Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07DAKAR129
2007-01-17 17:15:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Dakar
Cable title:
SENIOR MINISTER GADIO'S HOLIDAY MESSAGE TO THE SECRETARY:
how-toVZCZCXRO0475 PP RUEHMA RUEHPA DE RUEHDK #0129 0171715 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 171715Z JAN 07 FM AMEMBASSY DAKAR TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7340 INFO RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
UNCLAS DAKAR 000129
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
STATE FOR S/ES-CR, DRL/AE, INR/AA, AF/RSA AND AF/W
NSC FOR AF SENIOR DIRECTOR PITTMAN
PARIS FOR POL - D'ELIA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPDC PREL PHUM KDEM SG
SUBJECT: SENIOR MINISTER GADIO'S HOLIDAY MESSAGE TO THE SECRETARY:
GOVERNMENT READY FOR ELECTIONS?
UNCLAS DAKAR 000129
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
STATE FOR S/ES-CR, DRL/AE, INR/AA, AF/RSA AND AF/W
NSC FOR AF SENIOR DIRECTOR PITTMAN
PARIS FOR POL - D'ELIA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPDC PREL PHUM KDEM SG
SUBJECT: SENIOR MINISTER GADIO'S HOLIDAY MESSAGE TO THE SECRETARY:
GOVERNMENT READY FOR ELECTIONS?
1. (U) On January 16, the Embassy received a copy of a letter from
Senior Minister of Foreign Affairs Cheikh Tidiane Gadio to Secretary
of State Condoleezza Rice. An unofficial translation follows.
Begin text.
Republic of Senegal
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Office of the Senior Minister
Dakar, January 10, 2007
Dear Madam Secretary and Dear Friend,
It was with great pleasure that I received your best wishes for Eid
Al-Adha.
Those underscore, if it were necessary, the esteem and the interest
that the American Government and people have for the Senegalese
people and Government.
Please be reassured that the Government of Senegal has taken all
necessary measures to hold free, fair and democratic presidential
and legislative elections in February 2007.
In transmitting in turn my wishes for health, personal happiness and
continued success in your functions, please accept, Madam Secretary,
my renewed assurances of my highest consideration.
/S/
Cheikh Tidiane Gadio
Her Excellency
Ms. Condoleezza Rice
Secretary of State
SIPDIS
Washington.
END TEXT.
COMMENT
--------------
2. (SBU) Senior Minister Gadio's letter was written two days before
that Council of State invalidated the government's proposed
redistricting plan, which led Minister of Interior Ousmane Ngom to
announce that the legislative elections might be postponed by up to
three months. The same opposition parties that took the
redistricting plan to the Council of State are now challenging the
election delay in court. Politicians, lawyers and observers have
asserted that there is no need to postpone the elections since only
district boundaries and not candidacies are in play. Many observers
believe that the blatant disregard for "one person, one vote" was
intentional and was designed to provide the Government an excuse to
postpone the legislative elections in which President Wade's party
may face an uphill battle.
3. (SBU) While the Embassy cannot be certain of the Government's
motives, we agree that postponing the legislative elections is not
necessary. The more serious issue is that approximately 60 percent
of registered voters have yet to receive their voter registration
cards. END COMMENT.
JACKSON
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
STATE FOR S/ES-CR, DRL/AE, INR/AA, AF/RSA AND AF/W
NSC FOR AF SENIOR DIRECTOR PITTMAN
PARIS FOR POL - D'ELIA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPDC PREL PHUM KDEM SG
SUBJECT: SENIOR MINISTER GADIO'S HOLIDAY MESSAGE TO THE SECRETARY:
GOVERNMENT READY FOR ELECTIONS?
1. (U) On January 16, the Embassy received a copy of a letter from
Senior Minister of Foreign Affairs Cheikh Tidiane Gadio to Secretary
of State Condoleezza Rice. An unofficial translation follows.
Begin text.
Republic of Senegal
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Office of the Senior Minister
Dakar, January 10, 2007
Dear Madam Secretary and Dear Friend,
It was with great pleasure that I received your best wishes for Eid
Al-Adha.
Those underscore, if it were necessary, the esteem and the interest
that the American Government and people have for the Senegalese
people and Government.
Please be reassured that the Government of Senegal has taken all
necessary measures to hold free, fair and democratic presidential
and legislative elections in February 2007.
In transmitting in turn my wishes for health, personal happiness and
continued success in your functions, please accept, Madam Secretary,
my renewed assurances of my highest consideration.
/S/
Cheikh Tidiane Gadio
Her Excellency
Ms. Condoleezza Rice
Secretary of State
SIPDIS
Washington.
END TEXT.
COMMENT
--------------
2. (SBU) Senior Minister Gadio's letter was written two days before
that Council of State invalidated the government's proposed
redistricting plan, which led Minister of Interior Ousmane Ngom to
announce that the legislative elections might be postponed by up to
three months. The same opposition parties that took the
redistricting plan to the Council of State are now challenging the
election delay in court. Politicians, lawyers and observers have
asserted that there is no need to postpone the elections since only
district boundaries and not candidacies are in play. Many observers
believe that the blatant disregard for "one person, one vote" was
intentional and was designed to provide the Government an excuse to
postpone the legislative elections in which President Wade's party
may face an uphill battle.
3. (SBU) While the Embassy cannot be certain of the Government's
motives, we agree that postponing the legislative elections is not
necessary. The more serious issue is that approximately 60 percent
of registered voters have yet to receive their voter registration
cards. END COMMENT.
JACKSON