EMBASSY KABUL NEAR-TERM ACTION PLAN ON ELECTIONS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KABUL 001019 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/06/2019 TAGS: KDEM PGOV PREL AF SUBJECT: EMBASSY KABUL NEAR-TERM ACTION PLAN ON ELECTIONS Classified By: Political Counselor Alan Yu, Reasons 1.5 a and d. ¶1. (SBU) We have developed the near-term action plan outlined below to operationalize our priorities for urgent work on elections over the next six weeks. We have designated lead Mission elements for each item and will track progress through the Elections Coordination Group. ¶2. (C) Begin text of action plan: SUPPORT LEGITIMACY AND A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD -------------- -- Press Karzai to improve and publish draft decree on government officials' conduct during elections. -- Review, and, if suitable, publicly commend IEC's forthcoming regulation on campaign period activities. -- Press Karzai to publicly endorse IEC's campaign period decree. -- Provide support to UN's electoral safeguards public event. -- Encourage Karzai to respond publicly to this event with an endorsement of electoral safeguards. -- Encourage opposition candidates to endorse electoral safeguards. -- Determine planned level of financial support to candidates for access to private media. -- Track IEC and UNDP planning for briefings to candidates, party agents, observers. -- Work with UNAMA, IEC, ECC, and DIAG to finalize candidate vetting procedures. -- Debrief the EU observer mission team to identify possible areas of US cooperation and assistance. -- Map NDI and UNDP assistance to the domestic observer organization FEFA; resolve any conflicts; move forward in implementation. -- Complete the mapping of donor activities with civil society. -- Review proposals for DRL grants to support participation of excluded groups (women and youth) in elections. -- Track IEC's voter outreach/education effort. -- Monitor, devise responses to possible irregularities that could tilt the level playing field. -- Complete Post's strategic communications plan on elections. Kick off plan. ENHANCE SECURITY COORDINATION -------------- -- Encourage timely finalization of IEC operational plan. -- Track regional and provincial-level operational and security planning, partnering with Afghan counterparts as needed. -- Coordinate with CSTC-A liaison to EUPOL for election security training and mentoring. -- Track EUPOL-CSTC-A plan for mentoring ANP on election-appropriate behavior. -- Disseminate combined civilian-military (ICMAG) guidance on election work. -- Work with MOI and NDS to prepare a briefing to all candidates (when candidate list is final) on security. -- Develop Afghan government and private security options for candidate security. ENHANCE ELECTORAL OPERATIONS -------------- -- Deploy the second IEC monitoring trip to provincial offices to encourage sound management practices with the IEC. KABUL 00001019 002 OF 002 -- Report on IEC provincial infrastructure needs. -- Work with PRT-SNG section, USAID PRT section, USFOR-A training sections, and the COIN Academy to ensure relevant incoming staff receive elections training. Coordinate with IEC and UNDP on planned training for election observers. RICCIARDONE