APRIL 29 ELECTIONS APPROVED

UNCLAS PORT AU PRINCE 000716 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/CAR DRL S/CRS SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD STATE PASS AID FOR LAC/CAR INR/IAA (BEN-YEHUDA) TREASURY FOR MAUREEN WAFER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV ASEC AA SUBJECT: APRIL 29 ELECTIONS APPROVED REF: PAP 653 ¶1. This message is sensitive but unclassified -- protect accordingly. ¶2. The GoH on April 16 published the decree approving April 29 as the date to re-run one parliamentary and 72 local elections canceled on December 3, 2006, for logistical or security reasons (reftel). The decree establishes an official campaign period from April 19-27. ¶3. (SBU) Comment: These elections will mark the fourth deployment of an electoral apparatus comprised of Provisional Electoral Council (CEP),OAS, and UN resources that successfully oversaw three prior rounds of national and local races. With a much smaller round of elections to oversee, electoral officials and their advisors should be well prepared to finally complete the election cycle that began in February of 2006. As detailed in reftel, however, upon completion of these elections, the electoral agenda for Haiti poses enormous challenges, with as yet undefined indirect elections necessary to establish a permanent electoral council and national elections to replace 10 sitting and one deceased senator scheduled for November. Our approach for the last election cycle, which encompassed the paramount policy goal of re-establishing elected government, essentially amounted to ensuring successful elections at any cost. While we should continue our full support for timely elections that adhere to democratic standards, we and the donor community should also encourage the GoH to develop a sustainable electoral administration that is less costly and not wholly dependent on foreign assistance. SANDERSON