ELECTINN OFFICIAL TELLS EUR DAR KRAMER ELECTIONSQ

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 MINSI 000225

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/02.2016
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL
SUBJECT: ELECTINN OFFICIAL TELLS EUR DAR KRAMER ELECTIONSQ
WILL BE DEMOCRATIC

REF: A. MINSK 044

B. MINSK 192

MINSK 03020225 001.2 OF 003


Classified By: Ambassador George Krol for Reasons 1.4 (B,D)Q


1. (C) Sumaary: VisiWKkQEUR DAS David Kramer met with
Central Election Commissikn (CDC) Secretary Nikolai Lozovik
on February 24. Lozovik stressed that Bdlarus, election
process is democratic and expressed anger at the OSCE and
U.S. for saying otherwise. He also criti`ized the oppoSitiof
for complaining aboup alleged GOB violations to the electoral
code" DAS Kramer retorTed that Belarus had not addressed
previous OSCE cofcernq about BelaruC, electoral process, buD
tcld Lozovik that Belarus was still able to provi`e
aonditions for a free and fair electioN. When Kramer noted
It was regrettable that The GCB arrested leaders of the
Partnership elEctiof monitoring NGO, Lozovic responded that
it was regrettable the U.S. was so concerned with the affairsQof an illegal entity. In response to Kramer,s warning that
GOB mfficials woulD face serious consequenCes ib elections
were marre` with fraud or vioLence( Lozmvik asserted that at
was foolish of the U.S. and EU to resort to such strong-arm
Tactics. End Summary.


2. (C) Visiting EUR DAS David Kramer, accompanied ba
Ambassador Krol and Embassy note-takers, met with Central
Election Committee (CEC) Secret!ry Nikolai Loz^vik on
February 24 to discuss the upcoming March 19 presidential
elections. CEC lawyer Nadezhna Kizolova and Counselor of t(e
MFA,s USA desk AndrEi Rzheussky also attend%d the meeting.
Lozovik briefly described the CEC,s structure and duties.
As ij previous mee4ings with Emboffs (ref A),Lozovik prided
himself on being a former opposition member in ParlRament who
once tried to i-peach President Lukashenko. Lozorik toldQKramer there qas no lack of oppositioj voices in the CEC.

Belarus, &Democratic8 Elaction ProFess
--------------
Q3. (C) Lozovik maintained thad the CEC,s objective is to
organize and carry out alections in accordance sith Belarus,
electoral code and international standardsQQBQQclaimed the
electora, code was the result of a &democratic8 compromi3e
betwean the GOB@and the opposition. Lozovik said the GOB
circulated for coiment a drXQQ2QIM%=9Qof the electoral code
to &all political parties, NGOs, and international
organizations8 before being formerly intBoduced in 2000.
Therefore, Lozovik wX."%MQAA=%9QQQQand dismayed by OSCE ajd
U.S. declarations that Belarus, electoral cmde was
noneTheless &ujdemocratic.8 Kramer poijted out that the GGB
had nnt addressed the OSCE,s concerns that folloued the 2001
presidential elections, but the U.S. h`d not pr%maturely
calXed the upcomifg presidential elections illegitimate.
Ambassador noted that it was the state media that had alleged
that the U.S. had already cast judgment on the elections.

Kramer Mentions Arrests of Domestic Elechion Observers
-------------- -------------- ,-


4. (C) Kramer explained that the U.S. had serious c/ncerns
about the elec4oral process ldadinQ*AQto t`e March electi^n
because of GOB laws that do fot ensure free and fair
conditions. He cited the latest amendments to the criminal
code on discrediting Belar5s and the detentionf of
Partnership NGO election observers as a means to deter people
from 6oicing their opinio\ (r%f B) Lozcvik was &furp2ised(
~~~~~~~~~that the U.S. took such interest in the arrest3 of eembers of
an &illegal8 and &unregistered8 organization
(Partne2ship). According to Lozovik, these activiSts work
for personal ÷nds8 and opined t(at their arrests
would, to their own benefit, increase their reputation in the
West. KrameR asked Lozovik if arresting people for
padticipating in an unregifter%d organization was nece3sary
and noted that iT had become quite easy to be arrested in
Belarus. Lozorik responded that people needed to observe the
law.

Not Too Late to Improve Cond)tions
--------------


5. (C) Kramer conveyed As3istant Secretary Daniel Fried,s
statement that it was not too late for the GOB to provide
conditions for a free and fair election. For this reason the
U.S. had not yet declared the pre3idential elections
undemocRatic& Kramer reminded Lozovik that as a member of
the MSCE, Belarus is obdigated to follow international norms.
KRamer noted the U.S. was pleased that Belarus inVited OSCE
observers and registered all four presidential contend%rs,


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