Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06NOUAKCHOTT1275
2006-10-26 16:09:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Nouakchott
Cable title:
BALLOT PRINTING PROBLEM RESOLVED, BUT PARTNERS
how-toVZCZCXRO1069 RR RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHPA DE RUEHNK #1275 2991609 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 261609Z OCT 06 FM AMEMBASSY NOUAKCHOTT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5932 INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 0353 RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 0397 RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA 0553 RUEHBAD/AMCONSUL PERTH 0361 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 0306
C O N F I D E N T I A L NOUAKCHOTT 001275
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/25/2016
TAGS: PINR PREL PGOV PHUM EAID KPAO MR
SUBJECT: BALLOT PRINTING PROBLEM RESOLVED, BUT PARTNERS
WON'T PAY
REF: NOUAKCHOTT 1259
Classified By: CDA Steven Koutsis, Reasons 1.4(b)(d)
-----------
(C) Summary
-----------
-- The government has selected the London company Smith and
Ouzman LTD to print the ballots for the upcoming municipal
and legislative elections, ending a two week-long impasse
between the government, the election commission and the UN.
-- While the UN and partners are satisfied with the move,
they will not pay the $700,000 ballot printing costs due to
insufficient time to follow UN tendering procedures.
-- The UN ResRep refused the government's request to
reimburse the government for the balloting costs, saying that
the UN steering committee would decide how to redistribute
the unspent funds.
------------
(C) Comments
------------
-- The government's successful resolution of the impasse
prevented a potential delay in the election calendar.
-- Partners hope that the government has drawn a lesson, and
in the future will follow UN guidance on contracting and
selection procedures.
End Summary and Comments.
C O N F I D E N T I A L NOUAKCHOTT 001275
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/25/2016
TAGS: PINR PREL PGOV PHUM EAID KPAO MR
SUBJECT: BALLOT PRINTING PROBLEM RESOLVED, BUT PARTNERS
WON'T PAY
REF: NOUAKCHOTT 1259
Classified By: CDA Steven Koutsis, Reasons 1.4(b)(d)
--------------
(C) Summary
--------------
-- The government has selected the London company Smith and
Ouzman LTD to print the ballots for the upcoming municipal
and legislative elections, ending a two week-long impasse
between the government, the election commission and the UN.
-- While the UN and partners are satisfied with the move,
they will not pay the $700,000 ballot printing costs due to
insufficient time to follow UN tendering procedures.
-- The UN ResRep refused the government's request to
reimburse the government for the balloting costs, saying that
the UN steering committee would decide how to redistribute
the unspent funds.
--------------
(C) Comments
--------------
-- The government's successful resolution of the impasse
prevented a potential delay in the election calendar.
-- Partners hope that the government has drawn a lesson, and
in the future will follow UN guidance on contracting and
selection procedures.
End Summary and Comments.
1. (U) The government has selected the London company Smith
and Ouzman LTD to print the ballots for the upcoming
municipal and legislative elections. The company will
deliver the four million ballots by November 10 at a cost of
$700,000.
2. (C) According to UN ResRep Cecile Molinier, the Secretary
General of the Presidency Habib Ould Hemet asked that the UN
basket fund "reimburse" the government for the ballot
printing costs. Molinier, who met with Hemet on October 25,
explained that this would not be possible, adding that the UN
Steering Committee would decide how to reallocate the unspent
funds.
3. (C) Molinier told Hemet that she hoped "lessons could be
taken" from this experience to avoid problems in the coming
steps, and she insisted that it was necessary for the
government to better plan its future requests for UN
assistance.
4. (C) According to Molinier, Hemet emphasized the
capabilities of the English company, and assured her of the
government's continued desire to work closely with the UN and
western partners. Molinier described the meeting as "very
cordial with a strong spirit of partnership."
5. (U) According to the government's official newspaper
"Horizons," the National Independent Electoral Commission
(CENI) and the Inter Ministerial Transition Committee have
agreed to the use of the English company. The newspaper says
the company has the capability to print all ballots with the
required safety features to prevent forgery and fraud.
According to the newspaper, the company has ballot printing
experience in several countries, including Nigeria, Ghana,
Gambia and Benin.
Koutsis
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/25/2016
TAGS: PINR PREL PGOV PHUM EAID KPAO MR
SUBJECT: BALLOT PRINTING PROBLEM RESOLVED, BUT PARTNERS
WON'T PAY
REF: NOUAKCHOTT 1259
Classified By: CDA Steven Koutsis, Reasons 1.4(b)(d)
--------------
(C) Summary
--------------
-- The government has selected the London company Smith and
Ouzman LTD to print the ballots for the upcoming municipal
and legislative elections, ending a two week-long impasse
between the government, the election commission and the UN.
-- While the UN and partners are satisfied with the move,
they will not pay the $700,000 ballot printing costs due to
insufficient time to follow UN tendering procedures.
-- The UN ResRep refused the government's request to
reimburse the government for the balloting costs, saying that
the UN steering committee would decide how to redistribute
the unspent funds.
--------------
(C) Comments
--------------
-- The government's successful resolution of the impasse
prevented a potential delay in the election calendar.
-- Partners hope that the government has drawn a lesson, and
in the future will follow UN guidance on contracting and
selection procedures.
End Summary and Comments.
1. (U) The government has selected the London company Smith
and Ouzman LTD to print the ballots for the upcoming
municipal and legislative elections. The company will
deliver the four million ballots by November 10 at a cost of
$700,000.
2. (C) According to UN ResRep Cecile Molinier, the Secretary
General of the Presidency Habib Ould Hemet asked that the UN
basket fund "reimburse" the government for the ballot
printing costs. Molinier, who met with Hemet on October 25,
explained that this would not be possible, adding that the UN
Steering Committee would decide how to reallocate the unspent
funds.
3. (C) Molinier told Hemet that she hoped "lessons could be
taken" from this experience to avoid problems in the coming
steps, and she insisted that it was necessary for the
government to better plan its future requests for UN
assistance.
4. (C) According to Molinier, Hemet emphasized the
capabilities of the English company, and assured her of the
government's continued desire to work closely with the UN and
western partners. Molinier described the meeting as "very
cordial with a strong spirit of partnership."
5. (U) According to the government's official newspaper
"Horizons," the National Independent Electoral Commission
(CENI) and the Inter Ministerial Transition Committee have
agreed to the use of the English company. The newspaper says
the company has the capability to print all ballots with the
required safety features to prevent forgery and fraud.
According to the newspaper, the company has ballot printing
experience in several countries, including Nigeria, Ghana,
Gambia and Benin.
Koutsis