Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09CANBERRA576
2009-06-19 07:33:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Canberra
Cable title:
AUSTRALIAN RESPONSE TO DEMARCHE OF RELEASE
how-toVZCZCXRO3051 OO RUEHDBU RUEHPW RUEHSL DE RUEHBY #0576 1700733 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 190733Z JUN 09 FM AMEMBASSY CANBERRA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1658 INFO RUCNAFG/AFGHANISTAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHBN/AMCONSUL MELBOURNE PRIORITY 6442 RUEHPT/AMCONSUL PERTH PRIORITY 4706 RUEHDN/AMCONSUL SYDNEY PRIORITY 4674
C O N F I D E N T I A L CANBERRA 000576
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/19/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM AF AS
SUBJECT: AUSTRALIAN RESPONSE TO DEMARCHE OF RELEASE
STATMENTS IN SUPPORT OF THE AFGHAN ELECTIONS
REF: STATE 63551
Classified By: POLCOUNS James F. Cole. Reasons: 1.4 (b);
C O N F I D E N T I A L CANBERRA 000576
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/19/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM AF AS
SUBJECT: AUSTRALIAN RESPONSE TO DEMARCHE OF RELEASE
STATMENTS IN SUPPORT OF THE AFGHAN ELECTIONS
REF: STATE 63551
Classified By: POLCOUNS James F. Cole. Reasons: 1.4 (b);
1. (C) Poloffs met with Neil Hawkins, Assistant Secretary,
Afghanistan and Iraq Branch, Department of Foreign Affairs
and Trade, on June 19 to convey reftel request for a public
statement intended to stress impartiality in regards to the
Afghan elections.
2. (C) Hawkins stated that Australia was not ready to make
any similar statements at this time, but noted that Foreign
Minister Smith planned to make a statement in Parliament
concerning Afghanistan and Pakistan on Monday, June 22 before
he leaves for meetings on the margin of the G8 meeting in
Trieste. Hawkins said the FM's statement would mention the
elections in passing but likely would not fully convey the
message we were seeking.
3. (C) Hawkins was aware of the problem of widespread
perceptions of Western support for Karzai, volunteering that
Australian Special Envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan Ric
Smith planned to discuss ways to counter this perception in
Trieste with SRAP Holbrooke and the other Special Envoys. He
agreed that most Afghans believe that the U.S. and most other
Western states support Karzai despite the absence of
endorsements to that effect, adding the Afghan Ambassador to
Australia had expressed a similar view during a recent
meeting. Hawkins noted current polling in Afghanistan showed
public support for Kazai running around 30 percent, compared
to support registering in the single digits for other
candidates. Nevertheless, he noted, it was important to be
careful about giving the impression that it is a forgone
conclusion of victory for Karzai.
CLUNE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/19/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM AF AS
SUBJECT: AUSTRALIAN RESPONSE TO DEMARCHE OF RELEASE
STATMENTS IN SUPPORT OF THE AFGHAN ELECTIONS
REF: STATE 63551
Classified By: POLCOUNS James F. Cole. Reasons: 1.4 (b);
1. (C) Poloffs met with Neil Hawkins, Assistant Secretary,
Afghanistan and Iraq Branch, Department of Foreign Affairs
and Trade, on June 19 to convey reftel request for a public
statement intended to stress impartiality in regards to the
Afghan elections.
2. (C) Hawkins stated that Australia was not ready to make
any similar statements at this time, but noted that Foreign
Minister Smith planned to make a statement in Parliament
concerning Afghanistan and Pakistan on Monday, June 22 before
he leaves for meetings on the margin of the G8 meeting in
Trieste. Hawkins said the FM's statement would mention the
elections in passing but likely would not fully convey the
message we were seeking.
3. (C) Hawkins was aware of the problem of widespread
perceptions of Western support for Karzai, volunteering that
Australian Special Envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan Ric
Smith planned to discuss ways to counter this perception in
Trieste with SRAP Holbrooke and the other Special Envoys. He
agreed that most Afghans believe that the U.S. and most other
Western states support Karzai despite the absence of
endorsements to that effect, adding the Afghan Ambassador to
Australia had expressed a similar view during a recent
meeting. Hawkins noted current polling in Afghanistan showed
public support for Kazai running around 30 percent, compared
to support registering in the single digits for other
candidates. Nevertheless, he noted, it was important to be
careful about giving the impression that it is a forgone
conclusion of victory for Karzai.
CLUNE