ODIHR DIRECTOR STROHAL'S VISIT: OSCE "REFORM" AND

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MOSCOW 010692

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/22/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV OSCE RS
SUBJECT: ODIHR DIRECTOR STROHAL'S VISIT: OSCE "REFORM" AND
RUSSIA'S 2008 ELECTIONS

Classified By: Minister-Counselor for Political Affairs Alice G. Wells.
Reasons: 1.4 (B/D)


1. (C) Summary: During a September 19 meeting with OSCE
Office of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR)
Director Strohal, DFM Grushko emphasized once again Russia's
desire for OSCE "reform." However, ODIHR's harshest critic
had much softened his tone, according to Strohal, while still
pushing for specific changes to ODIHR election monitoring in
time for the Brussels Ministerial. Strohal also met with
Human Rights Ombudsman Vladimir Lukin to discuss the NGO
registration process. Central Elections Commissioner
Aleksandr Veshnyakov told Strohal that Russia planned to
invite an ODIHR team to observe Russian elections, but the
MFA was less certain, asserting that Moscow wanted progress
on OSCE reform before making a decision. End Summary.
.
BANGING ON THE REFORM DRUM
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2. (C) Strohal told guests at a working lunch hosted by the
Belgians that his discussions with DFM Grushko had been
constructive and that Grushko had been pragmatic. Grushko
had reiterated standard GOR complaints that OSCE placed
excessive emphasis on the human dimension and that ODIHR was
focused too much on east-of-Vienna monitoring. In a later
conversation with ODIHR Russia Desk Officer Holly Ruthrauff
(please protect),she told us that despite the usual barrage
of criticism about ODIHR methodology, Grushko had been more
conciliatory than expected. Grushko did argue that the ODIHR
handbook was not an OSCE document because it had never been
formally endorsed by the OSCE Permanent Council (PC). He
warned that Moscow believed there was much work to be done
with ODIHR before the Brussels Ministerial in December.


3. (C) In a follow-up with the MFA Acting OSCE Desk
Director, Vladimir Yanin asserted that that the GOR's
objections to OSCE methodology were not political but "purely
of a technical nature." However, the "technical" changes
Russia would like to see would give Moscow a veto over
monitoring missions. Yanin said Russia wanted ODIHR to
produce an annual list of elections which would be presented
to the Permanent Council for its decision as to which
countries ODIHR would send its monitoring teams. Moscow also
wanted the election monitoring Heads of Mission to be
selected by the Permanent Council, that the role of
short-term election observers be more clearly specified, and
that OSCE official languages other than English also be used
in monitoring.
.
NGO REGISTRATION
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4. (C) Strohal told his lunch guests that he had pitched
Human Rights Ombudsman Vladimir Lukin on a joint program on
human rights in the military; Lukin was interested but
noncommittal. Lukin discussed the NGO registration process
with Strohal, explaining that he was gathering information
from the regions and would then make a decision on whether
concerns needed be raised with the GOR. Strohal met
separately with local NGOs, who noted their concerns over
implementation of the NGO laws and uncertainty about their
legal requirements.
.
RUSSIAN ELECTIONS
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5. (C) Central Election Commissioner Aleksandr Veshnyakov
made clear in his meeting with Strohal that Russia plans to
invite an ODIHR team to observe Russian elections, according
to ODIHR's Ruthrauff. Only after ODIHR's needs assessment --
which ODIHR plans as early as next June -- would the scope of
monitoring be clarified. Ruthrauff told us later that that
there were fears that no matter how early the needs
assessment was conducted, all important "deals" would have
been made in advance and the elections would become a pro
forma exercise. If "early voting" was used in the upcoming
elections, monitoring would become even messier and more
complicated. Ruthrauff concluded that even if Russia was not
satisfied with ODIHR's methodology, it would still be too
damaging not to invite ODIHR to observe the 2008 elections.
In poloff's discussions at the MFA, Acting Director Yanin
would not discuss GOR plans vis-a-vis OSCE monitoring of
2007/2008 elections. Despite Veshnyakov's informal promise
to Strohal to "invite" ODIHR, Yanin said that no clear
decision had been made and that Moscow would review the
situation after the Brussels Ministerial.


6. (C) In his meeting with NGO representatives, Strohal
heard concerns about the use of electronic balloting, which
will be first tested in Novgorod in October regional
elections. Strohal raised this issue with Commissioner

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Veshnyakov, who noted that a decision to move forward with
electronic ballots would be implemented gradually and be
informed by the results of testing.

COMMENT
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7. (C) While Strohal attempted to spin the results of his
visit in a positive fashion, it seems clear that in the
run-up to Brussels we will hear increasing calls by the GOR
for institutional changes that would limit monitoring mission
autonomy.
BURNS