PRT/MAZAR-E SHARIF - PROVINCIAL COUNCIL MUCH IMPROVED

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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 KABUL 001537

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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
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E.O. 12958 N/A
TAGS: PGOV, EAID, SOCI, AF
SUBJECT:PRT/MAZAR-E SHARIF - PROVINCIAL COUNCIL MUCH
IMPROVED

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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
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

r />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

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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

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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

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government.

NEUMANN