ANGOLA: PRESIDENT ANNOUNCES ELECTIONS FOR

UNCLAS LUANDA 001275 SIPDIS SIPDIS NSC PASS TO PITTMAN/LEO E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM AO SUBJECT: ANGOLA: PRESIDENT ANNOUNCES ELECTIONS FOR SEPTEMBER 5-6, 2008 REF: A. LUANDA 1274 ¶B. LUANDA 1269 ¶C. LUANDA 1254 ¶1. (U) During his year-end speech to the nation on December 27th, 2007, President dos Santos announced legislative elections for September 5 and 6th, 2008. He stressed the elections should be conducted peacefully, with tolerance and respect for the opinions of others. Dos Santos said the legislative elections, which he will formally call "at an opportune time," will strengthen Angola's democracy and allow it to "function normally." By law the President must call elections no later than 90 days in advance of election day. ¶2. (U) COMMENT: The flurry of election related activity over the past two weeks (reftels) has set the stage for this announcement. The President's announcement of the election date now gives the CNE the direction and mandate needed to realize Angola's first electoral exercise in over 15 years. END COMMENT MOZENA