Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08LUANDA567
2008-07-25 18:39:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Luanda
Cable title:  

EU AGREES TO SEND OBSERVATION MISSION SANS MOU

Tags:  PGOV PREL PHUM AO 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO6536
PP RUEHDU RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHLU #0567 2071839
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 251839Z JUL 08
FM AMEMBASSY LUANDA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4918
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L LUANDA 000567 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/24/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM AO
SUBJECT: EU AGREES TO SEND OBSERVATION MISSION SANS MOU

REF: A. LUANDA 00563

B. LUANDA 00556

Classified By: AMB DAN MOZENA FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)

C O N F I D E N T I A L LUANDA 000567

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/24/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM AO
SUBJECT: EU AGREES TO SEND OBSERVATION MISSION SANS MOU

REF: A. LUANDA 00563

B. LUANDA 00556

Classified By: AMB DAN MOZENA FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)


1. (SBU) The EU has agreed to send an observation mission for
the September 5 legislative elections without a signed MOU
(reftels). In a July 25 phone call with the Ambassador, the
European Commission Head of Administration Luis Martinez said
that the EU headquarters in Brussels has stated in a written
communication to the National Electoral Commission (CNE) that
it will proceed with the observation mission based on
"guarantees" provided by the Angolan government.


2. (C) According to Martinez, CNE President Caetano de Sousa
had earlier sent a letter to the EU President saying that,
while the CNE would like the participation of EU observers in
the electoral process, it would not sign an MOU because it
believes Angolan law, coupled with CNE guarantees of the
safety and security of international observers, addresses the
EU's concerns. Faced with a lose-lose situation, Martinez
said that an atypically pragmatic Brussels decided simply to
take the GRA at its word this go-around, and see how it
follows through on its commitments. Martinez confided that
while EU opinion (locally and at headquarters) was not
unanimous on the issue, the local EC mission had advised
Brussels that the GRA's typical hesitance to sign any type of
MOU should not be allowed to sabotage the mission.


3. (SBU) The mission is now moving ahead at full speed, and
the two logistics and security personnel already on-ground
are rushing to finalize arrival and housing plans. The
remaining 9 members of the core management team are slated to
arrive early next week; some are still awaiting visas in
Brussels. Forty long-term observers plan to arrive in time
for the August 5th start of the campaign period. An
additional 40 short-term observers and 18 European Parliament
observers will arrive immediately prior to the election.
MOZENA