goes out, all the other

members are unable to leave their headquarters in

Mazar-e Sharif, he said.

Comment

--------------

12. The Council has made great headway in the last

three months. The USAID mentors seem to be serving

an active role in the Council's development while it

makes inroads establishing a relationship with the

provincial government. The Council still lacks

sufficient resources and housing, but these problems

are peripheral to the critical need for further

development of council capacity and mandate. Azimi,

who initially came across as a weak chairman with no

plans, vision or initiative, now seems to have

rolled up his sleeves and become very involved in

the nuts and bolts of developing a new

representative body for the province. If the

current momentum continues to develop, this council

ultimately will serve as an effective bridge between

the provincial population and its appointed

KABUL 00001537 004.2 OF 004

government.

NEUMANN

PRT/MAZAR-E SHARIF - PROVINCIAL COUNCIL MUCH IMPROVED

Share this cable