CENI GEARS UP FOR STRATEGIC PLANNING SESSION

UNCLAS CONAKRY 000003 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12598: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM GV SUBJECT: CENI GEARS UP FOR STRATEGIC PLANNING SESSION ¶1. (U) SUMMARY. During the Ambassador's first formal meeting with Guinea's National Independent Electoral Commission (CENI),CENI President Ben Sekou Syllah said the commission is gearing up for a USG funded strategic planning session on January 9. Heading into the session, Syllah highlighted three priority focus areas: civic education, voter registration, and mobilization of resources. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (U) The Ambassador met with Guinea's National Independent Electoral Commission (CENI) on December 28 at the CENI office building. Approximately ten CENI members were present, including CENI President, Ben Sekou Syllah, and the other four members of the CENI executive board (two vice-presidents, the secretary, and the treasurer). The Ambassador was accompanied by the USAID Director and Poloff. Members of the press were present and the entire discussion was videotaped. The Ambassador gave a short press interview following the session. ¶3. (U) Ben Syllah emphasized that the CENI has a single vision - "to be an organization that guarantees the demands of the people." To that end, Syllah said the CENI's first task is to develop a strategic plan of action. He added that Guinea's planned legislative elections are an important step in the social evolution of the country and that he and other CENI members are taking this responsibility seriously. Syllah said that the CENI will be holding a strategic planning retreat beginning January 9 and thanked the U.S. Government for assistance in facilitating the event. (COMMENT - Embassy is providing a small grant to organize the CENI's initial strategy session). ¶4. (U) Although the CENI has not yet worked out the details of its strategic program, Ben Syllah said that they have identified three priority areas as critical to their ability to ensure free and transparent elections: civic education, voter registration, and mobilization of resources. With respect to civic education, Syllah clarified that the general population must be prepared to vote and to understand their role in the electoral process. In addition, Syllah said a valid, reliable voter registration is critical to ensuring transparency. Last, Syllah said that in order for the CENI to be effective, it must be able to mobilize resources. ¶5. (U) When the Ambassador asked about donor community equipment contributions to previous electoral commissions, Syllah said that they are already using some of it and are looking for the rest. According to Syllah, some of the equipment is still in good working condition, but some of is it is either broken or obsolete. Syllah added that "we must be pragmatic," noting that the CENI will use what equipment it can find, but ultimately, it has to do the job, whether it can get the previous equipment or not. Syllah said that one positive development is that the CENI office building has a five-year lease, which he said means that the CENI will be able to use it for all three Guinea's next elections (legislative in 2008, local in 2009, and presidential in 2010). ¶5. (U) The Ambassador congratulated the CENI on its historic role as Guinea's first independent electoral commission. He noted that the U.S. Government has high hopes for free, fair and transparent elections in Guinea and that the Embassy will continue to look for ways to support the process. To that end, the Ambassador highlighted several planned elections assistance programs totaling over $1 million, which will be administered by USAID. (Comment - These programs are in addition to recently completed programs addressing elections preparations. End Comment). -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶6. (U) The fact that the press was present throughout the meeting precluded greater in-depth discussion on the role of the CENI. However, the meeting was useful in that it publicly demonstrated strong U.S. support for the CENI and U.S. engagement on elections. It also allowed Ben Syllah to go on the record declaring that the CENI would guarantee that the concessions the population won from the government in early 2007 would be respected. END COMMENT. CARTER