SOLANA VISIT HIGHLIGHTS EU INTEREST IN ELECTION

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KABUL 002039

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM AF
SUBJECT: SOLANA VISIT HIGHLIGHTS EU INTEREST IN ELECTION
ISSUES

REF: A. KABUL 1925

B. KABUL 0309

C. 08 KABUL 2173


1. Summary: With four weeks left in the Afghan presidential
campaign period, the international community's efforts to
demonstrate impartiality in and support for elections are
underscored by high-level visits and meetings with multiple
presidential candidates. On July 22, EU Special
Representative Ambassador Ettore Sequi briefed EU Ambassadors
and Ambassador Carney on key issues discussed earlier in the
day by EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and
Security Policy Javier Solana with Afghan leaders President
Karzai and Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Rangin Spanta.
Solana's highlights included the human rights case of Parwez
Kambakhsh, election security and the role of Pakistan. Media
reporting centered on Solana's engagement with presidential
candidates Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, Ashraf Ghani and Mirwais
Yaseni, the most prominent candidates, and his message that
the EU supports free, fair and transparent elections in
Afghanistan. End Summary.

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Election Security
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2. EUSR Solana had an in-depth discussion on elections with
FM Spanta focusing on the security challenges facing the
process. Solana expressed concern that over 1200 of
Independent Election Commission's (IEC) 6966 proposed polling
centers - located almost exclusively in Pashtun areas - are
unlikely to open for security reasons and will likely be
co-located to higher populated areas (ref A). Spanta
stressed the dangers of Pashtun disenfranchisement from the
electoral process and the election results; he argued that
ISAF troops should help ensure security in the affected
districts. (Note: Since this meeting ISAF has directed
Regional Commands to urgently and decisively partner with
ANSF to complete security assessments on the 1242 polling
centers in insecure regions. End Note)



3. According to Sequi, Spanta in a line we have now heard
frequently from Pashtun politicians, fervently argued that
Afghan government officials agree that the failure of
Pashtuns to vote would result in disaster. In a separate
meeting, Karzai confirmed this point, seconding Spanta's call
for ISAF support. Karzai told Solana that election
credibility has two parts: the Afghan effort and the
international effort. He explained that the latter means
ISAF and PRTs must "act," particularly in the southeast and
southwest. ISAF, in coordination with Afghan National
Security Forces, is conducting shaping operations in select
closed districts. However, ISAF and the international
community continue to walk a fine line between ensuring the
election retains its Afghan led focus and providing necessary
support. (Comment: The 1242 polling centers are in sparsely
populated regions and make up less than 10% of the Pashtun
vote and less than 4% of the total Afghan vote, but the
optics are important. End Comment)


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Focusing on Pakistan
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4. Karzai also raised the topic of Pakistan with Solana,
insisting that Pakistan is central to the Afghanistan
situation. He noted that although he is "happy" with
President Zardari it is evident that Zardari is not in
control of the country. Karzai told Solana that Taliban are
appearing outside their usual areas of operation.


5. Spanta also ventured into a discussion of regional
issues, centering on Pakistan. Spanta believed there is a
need to ask Pakistan for assistance to ensure a good
electoral process in Afghanistan. He contended to Solana
that "good" and "bad" Taliban exist, with the latter
Pakistani and the former, those protected by Pakistan's ISI.

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Human Rights
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6. Solana raised the situation of Parwez Kambakhsh, the
journalism student serving a 20-year prison sentence for
disseminating an article discussing women's rights and Islam
(ref B). Karzai continued to backtrack from previous
promises, including to U.S. CODELS, to pardon Kambakhsh (ref
C). He said he recognized the importance of the problem and
that a resolution be found, but that the elections must take
place first or "major problems would result."

KABUL 00002039 002 OF 002



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Media Focus
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7. Local media reports on Solana's visit focused on his
meetings with leading presidential candidates Abdullah, Ghani
and Yaseni in addition to Karzai. Solana told media that his
engagement with candidates was aimed at familiarizing himself
with their policies and that he had met only four candidates
- not the full 41 - due to his limited time in Afghanistan.
Solana also highlighted the EU's election observation
mission, noting this as important support mechanism for
ensuring that the election is free and fair.
EIKENBERRY