Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06NOUAKCHOTT1259
2006-10-20 13:53:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Nouakchott
Cable title:
UNDP DECLINES TO PRINT BALLOTS
how-toVZCZCXRO5765 PP RUEHPA DE RUEHNK #1259 2931353 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 201353Z OCT 06 FM AMEMBASSY NOUAKCHOTT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5919 INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 0352 RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 0396 RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA 0552 RUEHBAD/AMCONSUL PERTH 0360 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 0305 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0505
C O N F I D E N T I A L NOUAKCHOTT 001259
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/20/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM EAID KPAO MR
SUBJECT: UNDP DECLINES TO PRINT BALLOTS
REF: NOUAKCHOTT 1235
Classified By: CDA Steven Koutsis, Reasons 1.4(b)(d)
-----------
(U) Summary
-----------
-- The issue of printing of ballots remains unresolved as the
UN steering committee has decided not to take up the
government's last minute offer to have the UNDP fund and
control the ballot printing process.
-- UN rules regarding waiting periods for bids would make
printing in time for the November 19 elections difficult to
meet.
-- Therefore, the government is on the hook to fund and print
the ballots. The UN will provide technical support if
requested.
-- Meanwhile, the government has agreed to UN and partners'
request to delay the second round of legislative elections
until December 3.
------------
(C) Comments
------------
-- There is still time to resolve the ballot issue to avoid
delaying the November vote.
-- However, the lack of Mauritanian cooperation has created a
level of mistrust with the Europeans (who are funding the
lion's share of the electoral assistance) that will be
difficult to mitigate in the short term.
End Summary and Comments.
C O N F I D E N T I A L NOUAKCHOTT 001259
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/20/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM EAID KPAO MR
SUBJECT: UNDP DECLINES TO PRINT BALLOTS
REF: NOUAKCHOTT 1235
Classified By: CDA Steven Koutsis, Reasons 1.4(b)(d)
--------------
(U) Summary
--------------
-- The issue of printing of ballots remains unresolved as the
UN steering committee has decided not to take up the
government's last minute offer to have the UNDP fund and
control the ballot printing process.
-- UN rules regarding waiting periods for bids would make
printing in time for the November 19 elections difficult to
meet.
-- Therefore, the government is on the hook to fund and print
the ballots. The UN will provide technical support if
requested.
-- Meanwhile, the government has agreed to UN and partners'
request to delay the second round of legislative elections
until December 3.
--------------
(C) Comments
--------------
-- There is still time to resolve the ballot issue to avoid
delaying the November vote.
-- However, the lack of Mauritanian cooperation has created a
level of mistrust with the Europeans (who are funding the
lion's share of the electoral assistance) that will be
difficult to mitigate in the short term.
End Summary and Comments.
1. (U) Basket fund steering committee members sent a letter
October 20 to the Minister, Secretary General of the
Presidency Habib Ould Hemet declining the government's
last-minute request to have the UN fund and contract the
printing of the ballots for the legislative and municipal
elections to be held on November 19. The letter stated "UN
request for tender procedures do not allow sufficient time,
given the date we received your request, to guarantee the
printing and delivery of the ballots" by election day.
2. (U) According to UN ResRep Cecile Molinier, UN rules
require a minimum of seven business days to submit bids after
announcement of tender. Any waiver of the open bid process,
including a limited tender to pre-qualified bidders, would
require a waiver from UN headquarters, which would be
unlikely in these circumstances.
3. (C) Molinier told charge she believes that the
Mauritanians -- too late -- realized the importance the EU
had placed on this issue only after an October 17 meeting
with EU ambassadors to discuss Mauritania's progress in
EU-ACP Article 8 discussions. The loss of confidence was
noticeable to the Mauritanians, she said.
4. (C) Molinier noted that the UN would continue to work with
the Mauritanians to produce an acceptable ballot. However
she could not be sure that the Senegalese company that the
national printing company had subcontracted to has the
capacity to add the necessary security features.
5. (U) The Basket Fund earmarked over USD 1 million for
printing of ballots. The steering committee must now decide
how else to spend that money.
Koutsis
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/20/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM EAID KPAO MR
SUBJECT: UNDP DECLINES TO PRINT BALLOTS
REF: NOUAKCHOTT 1235
Classified By: CDA Steven Koutsis, Reasons 1.4(b)(d)
--------------
(U) Summary
--------------
-- The issue of printing of ballots remains unresolved as the
UN steering committee has decided not to take up the
government's last minute offer to have the UNDP fund and
control the ballot printing process.
-- UN rules regarding waiting periods for bids would make
printing in time for the November 19 elections difficult to
meet.
-- Therefore, the government is on the hook to fund and print
the ballots. The UN will provide technical support if
requested.
-- Meanwhile, the government has agreed to UN and partners'
request to delay the second round of legislative elections
until December 3.
--------------
(C) Comments
--------------
-- There is still time to resolve the ballot issue to avoid
delaying the November vote.
-- However, the lack of Mauritanian cooperation has created a
level of mistrust with the Europeans (who are funding the
lion's share of the electoral assistance) that will be
difficult to mitigate in the short term.
End Summary and Comments.
1. (U) Basket fund steering committee members sent a letter
October 20 to the Minister, Secretary General of the
Presidency Habib Ould Hemet declining the government's
last-minute request to have the UN fund and contract the
printing of the ballots for the legislative and municipal
elections to be held on November 19. The letter stated "UN
request for tender procedures do not allow sufficient time,
given the date we received your request, to guarantee the
printing and delivery of the ballots" by election day.
2. (U) According to UN ResRep Cecile Molinier, UN rules
require a minimum of seven business days to submit bids after
announcement of tender. Any waiver of the open bid process,
including a limited tender to pre-qualified bidders, would
require a waiver from UN headquarters, which would be
unlikely in these circumstances.
3. (C) Molinier told charge she believes that the
Mauritanians -- too late -- realized the importance the EU
had placed on this issue only after an October 17 meeting
with EU ambassadors to discuss Mauritania's progress in
EU-ACP Article 8 discussions. The loss of confidence was
noticeable to the Mauritanians, she said.
4. (C) Molinier noted that the UN would continue to work with
the Mauritanians to produce an acceptable ballot. However
she could not be sure that the Senegalese company that the
national printing company had subcontracted to has the
capacity to add the necessary security features.
5. (U) The Basket Fund earmarked over USD 1 million for
printing of ballots. The steering committee must now decide
how else to spend that money.
Koutsis