Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09KABUL1590
2009-06-21 13:45:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Kabul
Cable title:
GHANI CHALLENGES KARZAI TO OPEN DEBATE
how-toVZCZCXRO5107 PP RUEHDBU RUEHPW RUEHSL DE RUEHBUL #1590 1721345 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 211345Z JUN 09 FM AMEMBASSY KABUL TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9599 INFO RUCNAFG/AFGHANISTAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES PRIORITY 0118
UNCLAS KABUL 001590
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL AF
SUBJECT: GHANI CHALLENGES KARZAI TO OPEN DEBATE
UNCLAS KABUL 001590
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL AF
SUBJECT: GHANI CHALLENGES KARZAI TO OPEN DEBATE
1. The Ambassador launched on June 20 his public engagement
with opposition presidential candidates, to counter the
widely held perception of U.S. backing for President Karzai's
reelection. His first meeting was a press conference with
presidential candidate Ashraf Ghani. The Ambassador declared
to the press that he was appearing with Ghani to demonstrate
our impartiality and our commitment to credible, secure, and
inclusive elections. The US neither supported nor opposed
any one presidential candidate. Moreover, this year's
election was an opportunity for Afghan voters to give the
government a "report card" on its past five years, and for
candidates to vigorously debate the issues and offer
solutions to problems that most concern Afghans.
2. Ghani then spoke, accusing Karzai of improperly using
government resources to aid his reelection campaign. Ghani
told reporters he had a multi-point plan to address the
country's problems and challenged Karzai to an open debate on
how both candidates would lead the country if elected. Ghani
would focus his campaign on providing assistance to the
country's youth, women, and other under-served populations,
and would highlight charges of corruption and incompetence
against the Karzai government. Afghan media widely covered
the press conference, with more than a dozen TV, radio, and
print outlets attending.
3. The Ambassador will meet with other leading candidates -
including Abdullah Abdullah, Mirwais Yaseni, and Sayed Jalal
Karim - later this week for similar media events. The
Embassy has encouraged those campaigns to take advantage of
the media opportunities in order to raise their profiles, and
especially their platforms, in the eyes of Afghans. The
joint appearances are part of an overall effort by the
Embassy to promote a campaign of ideas that is competitive,
peaceful, and energizing for Afghan voters. We will report
septel on the outcomes of press events with other candidates.
EIKENBERRY
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL AF
SUBJECT: GHANI CHALLENGES KARZAI TO OPEN DEBATE
1. The Ambassador launched on June 20 his public engagement
with opposition presidential candidates, to counter the
widely held perception of U.S. backing for President Karzai's
reelection. His first meeting was a press conference with
presidential candidate Ashraf Ghani. The Ambassador declared
to the press that he was appearing with Ghani to demonstrate
our impartiality and our commitment to credible, secure, and
inclusive elections. The US neither supported nor opposed
any one presidential candidate. Moreover, this year's
election was an opportunity for Afghan voters to give the
government a "report card" on its past five years, and for
candidates to vigorously debate the issues and offer
solutions to problems that most concern Afghans.
2. Ghani then spoke, accusing Karzai of improperly using
government resources to aid his reelection campaign. Ghani
told reporters he had a multi-point plan to address the
country's problems and challenged Karzai to an open debate on
how both candidates would lead the country if elected. Ghani
would focus his campaign on providing assistance to the
country's youth, women, and other under-served populations,
and would highlight charges of corruption and incompetence
against the Karzai government. Afghan media widely covered
the press conference, with more than a dozen TV, radio, and
print outlets attending.
3. The Ambassador will meet with other leading candidates -
including Abdullah Abdullah, Mirwais Yaseni, and Sayed Jalal
Karim - later this week for similar media events. The
Embassy has encouraged those campaigns to take advantage of
the media opportunities in order to raise their profiles, and
especially their platforms, in the eyes of Afghans. The
joint appearances are part of an overall effort by the
Embassy to promote a campaign of ideas that is competitive,
peaceful, and energizing for Afghan voters. We will report
septel on the outcomes of press events with other candidates.
EIKENBERRY