BELGIUM: "CREDIBLE AFGHAN ELECTIONS ARE MORE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BRUSSELS 001624

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/WE, EUR/RPM AND SCA/A

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/19/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM MARR AF BE
SUBJECT: BELGIUM: "CREDIBLE AFGHAN ELECTIONS ARE MORE
IMPORTANT THAN ELECTIONS ON TIME"

REF: STATE 108855

Classified By: Political Economic Counselor Richard Eason, reason 1.4(b
) and (d)


1. (C) Summary: The GOB is concerned that the USG is not
doing enough to curb participation in Afghan elections and
government by corrupt individuals. It would like to see
agreement on ways to improve the credibility of the election
process and quality of candidates among the NATO Allies
before the elections take place, whether on schedule in
2009-10 or later. MFA officials hinted that the GOB would
increase its commitment to security and economic development
in Afghanistan, as well as its financial contribution to the
elections if the Allies pay more attention to building a
modern and less corrupt state in Afghanistan and less to
supporting particular politicians. End Summary.


2. (C) On October 17, Poloff delivered Ref A demarche to
Renier Nijskens, Director of the Department for South and
East Asia and Oceania at the Belgian Ministry of Foreign
Affairs and South Asia desk officer Alain Hanssen. Nijskens
said that Belgium shares the United States goal of a
democratic Afghanistan and the nearer term goal of
presidential, regional and National Assembly elections that
produce a legitimate Afghan partner for building security and
prosperity. However, Nijskens said that the GOB is
concerned about a number of issues surrounding elections in
Afghanistan, including the lack of viable political parties
and the number of corrupt individuals who seek office in
order to abuse the system. The Afghan government, Nijskens
said, is flouting fundamental rules, shuffling officials
suspected of criminal activity from job to job, and has named
an alleged criminal to be head of the national police. The
situation reminds Nijskens of Vietnam, where, as he says, a
corrupt government was allowed to flourish behind Security
provided by the United States, leading to ultimate failure.


3. (C) Nijskens made it clear that he and the MFA -- and some
other NATO allies -- believe that the United States is
emphasizing the holding of elections at a particular time
while ignoring or excusing conditions that vitiate the goal
of democratizing and modernizing the Afghan government. The
USG is promoting a policy of turning a blind eye to
unacceptable government practices in the name of respecting
Afghan sovereignty, he said. Hanssen contributed that the
GOB feels it is more important to support building good
institutions than particular individuals, including Mohammed
Karzai. Also, he said, the use of ISAF to provide
election-related security is troubling, because the foreign
forces are not trusted by many Afghans and their involvement
undermines the validity of the elections in the Afghans'
eyes. Nijskens urged strongly that the NATO allies meet as
soon as possible, discuss the problems, and agree on rules
for the next Afghan elections that would enhance their
legitimacy. He stressed a need to vet candidates and prevent
the participation of the most corrupt individuals. Other
ideas for strengthening the legitimacy of the elections and
the government that would be formed as a result could be
discussed among the Allies, he added.


4. (C) Poloff remarked that it is clear the U.S. and Belgium
share the same goals for the Afghan government and the
elections. He suggested that it should be possible to work
hard now and find ways to address some of the GOB's concerns,
while keeping to the timetable for elections, which the USG
deems to be very important. Nijskens countered that
"credible elections are more important than elections on
time." Belgium has made a decision to become more deeply
involved in providing security for Afghanistan, sending an
F-16 squadron to Kandahar and an OMLT training mission to
Kunduz (to begin in early 2009). Belgium's commitment is
small compared to that of the U.S., Nijskens observed, but it
is large for a country its size. Nijskens said that Belgium
is inclined to develop both its military role and economic
assistance, as evidenced by the recent visit by Defense
Minister De Crem and Development Minister Michel to
Afghanistan. While things are often "impossible" in Belgium,
he noted, they are possible when the government makes up its
mind to do them -- to include contributing money to the
elections, he implied. Basically, he said, the GOB wants to
feel more certain that the end result will be the more
modern, successful Afghanistan that is the Allies' mutual
goal, not a corrupt state. To that end, he repeated, it is
necessary that the Allies have a united position and draw red
lines for the Afghan government and the elections. The space
being created by calling for a "go-slow" approach to
democracy is being filled by drug dealing, highjacking and
looting, he said.


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5. (C) Poloff suggested that approving an ISAF role for
counternarcotics operations (ref B) would be one way to help
curb the drug dealing problem. Nijskens insisted that it is
necessary to create a credible alternative for agricultural
development first, then bring in military force to eradicate
drug crops. He finds that the drug dealers have the money to
be elected and then can frustrate enforcement efforts. But
the important thing is a viable agricultural plan, he said.
Hanssen added that the new Afghan Minister of Interior seems
to be an improvement over his predecessor. He summed up by
admitting that it is impossible to find "perfect virgins" for
every ministry and regional government office, but it is
necessary to send a signal to the Afghan government that it
has to do better.


6. (C) Poloff thanked Nijskens and Hanssen for their detailed
statement of the GOB position on the election issue. He
promised to report their words to Washington, obtain a
reaction and follow up at a later date.
.