Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07PRISTINA115
2007-02-12 12:34:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Pristina
Cable title:  

KOSOVO: THE IMPORTANCE OF OPEN VOTING IN THE

Tags:  PGOV KDEM UNMIK YI 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PRISTINA 000115 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR DRL, INL, AND EUR/SCE, NSC FOR BRAUN, USUN FOR
DREW SCHUFLETOWSKI, USOSCE FOR STEVE STEGER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/09/2017
TAGS: PGOV KDEM UNMIK YI
SUBJECT: KOSOVO: THE IMPORTANCE OF OPEN VOTING IN THE
ASSEMBLY


Classified By: COM TINA KAIDANOW FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PRISTINA 000115

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR DRL, INL, AND EUR/SCE, NSC FOR BRAUN, USUN FOR
DREW SCHUFLETOWSKI, USOSCE FOR STEVE STEGER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/09/2017
TAGS: PGOV KDEM UNMIK YI
SUBJECT: KOSOVO: THE IMPORTANCE OF OPEN VOTING IN THE
ASSEMBLY


Classified By: COM TINA KAIDANOW FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).


1. (C) SUMMARY: As we have seen in recent high-profile
Kosovo Assembly deliberations, the use of secret ballots
combined with weak party discipline and back-bencher
discontent has greatly complicated our ability to get key
legislation passed. Working with the leadership of the
Assembly and other donors, USOP has been trying to reform
existing procedures to ensure that MPs' votes become a matter
of public record. Although most MPs support this effort,
opposition leader Hashim Thaci has expressed opposition,
claiming it is directed against his Democratic Party of
Kosovo (PDK) and designed to keep the governing coalition in
power. We have encouraged the National Democratic Institute
(NDI),the main implementer of this reform, to work with
Thaci and take into account any legitimate concerns, such as
carving out secret voting for no-confidence motions, a
practice not uncommon in the democratic world. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) At present, no one -- neither caucus leaders, fellow
MPs, the media nor the public -- knows how MPs vote in the
Kosovo Assembly. Since 2004, votes have been conducted with
electronic voting equipment donated by the European Agency
for Reconstruction, the assistance arm of the European
Commission. The change to electronic voting was meant to
increase transparency, speed up the voting process and ensure
an accurate count; such voting equipment is common in the
region. However, EAR's donation did not include the powerful
projector necessary to project the names of MPs on the screen
as they vote, and for this reason the votes have essentially
been anonymous. Many MPs have become comfortable with this
state of affairs and see no reason for change. Some have
even made a sort of perverse virtue of secret voting, telling
us that it gives them the 'independence' to vote their
conscience and not their party's position.


3. (SBU) USOP/USAID, OSCE, and other international actors
here have agreed that this situation needs to be remedied to
increase transparency and accountability and bring Kosovo
into line with the practice of democratic parliaments in the
region and worldwide. With expertise from National
Democratic Institute (NDI) personnel working at the Assembly,
the move to formally establish this practice is now part of a
three-part reform package, which also includes standardizing
the Assembly's agenda and normalizing committee reporting to
the Assembly. The package represents the latest in a
succession of reform efforts aimed at improving the Assembly
rules and its functioning as a representative law making and
oversight body. Earlier reforms have been well received by
MPs, many of whom also support the current proposal.


4. (C) One exception to this support has been main opposition
leader Hashim Thaci, president of the Democratic Party of
Kosovo (PDK). Thaci has told us he fears open voting would
threaten his ability to bring a vote of no-confidence against
the government. He has accused NDI and other internationals
who support this reform of trying to maintain the current
governing coalition in power. In a recent meeting with NDI
personnel, COM encouraged NDI to work with Thaci and take
into account any legitimate concerns, such as using secret
votes for sensitive matters like no-confidence votes, a
practice not uncommon in the region and elsewhere in the
democratic world. She also urged NDI to help implement this
reform as quickly as possible, so that MPs voting on
legislation implementing the Ahtisaari final status package
over the coming months can be subject to Kosovar and
international scrutiny.


5. (C) COMMENT: We have worked hard with individual MPs and
others to see that the key reform of open voting is
established. Kosovo being out of step with the rest of the
states in the region (and in the democratic world) has been
one of our most powerful arguments. We believe that, despite
some unfounded criticism by opposition leader Thaci, this
reform will go through in the near future and will benefit
party discipline and the Assembly's transparency on
implementing the final status package. END COMMENT.

PRISTINA 00000115 002 OF 002




6. (SBU) U.S. Office Pristina clears this cable in its
entirety for release to U.N. Special Envoy Martti Ahtisaari.
KAIDANOW