Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09KABUL1405
2009-06-03 13:54:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Kabul
Cable title:
THE WEEK IN PARLIAMENT, 5/30-6/4: PARLIAMENT
how-toVZCZCXRO9455 PP RUEHDBU RUEHPW DE RUEHBUL #1405 1541354 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 031354Z JUN 09 FM AMEMBASSY KABUL TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9232 INFO RUCNAFG/AFGHANISTAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES PRIORITY 0093
UNCLAS KABUL 001405
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL AF
SUBJECT: THE WEEK IN PARLIAMENT, 5/30-6/4: PARLIAMENT
LEAVES FOR RECESS
UNCLAS KABUL 001405
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL AF
SUBJECT: THE WEEK IN PARLIAMENT, 5/30-6/4: PARLIAMENT
LEAVES FOR RECESS
1. Both houses of Parliament picked up their pace in handling
legislation this week, with the June 5 recess drawing near.
After both houses flirted with proposals to extend the
session beyond June 5, or the recess beyond July 20,
leadership in both institutions eventually called an end to
the current session on June 3. Upper House staffers said
they do not expect Speaker Sebghatullah Mojaddedi, who has
been in Turkey for lengthy medical treatment, to return until
Parliament reconvenes later this summer.
2. Lower House Speaker Qanooni tried to adjust the dates of
the June 5-July 20 recess in an effort to give MPs more time
to campaign for their preferred presidential and provincial
council candidates in the Aug. 20 election. In their final
session June 3, MPs rejected Qanooni's proposal to modify the
recess dates and adjourned for the next 45 days. Qanooni
then asked Upper House MPs, who had earlier voted in favor of
an extension of the session to June 21, to join the Lower
House in recess.
3. In other business this week:
- The Lower House reached agreements with Karzai on several
pieces of long-dormant legislation. MPs approved Palace
changes to laws regulating civil servants, the government
statistics office, and political parties. MPs agreed with a
Karzai proposal to the Political Parties Law that bans
parties form opening offices in foreign countries.
- The Lower House passed the Communications Services Law
after MPs debated whether Islamic law allowed the government
to fine cell phone companies that violated provisions of the
law. Qanooni instructed the Communications Committee to
rewrite the law so as to authorize the executive branch to
levy fines according to regulations, thereby absolving MPs
from voting on putting the fines into law.
- The Upper House passed the Trademark Law.
EIKENBERRY
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL AF
SUBJECT: THE WEEK IN PARLIAMENT, 5/30-6/4: PARLIAMENT
LEAVES FOR RECESS
1. Both houses of Parliament picked up their pace in handling
legislation this week, with the June 5 recess drawing near.
After both houses flirted with proposals to extend the
session beyond June 5, or the recess beyond July 20,
leadership in both institutions eventually called an end to
the current session on June 3. Upper House staffers said
they do not expect Speaker Sebghatullah Mojaddedi, who has
been in Turkey for lengthy medical treatment, to return until
Parliament reconvenes later this summer.
2. Lower House Speaker Qanooni tried to adjust the dates of
the June 5-July 20 recess in an effort to give MPs more time
to campaign for their preferred presidential and provincial
council candidates in the Aug. 20 election. In their final
session June 3, MPs rejected Qanooni's proposal to modify the
recess dates and adjourned for the next 45 days. Qanooni
then asked Upper House MPs, who had earlier voted in favor of
an extension of the session to June 21, to join the Lower
House in recess.
3. In other business this week:
- The Lower House reached agreements with Karzai on several
pieces of long-dormant legislation. MPs approved Palace
changes to laws regulating civil servants, the government
statistics office, and political parties. MPs agreed with a
Karzai proposal to the Political Parties Law that bans
parties form opening offices in foreign countries.
- The Lower House passed the Communications Services Law
after MPs debated whether Islamic law allowed the government
to fine cell phone companies that violated provisions of the
law. Qanooni instructed the Communications Committee to
rewrite the law so as to authorize the executive branch to
levy fines according to regulations, thereby absolving MPs
from voting on putting the fines into law.
- The Upper House passed the Trademark Law.
EIKENBERRY