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