Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09KABUL433
2009-03-01 03:00:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Kabul
Cable title:
SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE HOLBROOKE AND KHALILI FOCUS
how-toVZCZCXRO5854 PP RUEHDBU RUEHPW DE RUEHBUL #0433 0600300 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 010300Z MAR 09 FM AMEMBASSY KABUL TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7528 INFO RUCNAFG/AFGHANISTAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
UNCLAS KABUL 000433
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/FO, SCA/A,
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL AF
SUBJECT: SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE HOLBROOKE AND KHALILI FOCUS
ON ELECTIONS
UNCLAS KABUL 000433
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/FO, SCA/A,
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL AF
SUBJECT: SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE HOLBROOKE AND KHALILI FOCUS
ON ELECTIONS
1. (SBU) During a February 13 meeting, Special
Representative Holbrooke and Vice President Khalili focused
on upcoming Afghan presidential elections. Khalili
emphasized elections had to take place before the
constitutionally mandated date of May 21 to avoid a crisis of
legitimacy. If President Karzai remained in office, he would
be illegitimate, but if a third party became interim
president, it could lead to a bigger crisis. Holbrooke
encouraged Khalili and his fellow leaders to find a pragmatic
solution in order to prevent a political crisis on May 22.
2. (SBU) Khalili noted according to the Constitution, the
Speaker of the Upper House of Parliament should become the
interim president if the president resigns. He stated the
United Front believed Upper House Speaker Mujadeddi was too
old to be president. Khalili personally did not oppose
Mujadeddi as an interim leader. Khalili accepted the
logistical and security difficulties of a spring election,
but emphasized the government should be legitimate. He
argued that a delay in elections would make Karzai more
powerful. He did allow if all political parties and players
agreed to August elections, he would also support the later
date. Khalili told Holbrooke that he did not intend to be a
presidential candidate in this year's election, since
Afghanistan was not yet ready for a Hazara Shi'a president.
3. (U) Ambassador Holbrooke's party cleared this message.
DELL
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/FO, SCA/A,
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL AF
SUBJECT: SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE HOLBROOKE AND KHALILI FOCUS
ON ELECTIONS
1. (SBU) During a February 13 meeting, Special
Representative Holbrooke and Vice President Khalili focused
on upcoming Afghan presidential elections. Khalili
emphasized elections had to take place before the
constitutionally mandated date of May 21 to avoid a crisis of
legitimacy. If President Karzai remained in office, he would
be illegitimate, but if a third party became interim
president, it could lead to a bigger crisis. Holbrooke
encouraged Khalili and his fellow leaders to find a pragmatic
solution in order to prevent a political crisis on May 22.
2. (SBU) Khalili noted according to the Constitution, the
Speaker of the Upper House of Parliament should become the
interim president if the president resigns. He stated the
United Front believed Upper House Speaker Mujadeddi was too
old to be president. Khalili personally did not oppose
Mujadeddi as an interim leader. Khalili accepted the
logistical and security difficulties of a spring election,
but emphasized the government should be legitimate. He
argued that a delay in elections would make Karzai more
powerful. He did allow if all political parties and players
agreed to August elections, he would also support the later
date. Khalili told Holbrooke that he did not intend to be a
presidential candidate in this year's election, since
Afghanistan was not yet ready for a Hazara Shi'a president.
3. (U) Ambassador Holbrooke's party cleared this message.
DELL